NameCensus.

UK surname

Mcconaghy

A Gaelic surname meaning "son of the victorious one" or "son of the conqueror".

In the 1881 census there were 22 people recorded with the Mcconaghy surname, ranking it #30,464 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 251, ranked #16,744, up from #30,464 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Fyvie-Rothie, Uphall, Dechmont and Ecclesmachan and Pembrokeshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mcconaghy is 267 in 2011. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 1040.9%.

1881 census count

22

Ranked #30,464

Modern count

251

2016, ranked #16,744

Peak year

2011

267 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mcconaghy had 22 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #30,464 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 54 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Mcconaghy surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mcconaghy surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mcconaghy 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 12 #31,134
1861 historical 10 #32,589
1881 historical 22 #30,464
1891 historical 42 #31,018
1901 historical 54 #28,178
1911 historical 29 #30,190
1997 modern 213 #16,948
1998 modern 226 #16,800
1999 modern 239 #16,268
2000 modern 260 #15,360
2001 modern 256 #15,273
2002 modern 260 #15,415
2003 modern 241 #16,013
2004 modern 249 #15,739
2005 modern 252 #15,551
2006 modern 254 #15,560
2007 modern 262 #15,399
2008 modern 266 #15,384
2009 modern 264 #15,798
2010 modern 264 #16,163
2011 modern 267 #15,892
2012 modern 254 #16,328
2013 modern 246 #16,979
2014 modern 250 #16,905
2015 modern 249 #16,858
2016 modern 251 #16,744

Geography

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Where Mcconaghys 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 Fyvie-Rothie, Uphall, Dechmont and Ecclesmachan, Pembrokeshire, Kingston upon Hull and Shropshire. 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 Fyvie-Rothie Aberdeenshire
2 Uphall, Dechmont and Ecclesmachan West Lothian
3 Pembrokeshire 008 Pembrokeshire
4 Kingston upon Hull 024 Kingston upon Hull, City of
5 Shropshire 001 Shropshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mcconaghy

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mcconaghy

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Mcconaghy, 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 Mcconaghy surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Mcconaghy 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, Mcconaghy 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

Mcconaghy 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

Mcconaghy 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 Mcconaghy 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 Mcconaghy, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Mcconaghy

The surname MCCONAGHY is of Irish origin and can be traced back to the 16th century. It is derived from the Gaelic Mac Conchobhair, meaning "son of Conchobhar," which is an Irish personal name meaning "lover of hounds" or "dog-lover."

The name is believed to have originated in County Donegal, Ireland, where the McConaghy clan was prominent. The spelling has varied over time, with early records showing variations such as McConaghy, McConaghie, McConoughey, and McConaughey.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name is found in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history. The annals mention a Turlough McConaghy who was involved in a battle in County Donegal in the year 1597.

In the 17th century, during the Plantation of Ulster, many McConaghy families were displaced from their ancestral lands in Donegal and settled in other parts of Ireland, particularly in County Antrim and County Down.

One notable bearer of the name was Patrick McConaghy (1823-1892), an Irish Catholic priest and author who wrote extensively on Irish history and folklore. Another was John McConaghy (1836-1910), a businessman and politician in Belfast who served as a member of Parliament.

The name MCCONAGHY has also been associated with several place names in Ireland, such as McConaghy's Cross and McConaghy's Lough in County Donegal, reflecting the clan's historical presence in the region.

Among the earliest recorded examples of the name outside of Ireland is that of James McConaghy (1737-1805), a Scottish-born merchant and landowner who emigrated to the United States and settled in Pennsylvania.

Other notable individuals with the surname MCCONAGHY include:

1. Robert McConaghy (1852-1931), a Canadian businessman and politician who served as a member of the Canadian House of Commons. 2. William McConaghy (1891-1965), an American artist and illustrator known for his depictions of the American West. 3. George McConaghy (1903-1972), a Canadian ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League for the Montreal Canadiens. 4. John McConaghy (1921-2015), a New Zealand cricketer who played Test cricket for the New Zealand national team. 5. Eileen McConaghy (1931-2008), an Australian actress and singer who appeared in numerous stage productions and television shows.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mcconaghy families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mcconaghy 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. Northumberland leads with 6 Mcconaghys recorded in 1881 and an index of 69.04x.

County Total Index
Northumberland 6 69.04x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Wallsend in Northumberland leads with 6 Mcconaghys recorded in 1881 and an index of 2142.86x.

Place Total Index
Wallsend 6 2142.86x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 2
Jane 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 2
Alexander 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 Mcconaghy households.

Occupation Count
Scholar 2
Rivetter 1

FAQ

Mcconaghy surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mcconaghy surname in 1881?

In 1881, 22 people were recorded with the Mcconaghy surname. That placed it at #30,464 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mcconaghy surname today?

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

What does the Mcconaghy surname mean?

A Gaelic surname meaning "son of the victorious one" or "son of the conqueror".

What does the Mcconaghy map show?

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