NameCensus.

UK surname

Mcloughlin

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic "Mac Lochlainn," meaning "son of Lochlann" (a Norse personal name meaning "fjord land").

In the 1881 census there were 1,687 people recorded with the Mcloughlin surname, ranking it #2,547 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 8,022, ranked #825, up from #2,547 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Rochdale, Manchester and Liverpool. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Knowsley, St. Helens and Newport.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mcloughlin is 8,258 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 375.5%.

1881 census count

1,687

Ranked #2,547

Modern count

8,022

2016, ranked #825

Peak year

2010

8,258 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mcloughlin had 1,687 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,547 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 8,022 in 2016, ranked #825.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,944 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Mcloughlin surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mcloughlin surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Mcloughlin 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 426 #5,735
1861 historical 546 #4,815
1881 historical 1,687 #2,547
1891 historical 1,814 #2,534
1901 historical 2,606 #2,113
1911 historical 2,944 #1,765
1997 modern 7,530 #854
1998 modern 7,780 #863
1999 modern 7,844 #863
2000 modern 7,830 #859
2001 modern 7,651 #859
2002 modern 7,868 #853
2003 modern 7,658 #857
2004 modern 7,595 #864
2005 modern 7,519 #860
2006 modern 7,588 #850
2007 modern 7,691 #845
2008 modern 7,764 #838
2009 modern 8,045 #829
2010 modern 8,258 #824
2011 modern 8,064 #834
2012 modern 7,866 #835
2013 modern 8,077 #824
2014 modern 8,139 #824
2015 modern 8,033 #825
2016 modern 8,022 #825

Geography

Back to top

Where Mcloughlins are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Rochdale, Manchester, Liverpool, Bolton-le-Moors and Walton-on-the-Hill. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Knowsley, St. Helens and Newport. 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 Manchester Lancashire
3 Liverpool Lancashire
4 Bolton-le-Moors Lancashire
5 Walton-on-the-Hill Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Knowsley 001 Knowsley
2 Knowsley 002 Knowsley
3 Knowsley 003 Knowsley
4 St. Helens 019 St. Helens
5 Newport 013 Newport

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Mcloughlin

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Mcloughlin

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

Young Families in Industrial Towns

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

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, Mcloughlin 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

Mcloughlin 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

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

Meaning and origin of Mcloughlin

The surname MCLOUGHLIN is of Irish origin, deriving from the Gaelic Mac Loughlin or McLoughlin, meaning "son of Loughlin." This name can be traced back to the 9th or 10th century in Ireland. The prefix "Mac" indicates "son of," and Loughlin was a common personal name at the time, derived from the Gaelic name Lochlann, meaning "from Norway" or "Viking."

The name MCLOUGHLIN was prominent among the Gaelic families of County Sligo in the province of Connacht. One of the earliest recorded bearers of this name was Gillachrist MacLoughlin, who was mentioned in the Annals of the Four Masters in 1033 as the Chief of Cenél Conaill. The Cenél Conaill was an influential kindred or dynasty in the region now known as County Donegal.

In the 12th century, the Annals of Inisfallen recorded a reference to Muircheartach MacLoughlin, who was the King of Aileach and ruled over a significant portion of Ulster from 1166 to 1196. He was a powerful figure during the Norman invasion of Ireland and was known for his resistance against the Anglo-Norman forces.

Another notable bearer of the name was Aodhagán Ó Loughlin, an Irish poet and historian who lived in the 14th century. He was a member of the learned family of Ó Loughlin from County Sligo and is known for his work on the history of the Uí Briúin dynasties.

In the 16th century, the MCLOUGHLIN name appears in the Fiants of the Tudor Sovereigns, which were records of appointments and grants made by the English Crown in Ireland. One such entry from 1586 mentions Patrick McLoughlin of County Sligo, who was granted a pardon for his participation in the Desmond Rebellions.

One of the most famous bearers of the MCLOUGHLIN name was James McLoughlin (1807-1876), an Irish-American politician who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from New York. He was also involved in the construction of the Erie Canal and played a significant role in the development of transportation infrastructure in New York State.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Mcloughlin families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mcloughlin 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 134 Mcloughlins recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.99x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 134 3.99x
Yorkshire 53 1.89x
Durham 18 2.14x
Staffordshire 18 1.89x
Hampshire 14 2.41x
Cheshire 13 2.08x
Middlesex 10 0.35x
Cumberland 9 3.70x
Nottinghamshire 5 1.31x
Essex 4 0.72x
Dorset 3 1.62x
Warwickshire 2 0.28x
Worcestershire 2 0.54x
Cornwall 1 0.31x
Denbighshire 1 0.94x
Northumberland 1 0.24x
Surrey 1 0.07x
Wiltshire 1 0.40x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Salford in Lancashire leads with 26 Mcloughlins recorded in 1881 and an index of 26.34x.

Place Total Index
Salford 26 26.34x
Liverpool 18 8.83x
Manchester 17 11.26x
Holy Trinity 16 23.73x
Wolverhampton 13 17.71x
Toxteth Park 12 10.56x
West Derby 12 12.22x
Esh 9 147.06x
Kirkdale 9 15.94x
Portsea 9 7.92x
Altrincham 7 64.16x
Stockton On Tees 7 17.25x
Whitehaven 7 53.93x
Heckmondwike 6 66.52x
Hunslet 6 13.73x
Sculcoates 6 13.50x
Everton 5 4.67x
Warrington 5 12.57x
Chester St John Baptist 4 35.65x
Sheffield 4 4.48x
Sowerby In Halifax 4 43.62x
Syerston 4 2666.67x
Birkdale 3 35.34x
Broughton In Salford 3 9.78x
Cannock 3 18.01x
Doncaster 3 14.65x
Eccleston In Prescot 3 17.80x
Little Bolton 3 6.95x
Longparish 3 461.54x
Rishton 3 76.14x
St Luke London 3 6.61x
West Ham 3 2.43x
Weymouth 3 85.23x
Ashton Under Lyne 2 2.73x
Barnsley 2 6.92x
Bishop Auckland 2 17.71x
Dewsbury 2 6.96x
Golborne 2 45.77x
Lydiate 2 190.48x
Ormskirk 2 31.15x
Redditch 2 26.70x
St George Hanover 2 5.42x
St Michael Winchester 2 169.49x
St Pancras London 2 0.88x
Stoke Upon Trent 2 1.98x
Walton On Hill 2 11.00x
Wardleworth 2 10.43x
Altarnun 1 90.09x
Ashton In Makerfield 1 10.46x
Birkenhead 1 2.01x
Birmingham 1 0.42x
Bradford 1 1.47x
Cockermouth 1 19.49x
Fisherton Anger 1 21.60x
Gorton 1 3.17x
Hackney London 1 0.63x
Hampstead London 1 2.27x
Kensington London 1 0.64x
Lambeth 1 0.41x
Mansfield 1 7.58x
Millom 1 13.40x
North Meols 1 3.04x
Ripon 1 15.38x
Romford 1 11.33x
Seacroft 1 75.19x
Solihull 1 19.49x
Stansty 1 84.75x
Thelwall 1 208.33x
Wallsend 1 7.49x
York St Crux 1 125.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 30
Catherine 12
Elizabeth 9
Margaret 9
Bridget 6
Ann 5
Anne 5
Kate 5
Eleanor 4
Eliza 4
Ellen 4
Jane 3
Julia 3
Maria 3
Rose 3
Sarah 3
Ada 2
Alice 2
Annie 2
Elizh. 2
Emma 2
Hannah 2
Isabella 2
Agnes 1
Alina 1
Amy 1
Beatrice 1
Bedelia 1
Bessy 1
Dorah 1
Elizth. 1
Eva 1
Janet 1
John 1
Laura 1
Louisa 1
Lydia 1
Maggie 1
Margt. 1
Martha 1
Maud 1
Nelly 1
Oscarions 1
Polly 1
Winifred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 27
John 23
Thomas 16
Patrick 9
William 9
Henry 6
Michael 6
Charles 4
Joseph 4
Thos. 3
Wm. 3
Bernard 2
Daniel 2
Edward 2
Jno. 2
Martin 2
Mathew 2
Alexander 1
Austin 1
Bryan 1
C. 1
Chas. 1
Christopher 1
David 1
Domenick 1
Edwd. 1
Garrot 1
George 1
Herbert 1
Jas 1
Jeremiah 1
Laurence 1
Manus 1
Margaret 1
Owen 1
Pat 1
Patt 1
Peter 1
Raymond 1
Stephen 1
Terence 1

FAQ

Mcloughlin surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mcloughlin surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,687 people were recorded with the Mcloughlin surname. That placed it at #2,547 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mcloughlin surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 8,022 in 2016. That gives Mcloughlin a modern rank of #825.

What does the Mcloughlin surname mean?

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic "Mac Lochlainn," meaning "son of Lochlann" (a Norse personal name meaning "fjord land").

What does the Mcloughlin map show?

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