NameCensus.

UK surname

Merrigan

A variant of the Irish surname Merrigan meaning "descendant of Merrigan".

In the 1881 census there were 62 people recorded with the Merrigan surname, ranking it #24,843 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 335, ranked #13,611, up from #24,843 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Toxteth Park, Sefton and Childwall. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include County Durham, Sunderland and Rugby.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Merrigan is 343 in 2013. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 440.3%.

1881 census count

62

Ranked #24,843

Modern count

335

2016, ranked #13,611

Peak year

2013

343 bearers

Map years

5

1901 to 2016

Key insights

  • Merrigan had 62 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #24,843 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 335 in 2016, ranked #13,611.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 136 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Merrigan surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Merrigan surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Merrigan 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 9 #31,675
1861 historical 44 #28,433
1881 historical 62 #24,843
1891 historical 82 #26,494
1901 historical 125 #20,061
1911 historical 136 #18,962
1997 modern 300 #13,530
1998 modern 295 #14,029
1999 modern 302 #13,895
2000 modern 313 #13,541
2001 modern 309 #13,487
2002 modern 314 #13,589
2003 modern 307 #13,614
2004 modern 316 #13,425
2005 modern 304 #13,724
2006 modern 304 #13,797
2007 modern 313 #13,648
2008 modern 311 #13,800
2009 modern 305 #14,257
2010 modern 326 #13,918
2011 modern 330 #13,664
2012 modern 332 #13,501
2013 modern 343 #13,372
2014 modern 343 #13,463
2015 modern 337 #13,560
2016 modern 335 #13,611

Geography

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Where Merrigans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Toxteth Park, Sefton, Childwall, Liverpool and Swansea. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to County Durham, Sunderland, Rugby, Thurrock and Babergh. 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 Toxteth Park Lancashire
2 Sefton Lancashire
3 Childwall Lancashire
4 Liverpool Lancashire
5 Swansea Glamorganshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 County Durham 019 County Durham
2 Sunderland 009 Sunderland
3 Rugby 011 Rugby
4 Thurrock 018 Thurrock
5 Babergh 010 Babergh

Forenames

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First names often paired with Merrigan

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Merrigan

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

Merrigan 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

Merrigan falls in decile 4 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Merrigan 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 Merrigan, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Merrigan

The surname Merrigan is an anglicized variant of the Irish Gaelic name Ó Muiríghín, which originated in County Clare, Ireland. Ó Muiríghín means "descendant of Muiríghín," a personal name derived from the Old Irish word "muir," meaning sea.

The earliest recorded instance of the Merrigan name can be traced back to the 13th century, when it appeared in various legal documents and annals from the region. It is believed that the name may have originated in the parish of Kilmurry, which is derived from the Irish "Cill Muire," meaning "church of Mary."

In the 16th century, the Merrigan family held significant influence in the Barony of Inchiquin, located in the north-western region of County Clare. The Merrigan clan was known for their involvement in local conflicts and their allegiance to the O'Brien dynasty, one of the most powerful noble families in Munster.

Notable figures bearing the Merrigan surname include Donough Merrigan, a 16th-century scholar and poet who is believed to have composed several works in the Irish language. Another prominent Merrigan was Murtagh Merrigan, a 17th-century soldier who fought in the Confederation of Kilkenny during the Irish Confederate Wars.

In the 18th century, the Merrigan name appeared in various historical records from County Clare, including the Landed Estates Court Rentals and the Tithe Applotment Books. One notable individual from this period was Patrick Merrigan (1720-1795), a landowner and member of the Irish Parliament.

During the 19th century, the Merrigan name gained recognition outside of Ireland as many individuals emigrated to other parts of the world, particularly the United States, Canada, and Australia. One prominent figure from this era was James Merrigan (1832-1908), an Australian politician and member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly.

Throughout history, the Merrigan surname has maintained a strong connection to its Irish roots and the County Clare region, where it originated. Despite variations in spelling and anglicization, the name continues to reflect its deep-rooted ties to the Gaelic culture and heritage of Ireland.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Merrigan families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Merrigan 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 31 Merrigans recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.39x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 31 4.39x
Durham 8 4.52x
Middlesex 8 1.34x
Glamorgan 5 4.83x
Lanarkshire 5 2.60x
Cumberland 2 3.91x
Kent 1 0.49x
Surrey 1 0.35x

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 11 Merrigans recorded in 1881 and an index of 25.66x.

Place Total Index
Liverpool 11 25.66x
Easington 8 3076.92x
Bow London 6 79.26x
Over Darwen 6 106.38x
Toxteth Park 6 25.10x
Swansea Town 5 58.89x
West Derby 5 24.21x
Govan 4 8.41x
Cleator 2 93.90x
Kensington London 2 6.05x
Battersea 1 4.57x
Bothwell 1 19.16x
Cheriton 1 120.48x
Chorlton Cum Hardy 1 212.77x
Great Crosby 1 52.08x
Widnes 1 19.65x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 6
Ann 3
Catherine 3
Annie 2
Ellenor 2
Emma 2
Sarah 2
Christina 1
Emily 1
Marcella 1
Margaret 1
Maria 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 6
Thomas 5
William 5
James 3
Patrick 3
Joseph 2
Michael 2
Albert 1
Edward 1
George 1
Patk. 1
Peter 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Merrigan households.

FAQ

Merrigan surname: questions and answers

How common was the Merrigan surname in 1881?

In 1881, 62 people were recorded with the Merrigan surname. That placed it at #24,843 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Merrigan surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 335 in 2016. That gives Merrigan a modern rank of #13,611.

What does the Merrigan surname mean?

A variant of the Irish surname Merrigan meaning "descendant of Merrigan".

What does the Merrigan map show?

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