NameCensus.

UK surname

Loughran

An Irish surname derived from Ó Lochráin, meaning "descendant of Lochrán," a personal name meaning "light" or "bright."

In the 1881 census there were 305 people recorded with the Loughran surname, ranking it #9,615 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,760, ranked #3,569, up from #9,615 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Govan Combination and Billingham. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Middlesbrough, Liverpool and Stockton-on-Tees.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Loughran is 1,778 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 477.0%.

1881 census count

305

Ranked #9,615

Modern count

1,760

2016, ranked #3,569

Peak year

2010

1,778 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Loughran had 305 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,615 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,760 in 2016, ranked #3,569.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 487 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Loughran surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Loughran surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Loughran 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 75 #20,268
1861 historical 98 #21,388
1881 historical 305 #9,615
1891 historical 357 #9,678
1901 historical 487 #8,208
1911 historical 417 #9,022
1997 modern 1,610 #3,680
1998 modern 1,677 #3,674
1999 modern 1,687 #3,683
2000 modern 1,653 #3,732
2001 modern 1,655 #3,656
2002 modern 1,701 #3,650
2003 modern 1,619 #3,721
2004 modern 1,639 #3,693
2005 modern 1,623 #3,686
2006 modern 1,636 #3,672
2007 modern 1,663 #3,646
2008 modern 1,705 #3,589
2009 modern 1,740 #3,597
2010 modern 1,778 #3,601
2011 modern 1,762 #3,589
2012 modern 1,749 #3,551
2013 modern 1,751 #3,607
2014 modern 1,772 #3,589
2015 modern 1,767 #3,567
2016 modern 1,760 #3,569

Geography

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Where Loughrans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Govan Combination, Billingham, Glasgow and Liverpool. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Middlesbrough, Liverpool and Stockton-on-Tees. 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 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
2 Govan Combination Lanark
3 Billingham Durham
4 Glasgow Lanark
5 Liverpool Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Middlesbrough 007 Middlesbrough
2 Middlesbrough 019 Middlesbrough
3 Liverpool 059 Liverpool
4 Stockton-on-Tees 018 Stockton-on-Tees
5 Middlesbrough 014 Middlesbrough

Forenames

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First names often paired with Loughran

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Loughran

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Loughran, 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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Loughran surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Loughran household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Loughran is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Loughran 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

Loughran falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Loughran is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Loughran

The surname Loughran originated in Ireland, derived from the Gaelic surname Ó Lochráin, meaning "descendant of Lochran." The name Lochran itself is an old Irish personal name derived from the words "loch" meaning "lake" and "rán" meaning "seal" or "poetry." This suggests that the name may have referred to someone who lived near a lake or was associated with poetry or storytelling.

The Loughran surname can be traced back to County Donegal in Ulster, where the name was prominent in the 16th and 17th centuries. It is believed that the name originated in the Kilmacrenan area of Donegal, where the Ó Lochráin family held lands.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Loughran can be found in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history written in the 17th century. The annals mention a "Lochran O'Lochrain" who was a poet and scholar in the 14th century.

In the 17th century, during the plantation of Ulster, many Loughran families were displaced from their lands in Donegal. This led to the spread of the name throughout Ireland and the adoption of various spellings, such as Loughran, Loughrane, and Loughrene.

Notable individuals with the surname Loughran throughout history include:

1. Patrick Loughran (c. 1770-1835), an Irish-born soldier who fought in the American Revolutionary War and the War of 1812. 2. James Loughran (1855-1923), an Irish-born Roman Catholic priest who served as the Bishop of Brooklyn from 1897 to 1923. 3. Marianne Loughran (1872-1950), an Irish-born artist and illustrator known for her portraits and book illustrations. 4. Edward Loughran (1892-1968), an Irish-born actor who appeared in numerous films and television shows in the mid-20th century. 5. Peter Loughran (1909-1994), an Irish-born economist and academic who served as the President of the University of Notre Dame from 1952 to 1962.

The Loughran surname is still prevalent in Ireland, particularly in counties Donegal, Derry, and Antrim, where it has been deeply rooted for centuries. It is a name that reflects the rich cultural heritage and history of Ireland.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Loughran families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Loughran 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. Durham leads with 88 Loughrans recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.91x.

County Total Index
Durham 88 9.91x
Lancashire 53 1.50x
Yorkshire 49 1.66x
Lanarkshire 40 4.14x
Renfrewshire 17 7.35x
Cumberland 15 5.84x
Northumberland 15 3.38x
Ayrshire 10 4.48x
Angus 4 1.45x
Essex 3 0.51x
Middlesex 3 0.10x
Argyllshire 2 2.41x
Kent 2 0.20x
Royal Navy 2 5.62x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.36x
Dorset 1 0.51x
Surrey 1 0.07x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Liverpool in Lancashire leads with 24 Loughrans recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.16x.

Place Total Index
Liverpool 24 11.16x
Govan 19 7.96x
Gateshead 16 24.07x
Cowpen Bewley 15 1485.15x
Glasgow 15 8.75x
Conside Knitsley 14 202.90x
Eston 14 217.39x
Iveston 13 317.85x
Caldewgate 9 63.92x
Cornsay 9 376.57x
Walton On Hill 9 46.90x
Neilston 8 68.91x
Billingham 7 457.52x
Escomb 6 147.06x
Golcar 6 76.73x
Marske In Guisbrough 6 114.29x
Riccarton Hurlford 6 153.06x
Sheffield 6 6.37x
Skinningrove 6 331.49x
West Greenock 6 14.45x
Elswick 5 14.11x
Harrington 5 161.29x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 5 18.85x
Sculcoates 5 10.66x
Auckinleck 4 57.89x
Liff Benvie 4 9.53x
New Monkland 4 14.02x
Thornton In Fylde 4 51.61x
Wolsingham 4 49.44x
Barrow In Furness 3 6.23x
Benfieldside 3 51.37x
East Greenock 3 13.74x
Manchester 3 1.88x
Much Woolton 3 62.37x
West Ella 3 2500.00x
Alnwick 2 26.18x
Barony 2 0.82x
Campbeltown 2 19.96x
Gillingham 2 9.52x
Hackney London 2 1.20x
Moss Side 2 10.73x
Royal Navy 2 6.58x
Aberdeen Old Machar 1 1.73x
Beswick 1 11.04x
Bootle Cum Linacre 1 3.55x
Cleator 1 9.35x
Fulwood 1 26.11x
Hammersmith London 1 1.36x
Heworth 1 5.71x
Jesmond 1 16.00x
Little Warley 1 121.95x
Liverton 1 147.06x
Longbenton 1 5.32x
Middlesbrough 1 2.60x
Ormesby 1 12.58x
Oxted 1 57.14x
Portland 1 9.50x
Preston 1 1.06x
Prittlewell 1 12.24x
South Shoebury 1 42.19x
Toxteth Park 1 0.83x
Warksburn 1 555.56x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 25
Margaret 11
Catherine 9
Ann 7
Ellen 4
Sarah 4
Bridget 3
Elizabeth 3
Jane 3
Emma 2
Rose 2
(Mrs) 1
Alice 1
Amelia 1
Annie 1
Bridges 1
Caroline 1
Carry 1
Dorothy 1
Eliza 1
Elizth. 1
Fanny 1
Florence 1
Lizzie 1
M. 1
Susan 1
Tabitha 1
Tracy 1
Vincent 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 27
James 23
Patrick 14
Peter 12
Thomas 9
William 7
Francis 6
Michael 6
Joseph 5
Henry 4
Robert 4
Bernard 3
Charles 3
Arthur 2
Hugh 2
Richard 2
Austin 1
Bertie 1
Edward 1
Herbert 1
Mark 1
Martin 1
Moses 1
Owen 1
Paul 1
Stephen 1
Thos. 1
Tom 1

FAQ

Loughran surname: questions and answers

How common was the Loughran surname in 1881?

In 1881, 305 people were recorded with the Loughran surname. That placed it at #9,615 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Loughran surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,760 in 2016. That gives Loughran a modern rank of #3,569.

What does the Loughran surname mean?

An Irish surname derived from Ó Lochráin, meaning "descendant of Lochrán," a personal name meaning "light" or "bright."

What does the Loughran map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Loughran 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.