NameCensus.

UK surname

Madigan

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic "Ó Madacháin," meaning "descendant of Madachán," a personal name meaning "little dog."

In the 1881 census there were 197 people recorded with the Madigan surname, ranking it #12,955 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 861, ranked #6,510, up from #12,955 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Rochdale and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Halton, Tewkesbury and Hackney.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Madigan is 874 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 337.1%.

1881 census count

197

Ranked #12,955

Modern count

861

2016, ranked #6,510

Peak year

2014

874 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Madigan had 197 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,955 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 861 in 2016, ranked #6,510.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 225 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Madigan surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Madigan surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Madigan 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 90 #18,317
1861 historical 118 #18,512
1881 historical 197 #12,955
1891 historical 220 #13,937
1901 historical 215 #14,478
1911 historical 225 #13,874
1997 modern 821 #6,405
1998 modern 865 #6,347
1999 modern 868 #6,380
2000 modern 842 #6,510
2001 modern 820 #6,519
2002 modern 846 #6,480
2003 modern 826 #6,476
2004 modern 825 #6,503
2005 modern 841 #6,355
2006 modern 862 #6,245
2007 modern 844 #6,411
2008 modern 852 #6,410
2009 modern 860 #6,513
2010 modern 866 #6,597
2011 modern 860 #6,554
2012 modern 827 #6,666
2013 modern 854 #6,607
2014 modern 874 #6,514
2015 modern 865 #6,512
2016 modern 861 #6,510

Geography

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Where Madigans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Rochdale, London parishes and St Giles-in-the-Fields. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Halton, Tewkesbury, Hackney, Wealden and Stafford. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 Rochdale Lancashire
3 London parishes London 1
4 London parishes London 3
5 St Giles-in-the-Fields London (Central Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Halton 013 Halton
2 Tewkesbury 001 Tewkesbury
3 Hackney 023 Hackney
4 Wealden 010 Wealden
5 Stafford 003 Stafford

Forenames

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First names often paired with Madigan

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Madigan

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Madigan surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Madigan household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Madigan is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Madigan 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

Madigan 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 Madigan is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Madigan

The surname Madigan is of Irish origin, with its roots tracing back to the Gaelic name "O'Madagain" or "O'Madagain". The prefix "O'" denotes a descendant, while the latter part of the name is derived from the old Irish personal name "Madagan".

Madagan is a diminutive form of the name "Madadh", which translates to "dog" or "wolf" in Irish. The name likely originated as a nickname for someone with canine-like characteristics or behavior. The area of origin for this surname is believed to be County Galway in the western region of Ireland.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Madigan surname can be found in the Annals of Ulster, a chronicle of medieval Irish history, which mentions a "Diarmait O'Madagain" in the year 1289. This entry suggests that the surname had already been established by the late 13th century.

During the Middle Ages, the Madigan family was prominent in counties Galway and Mayo, where they held lands and possessions. In the 16th century, a notable figure named Donough Madigan served as the Lord of Gallen in County Mayo.

Another notable individual was Edmond Madigan, born in County Galway in 1738, who was a prominent leader during the Irish Rebellion of 1798. He fought against British rule and was eventually captured and executed in 1799.

Patrick Madigan, born in 1809 in County Mayo, was a successful businessman and philanthropist who emigrated to the United States in the mid-19th century. He established several successful businesses in New York City and contributed significantly to the development of the Irish-American community.

In the literary world, Mary Madigan (1852-1920), a native of County Galway, was a renowned Irish novelist and poet. Her works often explored themes of Irish culture and identity, and she was celebrated for her vivid depictions of rural life in Ireland.

John Madigan, born in 1878 in County Mayo, was a renowned Irish-American labor leader and activist. He played a pivotal role in the early 20th century labor movement, advocating for workers' rights and better working conditions in the United States.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Madigan families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Madigan 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. Middlesex leads with 80 Madigans recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.14x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 80 4.14x
Lancashire 35 1.53x
Surrey 24 2.55x
Lanarkshire 8 1.28x
Essex 7 1.84x
Yorkshire 7 0.37x
Carmarthenshire 6 7.37x
Gloucestershire 6 1.58x
Cumberland 4 2.41x
Kent 4 0.61x
Northumberland 4 1.39x
Hampshire 2 0.51x
Renfrewshire 2 1.34x
Warwickshire 2 0.41x
Berkshire 1 0.69x
Glamorgan 1 0.30x
Montgomeryshire 1 2.26x
Royal Navy 1 4.35x
Suffolk 1 0.43x
Sussex 1 0.31x
Worcestershire 1 0.40x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Chelsea London in Middlesex leads with 20 Madigans recorded in 1881 and an index of 34.36x.

Place Total Index
Chelsea London 20 34.36x
St Giles In Fields 18 270.27x
Battersea 13 18.29x
Accrington 11 52.78x
Hackney London 11 10.16x
Lambeth 9 5.34x
Glasgow 8 7.21x
Kensington London 8 7.45x
Preston 8 13.05x
West Ham 7 8.32x
Barnsley 5 25.33x
Carmarthen St Peter 5 71.84x
Thornton In Sefton 5 2777.78x
Bitton 4 121.21x
Hammersmith London 4 8.41x
Salford 4 5.93x
St George In East 4 30.44x
Wallsend 4 43.91x
Whitehaven 4 45.15x
Aston 2 1.49x
Broughton In Salford 2 9.55x
Islington London 2 1.07x
Manchester 2 1.94x
Mile End Old Town 2 6.56x
Minster In Sheppey 2 18.32x
Newington 2 2.80x
Otford 2 217.39x
Paisley Middle Church 2 22.96x
St Anne Soho London 2 18.13x
St Martin In Fields 2 17.30x
St Marylebone London 2 1.94x
Alverstoke 1 6.98x
Bristol St Augustine 1 16.37x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 1 2.80x
Clewer 1 16.84x
Gorleston 1 16.72x
Heston 1 15.60x
Kidwelly 1 60.24x
Kirkdale 1 2.59x
Kirkleatham 1 38.76x
Liverpool 1 0.72x
Northfield 1 20.88x
Paddington London 1 1.41x
Pool 1 29.94x
Portsmouth 1 10.98x
Roath 1 6.55x
Rotherfield 1 34.84x
Royal Navy 1 5.08x
St George Hanover 1 3.97x
St Pancras London 1 0.64x
Wakefield 1 6.81x
West Derby 1 1.49x
Westminster St John 1 4.25x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 19
Ellen 7
Margaret 6
Sarah 6
Ann 5
Bridget 5
Catherine 4
Annie 3
Johanna 3
Kate 3
Agnes 2
Alice 2
Anne 2
Emily 2
Emma 2
Jane 2
Louisa 2
Albinia 1
Amelia 1
Camilla 1
Catharine 1
Cathe. 1
Charlotte 1
Eliza 1
Elizabeth 1
Elizh. 1
Fanny 1
Hannah 1
Ida 1
Janet 1
Jessi 1
Kitty 1
Lizzy 1
Maria 1
Nellie 1
Nora 1
Norah 1
Rosa 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 14
John 11
Thomas 9
William 8
Michael 7
Patrick 5
Charles 2
Daniel 2
Eugene 2
George 2
Henry 2
Lawrence 2
Richard 2
Dennis 1
Edward 1
Francis 1
Fred 1
Fredirick 1
Herbert 1
Hy. 1
J. 1
Jeremiah 1
Lydia 1
Matthew 1
Maurice 1
Michel 1
Morris 1
Mottie 1
Paul 1
Peter 1
Phillip 1
Samuel 1

FAQ

Madigan surname: questions and answers

How common was the Madigan surname in 1881?

In 1881, 197 people were recorded with the Madigan surname. That placed it at #12,955 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Madigan surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 861 in 2016. That gives Madigan a modern rank of #6,510.

What does the Madigan surname mean?

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic "Ó Madacháin," meaning "descendant of Madachán," a personal name meaning "little dog."

What does the Madigan map show?

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