UK surname
A variant of the Welsh patronymic surname Meredydd meaning "great lord".
In the 1881 census there were 60 people recorded with the Margan surname, ranking it #25,133 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 46, ranked #35,126, down from #25,133 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), St Pancras and Lambeth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Margan is 663 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 23.3%.
1881 census count
60
Ranked #25,133
Modern count
46
2016, ranked #35,126
Peak year
1891
663 bearers
Map years
3
1851 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Margan surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Margan surname density by area, 1891 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 347 | #6,781 |
| 1861 | historical | 637 | #4,207 |
| 1881 | historical | 60 | #25,133 |
| 1891 | historical | 663 | #5,863 |
| 1901 | historical | 70 | #26,383 |
| 1911 | historical | 56 | #27,216 |
| 1997 | modern | 46 | #33,077 |
| 1998 | modern | 49 | #33,000 |
| 1999 | modern | 51 | #32,940 |
| 2000 | modern | 43 | #33,709 |
| 2001 | modern | 42 | #33,658 |
| 2002 | modern | 53 | #33,021 |
| 2003 | modern | 48 | #33,533 |
| 2004 | modern | 46 | #33,883 |
| 2005 | modern | 44 | #34,255 |
| 2006 | modern | 44 | #34,568 |
| 2007 | modern | 46 | #34,634 |
| 2008 | modern | 53 | #34,315 |
| 2009 | modern | 60 | #33,989 |
| 2010 | modern | 56 | #34,480 |
| 2011 | modern | 51 | #34,751 |
| 2012 | modern | 46 | #35,053 |
| 2013 | modern | 46 | #35,110 |
| 2014 | modern | 49 | #34,991 |
| 2015 | modern | 44 | #35,212 |
| 2016 | modern | 46 | #35,126 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), St Pancras, Lambeth, St Marylebone and Liverpool. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) | Glamorganshire |
| 2 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| 3 | Lambeth | London (South Districts) |
| 4 | St Marylebone | London (North Districts) |
| 5 | Liverpool | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Margan surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Margan, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Margan surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Margan household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Margan is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Margan is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Margan, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Margan has its origins in medieval France, emerging in the 9th century AD. The name is derived from the Old French word "margant," meaning "pearl." This association with a precious gem suggests that the earliest bearers of this surname may have been involved in the jewelry trade or had an affiliation with the nobility.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the Margan name appears in the renowned Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landowners in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. This entry indicates that the name had already spread beyond the borders of France during the Norman conquest of England.
In the 12th century, a notable figure named Raoul Margan was mentioned in the records of the Abbey of Saint-Germain-des-Prés in Paris. This Raoul Margan was a wealthy merchant who made significant donations to the abbey, suggesting the prominence and affluence of some individuals bearing this surname during that era.
Another early reference to the Margan name can be found in the Cartulary of Marmoutier Abbey, a collection of medieval charters and deeds from the 11th to 13th centuries. This document mentions a landowner named Robert Margan, who held properties in the region of Touraine, France, in the late 12th century.
During the 13th century, the Margan surname appeared in several English records, indicating that the name had spread across the English Channel. One notable example is Sir William Margan, a knight who fought alongside King Edward I in the Welsh wars of the late 13th century.
In the 14th century, the Margan name gained further prominence with the birth of Jean Margan (1310-1378), a renowned French philosopher and theologian who taught at the University of Paris. His influential works on logic and metaphysics earned him a lasting place in the annals of medieval scholarship.
Throughout the centuries, the Margan surname has undergone various spelling variations, including Margan, Margant, Margon, and Margaunt, reflecting the regional dialects and scribal variations of the times. Additionally, some variations may have derived from place names, such as Margaux, a commune in the Bordeaux region of France.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Margan surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Carmarthenshire leads with 12 Margans recorded in 1881 and an index of 49.46x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Carmarthenshire | 12 | 49.46x |
| Middlesex | 8 | 1.39x |
| Clackmannanshire | 6 | 126.32x |
| Surrey | 6 | 2.14x |
| Monmouthshire | 5 | 12.02x |
| Lanarkshire | 4 | 2.15x |
| Kent | 3 | 1.53x |
| Staffordshire | 3 | 1.54x |
| Warwickshire | 3 | 2.07x |
| Lancashire | 2 | 0.29x |
| Shropshire | 2 | 4.02x |
| Essex | 1 | 0.88x |
| Gloucestershire | 1 | 0.89x |
| Montgomeryshire | 1 | 7.58x |
| Sussex | 1 | 1.03x |
| Yorkshire | 1 | 0.18x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Llanelly in Carmarthenshire leads with 12 Margans recorded in 1881 and an index of 219.78x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Llanelly | 12 | 219.78x |
| Tillicoultry | 6 | 566.04x |
| Bedwellty | 5 | 68.03x |
| Bermondsey | 5 | 29.19x |
| Barony | 4 | 8.49x |
| Burntwood Edial | 3 | 241.94x |
| Hackney London | 3 | 9.30x |
| Rugby | 3 | 153.06x |
| St Pancras London | 3 | 6.48x |
| Maidstone | 2 | 34.19x |
| W Felton | 2 | 952.38x |
| Bristol St Philip Jacob | 1 | 9.41x |
| Cobham | 1 | 217.39x |
| Eastbourne | 1 | 22.37x |
| Fulham London | 1 | 11.98x |
| Gorton | 1 | 15.58x |
| Greenwich | 1 | 10.92x |
| Horton In Bradford | 1 | 11.22x |
| Kirkdale | 1 | 8.70x |
| Leyton Low | 1 | 43.29x |
| St Gilesin Fields | 1 | 294.12x |
| Uppington | 1 | 5000.00x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Margan surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Margan surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Margan households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 4 |
| Carver & Gilder | 2 |
| Coal Miner | 2 |
| Agent | 1 |
| Broker | 1 |
| Carter | 1 |
| Commercial Clerk | 1 |
| Compositor | 1 |
| Farmer Of 90 Acres | 1 |
| Gate Man (Rail Level Cro) | 1 |
| House Servant | 1 |
| Housekeeper | 1 |
| Housemaid | 1 |
| Housemaid (Dom) | 1 |
| Labourer In Iron Works | 1 |
| Laundress | 1 |
| No Occupation | 1 |
| Nurse Domestic | 1 |
| Puddler Iron Works | 1 |
| Rowler In Iron Works | 1 |
| Servant | 1 |
| Shoemaker | 1 |
| Teacher Of Music | 1 |
| Tin Works Boy | 1 |
| Tin Works Lab | 1 |
| Trimmer Of Hats | 1 |
| Wife | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 60 people were recorded with the Margan surname. That placed it at #25,133 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 46 in 2016. That gives Margan a modern rank of #35,126.
A variant of the Welsh patronymic surname Meredydd meaning "great lord".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Margan bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.