UK surname
Irish surname derived from Gaelic Mac Donnchadha meaning son of Donnchadh.
In the 1881 census there were 71 people recorded with the Mcdonaugh surname, ranking it #23,517 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 73, ranked #33,502, down from #23,517 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Rochdale, Edinburgh and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mcdonaugh is 124 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 2.8%.
1881 census count
71
Ranked #23,517
Modern count
73
2016, ranked #33,502
Peak year
1861
124 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Mcdonaugh surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Mcdonaugh surname density by area, 1911 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 | 57 | #23,092 |
| 1861 | historical | 124 | #17,797 |
| 1881 | historical | 71 | #23,517 |
| 1891 | historical | 83 | #26,376 |
| 1901 | historical | 78 | #25,500 |
| 1911 | historical | 106 | #21,948 |
| 1997 | modern | 81 | #29,436 |
| 1998 | modern | 84 | #29,537 |
| 1999 | modern | 82 | #29,933 |
| 2000 | modern | 81 | #30,036 |
| 2001 | modern | 76 | #30,366 |
| 2002 | modern | 89 | #29,428 |
| 2003 | modern | 97 | #28,217 |
| 2004 | modern | 90 | #29,481 |
| 2005 | modern | 87 | #29,966 |
| 2006 | modern | 82 | #30,933 |
| 2007 | modern | 82 | #31,295 |
| 2008 | modern | 85 | #31,247 |
| 2009 | modern | 90 | #31,094 |
| 2010 | modern | 88 | #31,875 |
| 2011 | modern | 83 | #32,336 |
| 2012 | modern | 81 | #32,796 |
| 2013 | modern | 75 | #33,409 |
| 2014 | modern | 70 | #33,782 |
| 2015 | modern | 70 | #33,717 |
| 2016 | modern | 73 | #33,502 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Rochdale, Edinburgh, 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 No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rochdale | Lancashire |
| 2 | Edinburgh | Edinburgh |
| 3 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 4 | Glasgow | Lanark |
| 5 | Liverpool | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Mcdonaugh 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 Mcdonaugh, 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 Mcdonaugh surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Mcdonaugh 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, Mcdonaugh 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 Mcdonaugh is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Mcdonaugh, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname MCDONAUGH is of Irish origin, deriving from the Gaelic Mac Donnchadha or Mac Donnchadh, which means "son of Donnchadh". Donnchadh was an ancient Irish personal name meaning "brown warrior" or "brown battler". The surname is found primarily in Counties Sligo and Mayo in the west of Ireland.
The MCDONAUGH name can be traced back to the 12th century, with early recordings of the name found in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history. One of the earliest recorded bearers of the name was Muircheartach Mac Donnchadha, who was chief of Cairbre in County Sligo in the year 1170.
In the 16th century, the name MCDONAUGH appeared in the Fiants of the Tudor Sovereigns, which were records of grants and pardons issued by the English Crown in Ireland. One entry from 1585 mentions a pardon granted to Donill McDonoghe of County Sligo.
The MCDONAUGH surname has also been recorded with various spelling variations over the centuries, including McDonagh, McDonough, McDunphy, and Donagh. Some of these variations may have been influenced by local dialects or anglicizations of the original Irish name.
One notable bearer of the MCDONAUGH name was Michael McDonagh (1612-1672), an Irish Roman Catholic priest and scholar who served as the Archbishop of Tuam from 1647 until his death. Another was Randal McDonnell (1628-1683), an Irish soldier and landowner who fought for the Royalist cause during the English Civil War.
In the 19th century, John McDonough (1805-1892) was a prominent businessman and philanthropist from Baltimore, Maryland, known for his contributions to education and the arts. Mary McDonough (born 1952) is an American actress best known for her role as Erin Walton in the television series The Waltons.
Throughout history, the MCDONAUGH surname has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including clergy, soldiers, businessmen, and artists, reflecting the diverse contributions of those with Irish heritage.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mcdonaugh 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. Staffordshire leads with 6 Mcdonaughs recorded in 1881 and an index of 16.58x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Staffordshire | 6 | 16.58x |
| Derbyshire | 1 | 5.96x |
| Durham | 1 | 3.13x |
| Middlesex | 1 | 0.93x |
| Royal Navy | 1 | 78.13x |
| Yorkshire | 1 | 0.94x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bilston in Staffordshire leads with 6 Mcdonaughs recorded in 1881 and an index of 857.14x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Bilston | 6 | 857.14x |
| Barrow Upon Trent | 1 | 10000.00x |
| Heckmondwike | 1 | 294.12x |
| Ryhope | 1 | 454.55x |
| Westminster St John | 1 | 76.34x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Mcdonaugh 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 Mcdonaugh 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 Mcdonaugh households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 3 |
| Driver | 1 |
| Forge Labourer | 1 |
| General Servant | 1 |
| Government Assistant | 1 |
| Masons Labourer | 1 |
| Puddler In Ironworks | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 71 people were recorded with the Mcdonaugh surname. That placed it at #23,517 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 73 in 2016. That gives Mcdonaugh a modern rank of #33,502.
Irish surname derived from Gaelic Mac Donnchadha meaning son of Donnchadh.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Mcdonaugh 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.