NameCensus.

UK surname

Mcgann

A surname of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic "Mac an Ceann," meaning "son of the chief."

In the 1881 census there were 351 people recorded with the Mcgann surname, ranking it #8,742 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,032, ranked #5,656, up from #8,742 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Hull Holy Trinity, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry and Liverpool. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Barnsley, County Durham and Liverpool.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mcgann is 1,045 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 194.0%.

1881 census count

351

Ranked #8,742

Modern count

1,032

2016, ranked #5,656

Peak year

2010

1,045 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mcgann had 351 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,742 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,032 in 2016, ranked #5,656.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 433 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Mcgann surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mcgann surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mcgann 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 63 #22,069
1861 historical 104 #20,477
1881 historical 351 #8,742
1891 historical 338 #10,113
1901 historical 433 #8,954
1911 historical 394 #9,394
1997 modern 909 #5,928
1998 modern 949 #5,907
1999 modern 968 #5,861
2000 modern 950 #5,924
2001 modern 928 #5,932
2002 modern 960 #5,869
2003 modern 938 #5,890
2004 modern 959 #5,803
2005 modern 961 #5,729
2006 modern 961 #5,739
2007 modern 969 #5,755
2008 modern 992 #5,687
2009 modern 1,022 #5,667
2010 modern 1,045 #5,666
2011 modern 1,014 #5,751
2012 modern 999 #5,737
2013 modern 1,013 #5,761
2014 modern 1,022 #5,755
2015 modern 1,027 #5,686
2016 modern 1,032 #5,656

Geography

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Where Mcganns are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Hull Holy Trinity, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry, Liverpool, West Derby and Sheffield. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Barnsley, County Durham, Liverpool and East Lindsey. 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 Hull Holy Trinity Yorkshire, East Riding
2 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar
3 Liverpool Lancashire
4 West Derby Lancashire
5 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Barnsley 021 Barnsley
2 County Durham 018 County Durham
3 Liverpool 017 Liverpool
4 County Durham 016 County Durham
5 East Lindsey 005 East Lindsey

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mcgann

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mcgann

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Mcgann surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Mcgann household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Mcgann 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

Mcgann is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Mcgann

The surname McGann has its origins in Ireland, with the name first appearing in historical records around the 12th century. It is believed to be derived from the Gaelic name MacGhanna, which means "son of Gann" or "son of the fair one." The name Gann is thought to have been a pet form of the Irish name Gannon, which itself is a diminutive of the name Ogan.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the McGann name dates back to the 13th century, with a reference to a Gillacomain McGann in the Annals of Connacht in 1256. These annals were a chronicle of events in the west of Ireland, suggesting that the McGann surname may have originated in that region.

Over the centuries, various spellings of the name have been documented, including McGhann, McGan, and McGahan. Some of these variations may have been due to anglicization or regional differences in pronunciation and spelling.

The McGann surname has been associated with several notable figures throughout history. One such individual was Sean McGann (1922-1984), an Irish stage and film actor who appeared in numerous productions, including the 1962 film adaptation of James Joyce's "Ulysses."

Another prominent McGann was Bartholomew McGann (1865-1932), an American architect who designed several notable buildings in New York City, including the Woolworth Building and the St. Regis Hotel.

In the literary world, Thomas McGann (1856-1942) was an Irish poet and playwright who wrote several works in the Irish language, contributing to the Irish Literary Revival of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

The McGann name has also been connected to certain place names, such as McGann's Pass in South Australia, which was named after an early settler and pastoralist named Patrick McGann.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the McGann surname in England can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1170, where a person named William McGann is mentioned.

While these are just a few examples, the McGann surname has a rich history that spans centuries and can be traced back to its Irish origins, with various notable individuals bearing the name over the years.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mcgann families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mcgann 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 20 Mcganns recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.84x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 20 3.84x
Yorkshire 15 3.45x
Warwickshire 3 2.71x
Derbyshire 2 2.91x
Dorset 2 6.94x
Hampshire 1 1.11x
Middlesex 1 0.23x
Staffordshire 1 0.68x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Leeds in Yorkshire leads with 8 Mcganns recorded in 1881 and an index of 32.59x.

Place Total Index
Leeds 8 32.59x
Holy Trinity 7 66.92x
West Derby 7 45.96x
Liverpool 4 12.65x
Preston 4 28.72x
Aston 3 9.85x
Chesterfield 2 77.52x
Chorlton On Medlock 2 24.18x
Sherborne 2 235.29x
Aldershot 1 33.22x
Oldham 1 5.95x
Salford 1 6.53x
St Pancras London 1 2.83x
Stoke Upon Trent 1 6.37x
Tonge 1 91.74x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 8
Ann 2
Catherine 2
Margaret 2
Annie 1
Bridget 1
Elizabeth 1
Kate 1
Maggy 1
Margt. 1
Sabina 1
Sarah 1
Winifred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 8
James 3
Joseph 2
Thomas 2
Bartholemew 1
Edward 1
Irwin 1
Isaac 1
Michael 1
Peter 1
Wm. 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 Mcgann households.

FAQ

Mcgann surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mcgann surname in 1881?

In 1881, 351 people were recorded with the Mcgann surname. That placed it at #8,742 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mcgann surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,032 in 2016. That gives Mcgann a modern rank of #5,656.

What does the Mcgann surname mean?

A surname of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic "Mac an Ceann," meaning "son of the chief."

What does the Mcgann map show?

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