NameCensus.

UK surname

Mcdonagh

An anglicized form of the Irish surname Mac Donnchadha, meaning "son of Donnchadh" (brown-haired warrior).

In the 1881 census there were 396 people recorded with the Mcdonagh surname, ranking it #8,024 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 5,305, ranked #1,272, up from #8,024 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Govan Combination, Chilvers Coton and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Brent, Southwark and Dacorum.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mcdonagh is 5,336 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 1239.6%.

1881 census count

396

Ranked #8,024

Modern count

5,305

2016, ranked #1,272

Peak year

2010

5,336 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mcdonagh had 396 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,024 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 5,305 in 2016, ranked #1,272.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 430 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Mcdonagh surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mcdonagh surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mcdonagh 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 185 #11,077
1861 historical 232 #10,535
1881 historical 396 #8,024
1891 historical 283 #11,573
1901 historical 430 #9,000
1911 historical 348 #10,297
1997 modern 4,336 #1,507
1998 modern 4,515 #1,496
1999 modern 4,640 #1,479
2000 modern 4,631 #1,473
2001 modern 4,532 #1,474
2002 modern 4,759 #1,433
2003 modern 4,663 #1,428
2004 modern 4,677 #1,414
2005 modern 4,702 #1,381
2006 modern 4,825 #1,349
2007 modern 4,933 #1,337
2008 modern 5,005 #1,326
2009 modern 5,123 #1,329
2010 modern 5,336 #1,306
2011 modern 5,233 #1,310
2012 modern 5,084 #1,321
2013 modern 5,208 #1,315
2014 modern 5,310 #1,294
2015 modern 5,296 #1,285
2016 modern 5,305 #1,272

Geography

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Where Mcdonaghs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Govan Combination, Chilvers Coton, Manchester, 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 Brent, Southwark, Dacorum, Manchester and Wakefield. 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 Govan Combination Lanark
2 Chilvers Coton Warwickshire
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 Glasgow Lanark
5 Liverpool Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Brent 021 Brent
2 Southwark 023 Southwark
3 Dacorum 013 Dacorum
4 Manchester 013 Manchester
5 Wakefield 016 Wakefield

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mcdonagh

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mcdonagh

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

Mcdonagh 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

Mcdonagh 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 Mcdonagh is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Mcdonagh

The surname McDonagh has its origins in Ireland and stems from the Gaelic personal name Donnchadh, which translates to "brown warrior." The prefix "Mc" or "Mac" signifies "son of" in Gaelic.

This name was particularly prominent in counties Sligo, Mayo, and Galway in the western part of Ireland. Historical records indicate that the name McDonagh was sometimes spelled as MacDonagh, McDonough, or McDonough in different regions.

One of the earliest recorded references to the name can be found in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history compiled in the early 17th century. It mentions a McDonagh family who were influential in the region of Ballymote, County Sligo, during the 14th century.

Another notable bearer of the McDonagh name was Sir John McDonagh, who served as Lord Mayor of Dublin in 1588. He was a prominent merchant and played a crucial role in the city's governance during a turbulent period of Irish history.

In the 18th century, James McDonagh (1755-1830) was a renowned Irish Catholic priest and educator who established several schools in Dublin. He campaigned for Catholic emancipation and was a influential figure in the city's educational and religious circles.

The name McDonagh also gained prominence in the literary world through the works of the Irish playwright and novelist John McDonagh (1900-1954). His plays, including "The Ginger Man" and "The Bespoke Overcoat," explored themes of Irish identity and culture with wit and humor.

Lastly, one cannot overlook the contributions of Martin McDonagh (born 1970), the acclaimed Irish playwright and filmmaker. His works, such as "The Beauty Queen of Leenane" and the film "In Bruges," have garnered critical acclaim and numerous awards, cementing his place as a significant figure in contemporary Irish arts.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mcdonagh families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mcdonagh 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. Yorkshire leads with 22 Mcdonaghs recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.86x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 22 3.86x
Lancashire 13 1.90x
Warwickshire 8 5.51x
Derbyshire 3 3.33x
Middlesex 3 0.52x
Dorset 2 5.30x
Durham 2 1.17x
Hampshire 2 1.70x
Northumberland 2 2.34x
Devon 1 0.83x
Surrey 1 0.36x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Dewsbury in Yorkshire leads with 16 Mcdonaghs recorded in 1881 and an index of 273.50x.

Place Total Index
Dewsbury 16 273.50x
Southam 8 2285.71x
Liverpool 6 14.46x
Liversedge 6 236.22x
Manchester 4 13.03x
Derby St Alkmund 3 111.11x
Aldershot 2 50.63x
Clerkenwell London 2 14.73x
Hetton Le Hole 2 92.17x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 2 39.14x
Weymouth 2 277.78x
Exeter St David 1 98.04x
Islington London 1 1.79x
Kirkdale 1 8.70x
Oldham 1 4.54x
Richmond 1 25.45x
Tonge 1 69.93x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 6
Jane 4
Ann 2
Catherine 2
Alice 1
Amina 1
Bessie 1
Charlotte 1
Clanssa 1
Elizabeth 1
Ellen 1
Ester 1
Esther 1
Florenc 1
Maggie 1
Margaret 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 10
Patrick 6
James 5
Michael 4
Thomas 3
Austin 1
Cormack 1
Edmund 1
George 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 Mcdonagh households.

FAQ

Mcdonagh surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mcdonagh surname in 1881?

In 1881, 396 people were recorded with the Mcdonagh surname. That placed it at #8,024 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mcdonagh surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 5,305 in 2016. That gives Mcdonagh a modern rank of #1,272.

What does the Mcdonagh surname mean?

An anglicized form of the Irish surname Mac Donnchadha, meaning "son of Donnchadh" (brown-haired warrior).

What does the Mcdonagh map show?

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