NameCensus.

UK surname

Magennis

A surname of Irish origin meaning son of the fire-born or passionate.

In the 1881 census there were 33 people recorded with the Magennis surname, ranking it #28,965 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 251, ranked #16,744, up from #28,965 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Eskbank, South Lakeland and Muirend and Old Cathcart.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Magennis is 253 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 660.6%.

1881 census count

33

Ranked #28,965

Modern count

251

2016, ranked #16,744

Peak year

2014

253 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Magennis had 33 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #28,965 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 251 in 2016, ranked #16,744.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 47 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Magennis surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Magennis surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Magennis 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 28 #28,274
1861 historical 47 #28,023
1881 historical 33 #28,965
1891 historical 33 #31,681
1901 historical 45 #29,156
1911 historical 26 #30,547
1997 modern 185 #18,506
1998 modern 197 #18,283
1999 modern 195 #18,517
2000 modern 198 #18,330
2001 modern 187 #18,708
2002 modern 198 #18,410
2003 modern 199 #18,195
2004 modern 196 #18,438
2005 modern 204 #17,893
2006 modern 214 #17,507
2007 modern 214 #17,688
2008 modern 224 #17,337
2009 modern 228 #17,486
2010 modern 231 #17,711
2011 modern 224 #17,891
2012 modern 236 #17,187
2013 modern 243 #17,114
2014 modern 253 #16,774
2015 modern 250 #16,803
2016 modern 251 #16,744

Geography

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Where Magennis' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Eskbank, South Lakeland, Muirend and Old Cathcart, Ipswich and Suffolk Coastal. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Eskbank Midlothian
2 South Lakeland 001 South Lakeland
3 Muirend and Old Cathcart Glasgow City
4 Ipswich 008 Ipswich
5 Suffolk Coastal 007 Suffolk Coastal

Forenames

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First names often paired with Magennis

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Magennis

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Magennis surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Magennis household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Magennis 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

Magennis 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

Magennis falls in decile 7 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Magennis 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 Magennis, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Magennis

The surname Magennis originates from Ireland, with its earliest roots dating back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Gaelic words "Mag Aonghusa," which translates to "son of Angus." The name is associated with the ancient Irish kingdom of Dál Riata, situated in modern-day County Antrim.

The Magennis family played a significant role in Irish history, with their ancestral lands located in the baronies of Iveagh and Lecale in County Down. One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name can be found in the Annals of Ulster, which reference a chieftain named Gilla Espuic Mag Aonghusa in the year 1177.

In the 14th century, the Magennis clan rose to prominence as Lords of Iveagh. They were known for their fierce resistance against English rule and their participation in various Irish rebellions and conflicts. Notable figures from this period include Rory Magennis, who led a rebellion against the English in 1590, and Sir Arthur Magennis, a distinguished military commander during the Irish Confederate Wars of the 1640s.

The Magennis name can also be found in ancient Irish manuscripts and records, such as the Book of Leinster and the Annals of the Four Masters. These sources provide valuable insights into the family's history and lineage.

During the 17th century, the Magennis family faced significant upheaval and displacement due to the Plantation of Ulster. Many members of the clan were forced to resettle in other parts of Ireland or fled to Continental Europe. However, the name remained resilient, with notable individuals emerging in later centuries.

One such figure was Aedh Roe Magennis (1645-1717), a Catholic priest and scholar who played a crucial role in preserving Irish language and culture during the Penal Laws. Another prominent Magennis was Arthur James Magennis (1766-1845), a Member of Parliament and supporter of Catholic Emancipation in Ireland.

Other notable individuals bearing the Magennis surname include Thomas Magennis (1766-1853), an Irish poet and translator, and John Magennis (1954-1984), a Catholic civilian who was killed during the Troubles in Northern Ireland.

Throughout its long history, the Magennis name has maintained a strong connection to its Irish roots, reflecting the resilience and endurance of an ancient clan that has left an indelible mark on the island's cultural and political landscape.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Magennis families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Magennis 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 10 Magennis' recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.62x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 10 2.62x
Sussex 10 18.44x
Lanarkshire 4 3.85x
Warwickshire 3 3.70x
Hertfordshire 2 9.02x
Cheshire 1 1.41x
Denbighshire 1 8.23x
Lincolnshire 1 1.94x
Yorkshire 1 0.31x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Brighton in Sussex leads with 10 Magennis' recorded in 1881 and an index of 91.41x.

Place Total Index
Brighton 10 91.41x
Cambusnethan 4 173.16x
Kirkdale 4 62.31x
Toxteth Park 4 30.96x
Aspenden 2 2857.14x
Coleshill 2 769.23x
Liverpool 2 8.63x
Birkenhead 1 17.67x
Brailes 1 833.33x
Caytn Deepdal Kilrby 1 1428.57x
Eastoft 1 1428.57x
Wrexham Abbot 1 322.58x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 3
Catherine 2
Anne 1
Flora 1
Frances 1
Maria 1
Sarah 1
Selina 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Hugh 4
Arthur 2
George 2
Thomas 2
Alexander 1
Charles 1
Christopher 1
E. 1
Henry 1
James 1
Lawrence 1
William 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Magennis households.

FAQ

Magennis surname: questions and answers

How common was the Magennis surname in 1881?

In 1881, 33 people were recorded with the Magennis surname. That placed it at #28,965 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Magennis surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 251 in 2016. That gives Magennis a modern rank of #16,744.

What does the Magennis surname mean?

A surname of Irish origin meaning son of the fire-born or passionate.

What does the Magennis map show?

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