NameCensus.

UK surname

Meehan

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic "Ó Miadhachain," meaning "descendant of the honourable one."

In the 1881 census there were 600 people recorded with the Meehan surname, ranking it #5,832 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 3,452, ranked #1,971, up from #5,832 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Govan Combination and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include IZ01, Middlesbrough and Canterbury.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Meehan is 3,531 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 475.3%.

1881 census count

600

Ranked #5,832

Modern count

3,452

2016, ranked #1,971

Peak year

2010

3,531 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Meehan had 600 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,832 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 3,452 in 2016, ranked #1,971.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 869 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Meehan surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Meehan surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Meehan 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 161 #12,288
1861 historical 166 #14,039
1881 historical 600 #5,832
1891 historical 462 #7,917
1901 historical 869 #5,268
1911 historical 746 #5,759
1997 modern 3,088 #2,076
1998 modern 3,262 #2,056
1999 modern 3,281 #2,064
2000 modern 3,278 #2,056
2001 modern 3,263 #2,021
2002 modern 3,347 #2,020
2003 modern 3,241 #2,031
2004 modern 3,243 #2,031
2005 modern 3,245 #2,005
2006 modern 3,246 #2,017
2007 modern 3,299 #2,013
2008 modern 3,334 #2,004
2009 modern 3,402 #2,013
2010 modern 3,531 #1,970
2011 modern 3,471 #1,977
2012 modern 3,402 #1,976
2013 modern 3,466 #1,979
2014 modern 3,485 #1,984
2015 modern 3,444 #1,980
2016 modern 3,452 #1,971

Geography

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Where Meehans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Govan Combination, Manchester, Glasgow and Bradford. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to IZ01, Middlesbrough, Canterbury, Lichfield and Salford. 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 London parishes London 3
2 Govan Combination Lanark
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 Glasgow Lanark
5 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 IZ01 West Dunbartonshire
2 Middlesbrough 001 Middlesbrough
3 Canterbury 001 Canterbury
4 Lichfield 007 Lichfield
5 Salford 030 Salford

Forenames

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First names often paired with Meehan

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Meehan

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

Meehan 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

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

Meaning and origin of Meehan

The surname Meehan is an anglicized form of the Irish Gaelic name Ó Miadhachain, which originated in County Donegal, Ireland. The name derives from the Old Irish word "miodhach," meaning "honorable" or "worthy of honor." It is believed to have first emerged in the 12th century.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Meehan appears in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history compiled in the 17th century. The annals mention a member of the Ó Miadhachain clan named Muircheartach Ó Miadhachain, who lived in the 14th century.

In the 16th century, the name Meehan can be found in the Fiants of the Tudor Sovereigns, a collection of letters patent and grants issued by the English monarchs during their reign over Ireland. This suggests that the name was well-established in Ireland by that time.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, many Irish families, including the Meehans, were forced to anglicize their surnames due to the English conquest of Ireland and the suppression of Irish culture and language. As a result, the spelling of the name evolved from Ó Miadhachain to its more modern form, Meehan.

Notable individuals with the surname Meehan throughout history include:

1. Patrick Meehan (1847-1898), an Irish-American priest and educator who served as the third president of St. Vincent's College in Pennsylvania.

2. Thomas Meehan (1826-1901), an English-born American horticulturist and botanist who was a pioneer in the field of landscape architecture.

3. John Meehan (1889-1934), an Irish-born American actor and playwright who was active in the early 20th century.

4. Mary Josephine Meehan (1863-1941), an Irish-born American educator and writer who founded the Meehan Memorial School for Girls in New York City.

5. Michael Meehan (1852-1931), an Irish-born American politician who served as a member of the New York State Assembly and the New York State Senate.

The surname Meehan has a rich history rooted in Ireland, with its origins dating back to the 12th century. Despite the anglicization of the name, it has maintained a strong presence throughout the centuries and has been borne by numerous notable individuals across various fields.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Meehan families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Meehan 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 175 Meehans recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.53x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 175 2.53x
Yorkshire 109 1.89x
Middlesex 72 1.23x
Lanarkshire 61 3.23x
Durham 23 1.33x
Buckinghamshire 18 5.10x
Renfrewshire 15 3.32x
Cheshire 14 1.09x
Somerset 12 1.28x
Ayrshire 11 2.52x
Staffordshire 11 0.56x
Hampshire 10 0.84x
Cumberland 9 1.79x
Devon 7 0.58x
Midlothian 7 0.90x
Cardiganshire 5 3.51x
Northumberland 5 0.58x
West Lothian 5 5.69x
Gloucestershire 4 0.35x
Kent 4 0.20x
Surrey 4 0.14x
Shropshire 3 0.60x
Angus 2 0.37x
Fife 2 0.58x
Hertfordshire 2 0.50x
Lincolnshire 2 0.21x
Royal Navy 2 2.88x
Derbyshire 1 0.11x
Stirlingshire 1 0.46x
Warwickshire 1 0.07x
Wiltshire 1 0.19x

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 28 Meehans recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.66x.

Place Total Index
Liverpool 28 6.66x
Wakefield 21 47.32x
Manchester 20 6.42x
Bradford 19 13.58x
Buckingham 14 195.26x
Glasgow 14 4.18x
East Greenock 12 28.11x
Govan 12 2.57x
Great Bolton 12 13.09x
Manningham 12 16.85x
Gorton 11 16.90x
Barony 10 2.09x
Clitheroe 10 49.09x
St Clement Danes 10 105.93x
St Marylebone London 10 3.21x
Aldershot 9 22.47x
Darlington 9 13.43x
Oldham 9 4.03x
Cleator 8 38.28x
Dewsbury 8 13.50x
Heckmondwike 8 43.03x
Much Woolton 8 85.20x
Old Monkland 8 10.69x
Preston 8 4.32x
Stone 8 31.76x
Garston 7 34.26x
Northowram 7 17.27x
Plymouth St Andrew 7 7.48x
St Luke London 7 7.48x
Bathwick 6 57.75x
Dalziel 6 29.56x
Everton 6 2.72x
Hyde 6 15.79x
Little Bolton 6 6.74x
Rutherglen 6 21.68x
Salford 6 2.95x
St Pancras London 6 1.28x
Stevenston 6 52.72x
West Derby 6 2.96x
Whitechapel London 6 10.43x
Aberystwyth 5 221.24x
Chorley 5 12.87x
Fulham London 5 5.91x
Hindley 5 16.94x
Kirkliston 5 97.66x
Leeds 5 1.53x
Maryhill 5 13.54x
Mells 5 257.73x
Saddleworth 5 11.21x
Tarbolton 5 69.64x
Thornaby 5 23.15x
Withington 5 22.42x
Coundon Grange 4 104.99x
Dukinfield 4 6.72x
Hett 4 579.71x
St George In East 4 10.08x
St Martin In Fields 4 11.45x
Westminster St James 4 6.67x
Azerley 3 217.39x
Bristol St James In 3 17.83x
Burnley 3 5.15x
Chiswick 3 9.41x
Edgcott 3 789.47x
Islington London 3 0.53x
Mile End Old Town 3 3.26x
Newcastle On Tyne St 3 6.67x
Sheffield 3 1.63x
Stockport 3 4.53x
Tudhoe 3 19.76x
Wardleworth 3 7.58x
Wellington 3 10.59x
West Calder 3 19.48x
Wetherby 3 79.58x
Whitworth 3 23.60x
Woolwich 3 4.08x
Abbotshall 2 15.50x
Dundee 2 0.99x
Houston Killallan 2 45.77x
Royal Navy 2 3.37x
St Albans 2 24.27x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

FAQ

Meehan surname: questions and answers

How common was the Meehan surname in 1881?

In 1881, 600 people were recorded with the Meehan surname. That placed it at #5,832 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Meehan surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 3,452 in 2016. That gives Meehan a modern rank of #1,971.

What does the Meehan surname mean?

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic "Ó Miadhachain," meaning "descendant of the honourable one."

What does the Meehan map show?

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