NameCensus.

UK surname

Mcshannon

An Irish surname referring to a person from Shannon, Ireland.

In the 1881 census there were 19 people recorded with the Mcshannon surname, ranking it #30,872 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 175, ranked #21,383, up from #30,872 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Campbeltown, Barnsley and Doncaster.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mcshannon is 175 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 821.1%.

1881 census count

19

Ranked #30,872

Modern count

175

2016, ranked #21,383

Peak year

2016

175 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mcshannon had 19 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #30,872 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 175 in 2016, ranked #21,383.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 31 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Mcshannon surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mcshannon surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mcshannon 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 16 #30,441
1861 historical 23 #31,039
1881 historical 19 #30,872
1891 historical 22 #32,449
1901 historical 31 #30,616
1997 modern 124 #23,669
1998 modern 140 #22,615
1999 modern 131 #23,709
2000 modern 139 #22,855
2001 modern 141 #22,344
2002 modern 155 #21,431
2003 modern 153 #21,406
2004 modern 152 #21,628
2005 modern 148 #21,961
2006 modern 143 #22,619
2007 modern 153 #21,912
2008 modern 159 #21,598
2009 modern 161 #21,879
2010 modern 162 #22,292
2011 modern 162 #22,101
2012 modern 164 #21,883
2013 modern 168 #21,914
2014 modern 168 #22,075
2015 modern 173 #21,542
2016 modern 175 #21,383

Geography

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Where Mcshannons 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 Campbeltown, Barnsley, Doncaster, Kintyre Trail and Bellshill South. 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 Campbeltown Argyll and Bute
2 Barnsley 025 Barnsley
3 Doncaster 021 Doncaster
4 Kintyre Trail Argyll and Bute
5 Bellshill South North Lanarkshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mcshannon

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mcshannon

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

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Mcshannon is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Mcshannon 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

Mcshannon falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Mcshannon is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Mcshannon

The surname McShannon is of Irish origin, first appearing in records during the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Gaelic words "mac" meaning "son" and "Sionnach" meaning "fox." The name likely originated in County Cavan, where there was a prominent family bearing this name.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the McShannon name dates back to the 14th century, when a Thomas McShannon was mentioned in the Annals of Ulster in 1375. This historical document recorded important events in the Irish province of Ulster.

In the 16th century, the McShannon clan was involved in a long-standing feud with the O'Reilly clan, another powerful Irish family from County Cavan. This rivalry was documented in various historical accounts and chronicles from that era.

A notable figure in the McShannon lineage was Fergus McShannon (1565-1630), a respected scholar and poet who wrote extensively in the Irish language. His works were widely circulated and celebrated during his lifetime.

Another prominent individual with the McShannon surname was Seamus McShannon (1720-1795), a successful merchant and landowner in County Cavan. He amassed considerable wealth and influenced through his business dealings and land holdings.

In the 19th century, a branch of the McShannon family emigrated to the United States, settling in the state of Pennsylvania. One of the earliest records of this family in America is Patrick McShannon (1825-1905), who became a prominent figure in the coal mining industry.

Throughout the centuries, variations in the spelling of the name have included MacShannon, McShanon, and McShannan, reflecting the fluid nature of surname spellings in earlier times. Additionally, the name has been linked to several place names in Ireland, such as Shannonside and Shannon Bridge, further solidifying its Irish roots.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Mcshannon surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mcshannon surname in 1881?

In 1881, 19 people were recorded with the Mcshannon surname. That placed it at #30,872 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mcshannon surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 175 in 2016. That gives Mcshannon a modern rank of #21,383.

What does the Mcshannon surname mean?

An Irish surname referring to a person from Shannon, Ireland.

What does the Mcshannon map show?

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