NameCensus.

UK surname

Mcgonnell

Irish surname transferred from the Gaelic name Mag Dhonnghail meaning "son of the brown-haired stranger".

In the 1881 census there were 24 people recorded with the Mcgonnell surname, ranking it #30,215 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 251, ranked #16,744, up from #30,215 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Lancaster, South Tyneside and County Durham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mcgonnell is 265 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 945.8%.

1881 census count

24

Ranked #30,215

Modern count

251

2016, ranked #16,744

Peak year

2010

265 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mcgonnell had 24 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #30,215 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 251 in 2016, ranked #16,744.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 76 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Mcgonnell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mcgonnell surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mcgonnell 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 4 #32,658
1861 historical 10 #32,589
1881 historical 24 #30,215
1891 historical 36 #31,465
1901 historical 76 #25,734
1911 historical 25 #30,654
1997 modern 200 #17,618
1998 modern 211 #17,532
1999 modern 215 #17,425
2000 modern 219 #17,195
2001 modern 215 #17,159
2002 modern 233 #16,590
2003 modern 216 #17,229
2004 modern 224 #16,918
2005 modern 217 #17,217
2006 modern 229 #16,748
2007 modern 243 #16,243
2008 modern 252 #15,984
2009 modern 252 #16,323
2010 modern 265 #16,115
2011 modern 256 #16,383
2012 modern 250 #16,523
2013 modern 248 #16,877
2014 modern 251 #16,865
2015 modern 255 #16,564
2016 modern 251 #16,744

Geography

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Where Mcgonnells 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 Lancaster, South Tyneside, County Durham and Springburn. 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 Lancaster 011 Lancaster
2 Lancaster 017 Lancaster
3 South Tyneside 009 South Tyneside
4 County Durham 048 County Durham
5 Springburn Glasgow City

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mcgonnell

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mcgonnell

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

Mcgonnell 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

Mcgonnell 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 Mcgonnell is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Mcgonnell

The surname McGonnell has its origins in Ireland and is believed to have emerged in the early 13th century. It is derived from the Gaelic personal name Gille Fhinnéin, which means "servant or devotee of St. Finnan." The name was originally rendered as McGillennen or MacGillennen, with various spelling variations such as McGillinnon, McGillinnion, and McGillinnen.

The earliest recorded reference to the name dates back to 1266 in the Annals of Ulster, where it is mentioned as MacGillinnein. This document chronicles events in medieval Ireland and provides valuable insights into the history and genealogy of Irish families.

During the 16th century, the McGonnell surname was particularly prevalent in County Donegal, Ireland. In the Fiants of the Tudor Sovereigns, a series of official records from the 16th and 17th centuries, there are several mentions of individuals bearing this surname, such as Donell McGonnell and Gillaspick McGonnell.

One notable figure with the McGonnell surname was Bernard McGonnell, an Irish Franciscan friar who lived in the 17th century (c. 1620-1690). He was a prominent scholar and author, known for his work entitled "Historia Irlandiae" (History of Ireland), which provided an account of Irish history from ancient times to the 17th century.

Another individual of historical significance was James McGonnell (1762-1834), an Irish-American merchant and philanthropist. He was born in County Antrim, Ireland, and later immigrated to the United States, where he became a successful businessman and donated generously to educational and religious institutions.

In the 19th century, John McGonnell (1825-1892) was a notable Irish-American politician and journalist. He served as the Lieutenant Governor of Illinois from 1865 to 1869 and was also the founder of the Chicago newspaper, The Western Tablet.

The McGonnell surname has also been associated with various place names in Ireland, such as Ballymacgonnell and Drumacgonnell, further highlighting the historical roots of this name in the region.

Throughout history, the McGonnell surname has undergone various spelling variations, including McGonnel, McGonill, McGonnill, and McGonnill, reflecting the evolution of language and regional differences in pronunciation and documentation.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Mcgonnell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mcgonnell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 24 people were recorded with the Mcgonnell surname. That placed it at #30,215 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mcgonnell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 251 in 2016. That gives Mcgonnell a modern rank of #16,744.

What does the Mcgonnell surname mean?

Irish surname transferred from the Gaelic name Mag Dhonnghail meaning "son of the brown-haired stranger".

What does the Mcgonnell map show?

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