NameCensus.

UK surname

Mchugh

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic "Mac Aodha," meaning "son of Aodh" (a personal name meaning "fire").

In the 1881 census there were 1,796 people recorded with the Mchugh surname, ranking it #2,419 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 7,127, ranked #938, up from #2,419 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Rochdale, Gateshead and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Caldercruix and Plains, Toryglen and Oatlands and Law.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mchugh is 7,335 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 296.8%.

1881 census count

1,796

Ranked #2,419

Modern count

7,127

2016, ranked #938

Peak year

2010

7,335 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mchugh had 1,796 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,419 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 7,127 in 2016, ranked #938.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,824 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Mchugh surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mchugh surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mchugh 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 629 #4,129
1861 historical 715 #3,807
1881 historical 1,796 #2,419
1891 historical 2,129 #2,188
1901 historical 2,824 #1,973
1911 historical 2,558 #2,000
1997 modern 6,628 #979
1998 modern 6,932 #975
1999 modern 7,039 #972
2000 modern 7,031 #963
2001 modern 6,899 #962
2002 modern 7,080 #952
2003 modern 6,914 #953
2004 modern 6,836 #967
2005 modern 6,825 #953
2006 modern 6,855 #954
2007 modern 6,913 #953
2008 modern 6,969 #948
2009 modern 7,154 #942
2010 modern 7,335 #936
2011 modern 7,212 #937
2012 modern 7,035 #943
2013 modern 7,139 #952
2014 modern 7,224 #938
2015 modern 7,145 #938
2016 modern 7,127 #938

Geography

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Where Mchughs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Rochdale, Gateshead, 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 Caldercruix and Plains, Toryglen and Oatlands, Law, Rochdale and Possil Park. 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 Rochdale Lancashire
2 Gateshead Durham
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 Glasgow Lanark
5 Liverpool Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Caldercruix and Plains North Lanarkshire
2 Toryglen and Oatlands Glasgow City
3 Law Dundee City
4 Rochdale 020 Rochdale
5 Possil Park Glasgow City

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mchugh

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mchugh

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

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Mchugh is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Mchugh is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Mchugh

The surname McHugh is of Irish origin, originating in the 16th century or earlier. It is an anglicized form of the Gaelic name Mac Aodha, which means "son of Aodh" or "son of Hugh". The personal name Aodh is derived from the Old Irish name Áed, meaning "fire" or "fiery one".

McHugh is a common surname found throughout Ireland, particularly in Ulster and Connacht. It is also found in various areas of Scotland, where Irish settlers migrated over the centuries. The earliest recorded spelling variations include McHughe, McHewghe, and McUghe.

One of the earliest recorded references to the surname McHugh can be found in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history compiled in the early 17th century. The annals mention several individuals with the surname, including Aodh Ruadh Mac Aodha, who died in 1537.

In the 16th and 17th centuries, the McHugh clan was prominent in County Sligo, where they held lands and were considered a sept (branch) of the O'Conor clan. Noteworthy individuals from this period include Cathal Óg Mac Aodha (c. 1550-1628), a celebrated Irish poet and historian.

During the Plantation of Ulster in the early 17th century, many McHughs were displaced from their traditional lands. Some migrated to other parts of Ireland, while others settled in Scotland or emigrated to the Americas and other regions.

Notable McHughs throughout history include:

1. Patrick McHugh (1776-1827), an Irish-American merchant and politician who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from Pennsylvania. 2. John McHugh (1832-1904), an Irish-born American politician who served as Mayor of Boston from 1889 to 1891. 3. Victor McHugh (1861-1928), an Irish-born American actor and playwright, known for his work on the vaudeville stage. 4. Caleb McHugh (1732-1807), an Irish-born American soldier who served in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. 5. James McHugh (1882-1964), an American labor leader and politician who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from New York.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mchugh families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mchugh 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 112 Mchughs recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.93x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 112 3.93x
Yorkshire 38 1.60x
Middlesex 22 0.92x
Durham 17 2.38x
Derbyshire 12 3.19x
Staffordshire 9 1.11x
Warwickshire 8 1.32x
Cheshire 6 1.13x
Northumberland 6 1.68x
Cumberland 3 1.45x
Surrey 3 0.26x
Essex 2 0.42x
Leicestershire 2 0.75x
Royal Navy 2 6.99x
Channel Islands 1 1.41x
Flintshire 1 1.55x
Hampshire 1 0.20x
Isle of Man 1 2.24x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Liverpool in Lancashire leads with 17 Mchughs recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.83x.

Place Total Index
Liverpool 17 9.83x
Chorley 13 81.35x
Salford 13 15.52x
West Derby 12 14.41x
Westminster St John 9 30.80x
Birmingham 8 3.97x
Chesterfield 8 56.82x
Chorlton On Medlock 8 17.69x
Holy Trinity 8 13.99x
Normanby In 7 110.06x
Baildon 6 133.93x
Bishopwearmouth 6 9.79x
Over Darwen 6 26.39x
Rusholme 6 79.05x
Stranton 6 24.97x
Collierley 5 157.23x
Golborne 5 134.77x
Mile End Old Town London 5 9.79x
Sheffield 5 6.61x
St Marylebone London 5 3.90x
Chester St John Baptist 4 42.02x
Everton 4 4.41x
Heap 4 26.49x
Longbenton 4 26.46x
Manchester 4 3.12x
Tipton 4 16.13x
Toxteth Park 4 4.15x
Wardleworth 4 24.59x
Warrington 4 11.85x
Whittington 4 76.92x
Camberwell 3 1.96x
Stoke Newington London 3 16.05x
Wednesfield 3 25.17x
Leeds 2 1.49x
Loughborough 2 16.57x
Newton 2 9.11x
Sculcoates 2 5.31x
Tonge 2 33.50x
Tyldesley Cum Shakerley 2 24.39x
West Ham 2 1.91x
Westgate 2 9.05x
Aston Cum Aughton 1 51.28x
Barnsley 1 4.08x
Blackburn 1 1.32x
Bradford 1 1.74x
Cleator 1 11.63x
Cummersdale 1 142.86x
Dymeirchion 1 185.19x
Lymm 1 25.97x
Onchan 1 7.79x
Portsea 1 1.04x
Roundhay 1 149.25x
Roystone 1 107.53x
St Cuthbert W O 1 9.93x
St Helier 1 4.32x
Stainland Cum Old 1 24.57x
Stone 1 9.65x
Tanshelf 1 52.63x
Upton By Birkenhead 1 196.08x
Wakefield 1 5.48x
Withington 1 10.91x
Wolverhampton 1 1.61x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 27
Margaret 10
Bridget 7
Ann 5
Elizabeth 5
Ellen 5
Sarah 5
Annie 4
Catherine 4
Anne 3
Eliza 3
Kate 3
Emma 2
Fanny 2
Frances 2
Lucy 2
Martha 2
Nellie 2
Rose 2
Ada 1
Agnes 1
Alice 1
Anna 1
Caroline 1
Cathe. 1
Cathrine 1
Clara 1
E. 1
Eliz. 1
Esther 1
Florence 1
Francess 1
Hannah 1
Jane 1
Julia 1
Teresa 1
Theresa 1
Violet 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 27
James 15
Peter 9
Thomas 9
Patrick 8
Michael 6
William 6
Edward 4
Joseph 4
Martin 4
Thos. 4
Bernard 2
Francis 2
Frank 2
Henry 2
Herbert 2
Albert 1
Alfred 1
Andrew 1
Charles 1
Daniel 1
Dennis 1
Edwd. 1
George 1
Hugh 1
Ignatius 1
Jas. 1
Jay 1
Louis 1
Mark 1
Mich. 1
Michal 1
Myles 1
Ouno 1
Patr. 1
Patric 1
Robert 1
Rodger 1
Terrance 1
Thos 1

FAQ

Mchugh surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mchugh surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,796 people were recorded with the Mchugh surname. That placed it at #2,419 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mchugh surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 7,127 in 2016. That gives Mchugh a modern rank of #938.

What does the Mchugh surname mean?

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic "Mac Aodha," meaning "son of Aodh" (a personal name meaning "fire").

What does the Mchugh map show?

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