NameCensus.

UK surname

Lonergan

An Irish surname derived from Ó Longargáin, meaning "descendant of Longargán," a personal name of uncertain origin.

In the 1881 census there were 155 people recorded with the Lonergan surname, ranking it #15,174 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,128, ranked #5,224, up from #15,174 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Rochdale, London parishes and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Brent, Rotherham and County Durham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Lonergan is 1,161 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 627.7%.

1881 census count

155

Ranked #15,174

Modern count

1,128

2016, ranked #5,224

Peak year

2002

1,161 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Lonergan had 155 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #15,174 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,128 in 2016, ranked #5,224.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 306 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Lonergan surname distribution map

The map shows where the Lonergan surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Lonergan surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Lonergan over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 52 #23,915
1861 historical 70 #24,911
1881 historical 155 #15,174
1891 historical 218 #14,023
1901 historical 266 #12,617
1911 historical 306 #11,281
1997 modern 1,127 #4,969
1998 modern 1,138 #5,105
1999 modern 1,160 #5,067
2000 modern 1,151 #5,075
2001 modern 1,134 #5,049
2002 modern 1,161 #5,053
2003 modern 1,122 #5,092
2004 modern 1,144 #5,022
2005 modern 1,142 #4,968
2006 modern 1,134 #4,996
2007 modern 1,136 #5,043
2008 modern 1,160 #4,971
2009 modern 1,151 #5,134
2010 modern 1,159 #5,202
2011 modern 1,134 #5,239
2012 modern 1,094 #5,315
2013 modern 1,129 #5,261
2014 modern 1,139 #5,242
2015 modern 1,126 #5,244
2016 modern 1,128 #5,224

Geography

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Where Lonergans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Rochdale, London parishes, Manchester and Chelsea. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Brent, Rotherham, County Durham, Colchester and Bexley. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Rochdale Lancashire
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 Chelsea London (West Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Brent 025 Brent
2 Rotherham 014 Rotherham
3 County Durham 023 County Durham
4 Colchester 022 Colchester
5 Bexley 009 Bexley

Forenames

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First names often paired with Lonergan

These lists show first names that appear often with the Lonergan surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Lonergan

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Lonergan, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Lonergan surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Lonergan household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Lonergan is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Lonergan is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Lonergan falls in decile 2 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Lonergan is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Irish

This describes the area pattern most associated with Lonergan, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Lonergan

The surname Lonergan originated in Ireland and is derived from the Gaelic personal name Lonargán, which means "descendant of Lonargan." The name Lonargan itself is a combination of two Gaelic words: "lon," meaning a blackbird, and "argán," meaning a little hero or champion.

Lonergan is an anglicized version of the Irish Ó Longargáin surname, which means "descendant of Lonargán." The Ó prefix in Irish surnames indicates a patronymic name, denoting "grandson of" or "descendant of." The name was prevalent in counties Tipperary and Kilkenny in the southeastern part of Ireland.

One of the earliest known records of the name Lonergan can be found in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history compiled in the early 17th century. The annals mention a Domhnall Ó Longargáin, who was the Chief of Uí Duach, a territory in County Tipperary, in the year 1286.

In the late 16th and early 17th centuries, several individuals with the surname Lonergan are mentioned in the Fiants of the Tudor Sovereigns, a collection of administrative records from the Tudor period in Ireland. These include Edmund Lonergan, who was granted land in County Tipperary in 1606, and Donell Lonergan, who was pardoned for his involvement in the Desmond Rebellions in 1586.

Notable individuals with the surname Lonergan throughout history include:

1. Donal Cam O'Lonergan (c. 1555-1624), an Irish Catholic priest and writer who fled Ireland during the Elizabethan persecution of Catholics. 2. Patrick Lonergan (1834-1903), an Irish-American civil engineer who designed and constructed several major bridges in the United States. 3. Bernard Lonergan (1904-1984), a Canadian Jesuit priest, philosopher, and theologian known for his influential works on philosophical method and theology. 4. Donal Lonergan (1937-2003), an Irish actor best known for his roles in films such as "The Commitments" and "The Boxer." 5. Amanda Lonergan (born 1976), an American actress and producer known for her work in television shows like "Desperate Housewives" and "The O.C."

The surname Lonergan is also associated with several place names in Ireland, such as Lonergan's Cross and Lonergan's Hill in County Tipperary, reflecting the historical presence of the family in that region.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Lonergan families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Lonergan surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lancashire leads with 51 Lonergans recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.84x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 51 2.84x
Middlesex 36 2.38x
Kent 29 5.62x
Glamorgan 22 8.36x
Midlothian 5 2.47x
Surrey 4 0.54x
Durham 3 0.67x
Devon 2 0.64x
Gloucestershire 1 0.34x
Hampshire 1 0.32x
Sussex 1 0.39x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Little Bolton in Lancashire leads with 15 Lonergans recorded in 1881 and an index of 65.02x.

Place Total Index
Little Bolton 15 65.02x
Plumstead 14 81.44x
Chelsea London 11 24.14x
Paddington London 11 19.79x
Llanwonno 9 95.14x
Merthyr Tydfil 9 35.57x
Spotland 8 40.12x
Manchester 6 7.44x
St Pancras London 6 4.93x
Heap 5 52.58x
North Leith 5 53.36x
Oldham 5 8.64x
Horton Kirby 4 500.00x
Kensington London 4 4.76x
Llantwit Vairdre 4 135.14x
Woolwich 4 20.99x
Darlington 3 17.27x
Kingston On Thames 3 16.95x
Lewisham 3 10.91x
Toxteth Park 3 4.94x
Fulwood 2 103.09x
Minster In Sheppey 2 23.39x
St George Hanover Square 2 7.51x
Stoke Damerel 2 9.08x
Aighton Bailey 1 116.28x
Allerton 1 232.56x
Bethnal Green London 1 1.52x
Bristol All Sts 1 1428.57x
Eastbourne 1 8.53x
Farnborough 1 30.77x
Gorton 1 5.93x
Lee 1 13.35x
Liverpool 1 0.92x
Putney 1 14.51x
Radcliffe 1 11.56x
Ribchester 1 147.06x
Saltwood 1 277.78x
St Marylebone London 1 1.24x
West Derby 1 1.91x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Lonergan surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 13
Ellen 8
Margaret 7
Catherine 5
Bridget 4
Kate 4
Elizabeth 3
Fanny 3
Ann 2
Annie 2
Jane 2
Alice 1
Allis 1
C. 1
Cathrine 1
Clara 1
Dorah 1
Eliza 1
Hannah 1
Inlia 1
Ismiria 1
Johana 1
Johanah 1
Johanna 1
Julia 1
Levinia 1
Lucy 1
Maude 1
Miriam 1
Pauline 1
Sarah 1
Selina 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Lonergan surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
James 8
William 8
Michael 6
Patrick 6
John 5
Thomas 4
George 3
Robert 3
Edward 2
Francis 2
Nicholas 2
Richard 2
Stephen 2
Arthur 1
Cornelius 1
Daniel 1
Denis 1
Dennis 1
Edmund 1
Edwd. 1
Eustace 1
Geo. 1
Morris 1
Percey 1
Peter 1
Philip 1
Phillip 1
Rassa 1
Robt. 1
Stanley 1
Vincent 1
Walter 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Lonergan surname: questions and answers

How common was the Lonergan surname in 1881?

In 1881, 155 people were recorded with the Lonergan surname. That placed it at #15,174 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Lonergan surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,128 in 2016. That gives Lonergan a modern rank of #5,224.

What does the Lonergan surname mean?

An Irish surname derived from Ó Longargáin, meaning "descendant of Longargán," a personal name of uncertain origin.

What does the Lonergan map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Lonergan bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.