NameCensus.

UK surname

Mcgonagle

Anglicized form of the Irish surname Mac Congail, meaning "son of Congal" (Congal meaning "valor").

In the 1881 census there were 27 people recorded with the Mcgonagle surname, ranking it #29,793 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 468, ranked #10,507, up from #29,793 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include IZ06, Copeland and IZ08.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mcgonagle is 492 in 2008. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 1633.3%.

1881 census count

27

Ranked #29,793

Modern count

468

2016, ranked #10,507

Peak year

2008

492 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mcgonagle had 27 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #29,793 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 468 in 2016, ranked #10,507.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 77 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Mcgonagle surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mcgonagle surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mcgonagle 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 15 #30,614
1861 historical 6 #33,230
1881 historical 27 #29,793
1891 historical 56 #29,638
1901 historical 77 #25,627
1911 historical 36 #29,370
1997 modern 428 #10,451
1998 modern 433 #10,718
1999 modern 454 #10,380
2000 modern 452 #10,394
2001 modern 441 #10,412
2002 modern 469 #10,105
2003 modern 473 #9,879
2004 modern 467 #10,013
2005 modern 470 #9,879
2006 modern 471 #9,907
2007 modern 469 #10,028
2008 modern 492 #9,771
2009 modern 475 #10,242
2010 modern 478 #10,392
2011 modern 466 #10,495
2012 modern 463 #10,457
2013 modern 466 #10,556
2014 modern 472 #10,525
2015 modern 470 #10,480
2016 modern 468 #10,507

Geography

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Where Mcgonagles 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 IZ06, Copeland, IZ08, IZ13 and Craigend and Ruchazie. 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 IZ06 West Dunbartonshire
2 Copeland 004 Copeland
3 IZ08 West Dunbartonshire
4 IZ13 West Dunbartonshire
5 Craigend and Ruchazie Glasgow City

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mcgonagle

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mcgonagle

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Mcgonagle surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Mcgonagle household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Mcgonagle 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

Mcgonagle is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Mcgonagle falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Mcgonagle is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Mcgonagle

The surname McGonagle is of Irish origin and can be traced back to the early 16th century in County Donegal, Ireland. It is derived from the Irish Gaelic words "mac" meaning "son of" and "Gonagle," an anglicized form of the Irish name "Ó Conghalaigh" or "Ó Conghaile," meaning "descendant of Conghal."

The name Conghal is an ancient Irish personal name derived from the words "con" meaning "hound" or "wolf" and "gal" meaning "valor" or "bravery," suggesting the name may have been given to a person known for their courage and strength in battle. The earliest recorded spelling of the name appears to be "McGonagill" in the Fiants of Elizabeth I in 1598.

In the 17th century, the McGonagle family was prominent in the Parish of Inishkeel, County Donegal, where they held lands and were considered an important clan. The name is also found in various historical records from this time, such as the Hearth Money Rolls of 1665 and the Census of Ireland of 1659.

One notable figure with the surname McGonagle was Patrick McGonagle (1819-1897), an Irish immigrant to the United States who became a successful businessman and philanthropist in New York City. He established the McGonagle Fund for the education of Irish immigrant children.

Another prominent individual was James McGonagle (1825-1901), a Scottish-born Irish poet and journalist who was active in the Young Ireland movement and later settled in the United States. His works include "The Patriot's Grave" and "The Green Gem of the Western World."

In the 19th century, the McGonagle family was also found in Scotland, particularly in the regions of Ayrshire and Lanarkshire. One notable Scottish McGonagle was John McGonagle (1835-1892), a successful businessman and member of the Town Council of Saltcoats, Ayrshire.

The name McGonagle is also found in various place names in Ireland, such as McGonagle's Bridge in County Donegal and McGonagle's Island in Lough Erne, County Fermanagh, further attesting to the historical significance of this surname.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Mcgonagle surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mcgonagle surname in 1881?

In 1881, 27 people were recorded with the Mcgonagle surname. That placed it at #29,793 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mcgonagle surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 468 in 2016. That gives Mcgonagle a modern rank of #10,507.

What does the Mcgonagle surname mean?

Anglicized form of the Irish surname Mac Congail, meaning "son of Congal" (Congal meaning "valor").

What does the Mcgonagle map show?

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