NameCensus.

UK surname

Mcgonigle

Derived from Irish Gaelic and meaning "son of the modest and gentle one".

In the 1881 census there were 77 people recorded with the Mcgonigle surname, ranking it #22,617 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 991, ranked #5,843, up from #22,617 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Govan Combination, Greenock and Glasgow. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Greenock Town Centre and East Central, Newark and Sherwood and Heathryfold and Middlefield.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mcgonigle is 991 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 1187.0%.

1881 census count

77

Ranked #22,617

Modern count

991

2016, ranked #5,843

Peak year

2016

991 bearers

Map years

4

1901 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mcgonigle had 77 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #22,617 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 991 in 2016, ranked #5,843.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 164 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Mcgonigle surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mcgonigle surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Mcgonigle 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 21 #29,550
1861 historical 33 #29,814
1881 historical 77 #22,617
1891 historical 91 #25,239
1901 historical 164 #17,144
1911 historical 57 #27,099
1997 modern 844 #6,279
1998 modern 876 #6,292
1999 modern 871 #6,368
2000 modern 848 #6,468
2001 modern 818 #6,528
2002 modern 871 #6,349
2003 modern 826 #6,476
2004 modern 824 #6,507
2005 modern 840 #6,356
2006 modern 857 #6,276
2007 modern 876 #6,221
2008 modern 898 #6,140
2009 modern 922 #6,140
2010 modern 957 #6,089
2011 modern 959 #6,028
2012 modern 951 #5,975
2013 modern 965 #5,999
2014 modern 974 #5,989
2015 modern 976 #5,923
2016 modern 991 #5,843

Geography

Back to top

Where Mcgonigles are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Govan Combination, Greenock, Glasgow, Liverpool and Preston. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Greenock Town Centre and East Central, Newark and Sherwood, Heathryfold and Middlefield, Luton and Braidfauld. 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 Greenock Renfrew
3 Glasgow Lanark
4 Liverpool Lancashire
5 Preston Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Greenock Town Centre and East Central Inverclyde
2 Newark and Sherwood 001 Newark and Sherwood
3 Heathryfold and Middlefield Aberdeen City
4 Luton 018 Luton
5 Braidfauld Glasgow City

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Mcgonigle

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Mcgonigle

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Mcgonigle, 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 Mcgonigle surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Mcgonigle 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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Mcgonigle is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Mcgonigle 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

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

Meaning and origin of Mcgonigle

The surname McGonigle originates from Ireland, with roots dating back to the 16th century. It is derived from the Gaelic name "Mac Conghail," which means "son of the valorous one." This name was particularly prevalent in counties Donegal and Tyrone.

The earliest known record of the McGonigle name appears in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history. It mentions a McGonigle chieftain, Niall Óg Mac Conghail, who lived in the late 16th century.

In the 17th century, the McGonigles were among the Irish families who were dispossessed of their lands during the Plantation of Ulster. Many were forced to migrate to other parts of Ireland or abroad.

One notable bearer of the McGonigle name was Reverend James McGonigle (1725-1803), an Irish Presbyterian minister who emigrated to America and became a prominent figure in the early days of the United States.

Another important McGonigle was John McGonigle (1801-1889), an Irish-born American businessman and politician who served as the Mayor of Philadelphia from 1854 to 1856.

In the 19th century, the McGonigle name was also found in Scotland, particularly in the regions of Ayrshire and Lanarkshire. This was likely due to the migration of Irish families during the Great Famine of the 1840s.

One of the most famous McGonigles was Sir George McGonigle (1883-1962), a British actor and theatre manager who was knighted for his contributions to the performing arts.

Additionally, James McGonigle (1915-2000) was an American attorney and judge who served as a United States District Judge for the District of Nebraska.

Throughout history, variations in the spelling of the McGonigle name have been observed, such as McGonagall, McGonegal, and McGonnigal, reflecting the fluidity of name transcription in earlier times.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Mcgonigle surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mcgonigle surname in 1881?

In 1881, 77 people were recorded with the Mcgonigle surname. That placed it at #22,617 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mcgonigle surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 991 in 2016. That gives Mcgonigle a modern rank of #5,843.

What does the Mcgonigle surname mean?

Derived from Irish Gaelic and meaning "son of the modest and gentle one".

What does the Mcgonigle map show?

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