NameCensus.

UK surname

Mcmurrough

An Anglicization of the Irish surname MacMurchadha, referring to a descendant of the ancient Leinster king Murchadh.

In the 1881 census there were 6 people recorded with the Mcmurrough surname, ranking it #32,926 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 116, ranked #28,197, up from #32,926 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Sunderland and Hyndburn.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mcmurrough is 117 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 1833.3%.

1881 census count

6

Ranked #32,926

Modern count

116

2016, ranked #28,197

Peak year

1998

117 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mcmurrough had 6 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #32,926 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 116 in 2016, ranked #28,197.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 25 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Mcmurrough surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mcmurrough surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mcmurrough 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
1861 historical 9 #32,724
1881 historical 6 #32,926
1891 historical 12 #33,181
1901 historical 7 #33,435
1911 historical 25 #30,654
1997 modern 107 #25,924
1998 modern 117 #25,190
1999 modern 115 #25,620
2000 modern 109 #26,381
2001 modern 102 #27,093
2002 modern 112 #26,165
2003 modern 115 #25,538
2004 modern 117 #25,448
2005 modern 109 #26,583
2006 modern 105 #27,479
2007 modern 100 #28,669
2008 modern 100 #29,001
2009 modern 106 #28,666
2010 modern 112 #28,336
2011 modern 115 #27,634
2012 modern 114 #27,868
2013 modern 112 #28,675
2014 modern 116 #28,253
2015 modern 115 #28,319
2016 modern 116 #28,197

Geography

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Where Mcmurroughs 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 Sunderland and Hyndburn. 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 Sunderland 005 Sunderland
2 Hyndburn 004 Hyndburn
3 Hyndburn 006 Hyndburn
4 Hyndburn 001 Hyndburn
5 Sunderland 021 Sunderland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mcmurrough

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mcmurrough

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Mcmurrough, 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 Mcmurrough surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Mcmurrough 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, Mcmurrough 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

Mcmurrough is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Mcmurrough

The surname McMurrough is of Irish origin, originating in the medieval kingdom of Leinster. It traces its roots back to the 12th century, deriving from the Gaelic name 'Diarmaid Mac Murchadha', anglicized as 'Dermot McMurrough'. This name belonged to a prominent Irish king who played a pivotal role in the Norman invasion of Ireland in 1169.

Diarmaid Mac Murchadha, born around 1110, was the King of Leinster from 1126 until his death in 1171. His actions in seeking military aid from King Henry II of England led to the arrival of Norman forces, ultimately resulting in the conquest of large parts of Ireland. The name McMurrough gained notoriety due to this significant historical event.

In the centuries that followed, the McMurrough name appeared in various historical records and manuscripts, particularly those related to the Irish noble families and their estates. The name is mentioned in the Irish Annals and the Gaelic poetry of the period, reflecting the family's prominence and influence.

One notable bearer of the McMurrough name was Art Óg McMurrough-Kavanagh, born around 1357, who was the King of Leinster from 1389 until his death in 1417. He is remembered for his resistance against English rule and his efforts to preserve the independence of Leinster.

Another prominent figure was Donal Reagh McMurrough, born in 1454, who was a claimant to the Kingdom of Leinster and fought against the English Crown during the Tudor conquest of Ireland in the 16th century.

In the 17th century, Dermot McMurrough, born around 1610, was a notable Irish nobleman and military leader who fought alongside the Catholic Confederates during the Irish Confederate Wars against the English Parliament.

The McMurrough name has also been associated with various place names and locations in Ireland, such as the town of Ferns, which was once the seat of the McMurrough kings of Leinster.

While the McMurrough name has deep historical roots, it is important to note that the information presented here is based on historical records and sources, and may not reflect the current distribution or prevalence of the name in modern times.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Mcmurrough surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mcmurrough surname in 1881?

In 1881, 6 people were recorded with the Mcmurrough surname. That placed it at #32,926 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mcmurrough surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 116 in 2016. That gives Mcmurrough a modern rank of #28,197.

What does the Mcmurrough surname mean?

An Anglicization of the Irish surname MacMurchadha, referring to a descendant of the ancient Leinster king Murchadh.

What does the Mcmurrough map show?

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