UK surname
Irish surname from Gaelic Ó Monacháin translating to "descendant of the monk".
In the 1881 census there were 104 people recorded with the Monagan surname, ranking it #19,296 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 10, ranked #37,599, down from #19,296 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Edinburgh, Tynemouth (Chirton, Preston, Murton, Whitley, Monkseaton), Earsdon (Earsdon) and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Monagan is 131 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 90.4%.
1881 census count
104
Ranked #19,296
Modern count
10
2016, ranked #37,599
Peak year
1861
131 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1881
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Monagan surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Monagan surname density by area, 1881 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 94 | #17,837 |
| 1861 | historical | 131 | #17,052 |
| 1881 | historical | 104 | #19,296 |
| 1891 | historical | 79 | #26,897 |
| 1901 | historical | 93 | #23,689 |
| 1911 | historical | 24 | #30,800 |
| 1997 | modern | 7 | #37,533 |
| 1998 | modern | 7 | #37,533 |
| 1999 | modern | 7 | #37,513 |
| 2000 | modern | 5 | #37,823 |
| 2001 | modern | 5 | #37,652 |
| 2002 | modern | 5 | #37,723 |
| 2003 | modern | 4 | #37,951 |
| 2004 | modern | 8 | #37,346 |
| 2005 | modern | 7 | #37,581 |
| 2006 | modern | 6 | #37,788 |
| 2007 | modern | 6 | #37,837 |
| 2008 | modern | 6 | #37,883 |
| 2009 | modern | 5 | #38,122 |
| 2010 | modern | 6 | #38,024 |
| 2011 | modern | 6 | #38,016 |
| 2012 | modern | 6 | #38,008 |
| 2013 | modern | 8 | #37,767 |
| 2014 | modern | 10 | #37,567 |
| 2015 | modern | 10 | #37,563 |
| 2016 | modern | 10 | #37,599 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Edinburgh, Tynemouth (Chirton, Preston, Murton, Whitley, Monkseaton), Earsdon (Earsdon), Manchester, Eccles and St Paul Deptford, St Nicholas Deptford. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Edinburgh | Edinburgh |
| 2 | Tynemouth (Chirton, Preston, Murton, Whitley, Monkseaton), Earsdon (Earsdon) | Northumberland |
| 3 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 4 | Eccles | Lancashire |
| 5 | St Paul Deptford, St Nicholas Deptford | London (South Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Monagan surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Monagan, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Monagan surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Monagan household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Monagan is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Monagan is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Monagan, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Monagan originates from Ireland, specifically the Irish Gaelic Ó Monacháin, which translates to "descendant of the monk." This name dates back to the 10th century and was initially found in County Louth.
The name is derived from the Irish word "manach," meaning "monk" or "religious person." It was likely given to someone who lived near a monastery or had a close association with the church or monastic life.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Annals of Ulster, a chronicle of medieval Irish history. In 1072, it mentions "Ua Monacháin," referring to a member of the Monagan family.
In the 16th century, the Monagans were prominent in County Louth and held lands in the baronies of Louth and Ardee. Historically, the name has been spelled in various ways, including Monaghan, Monahan, Monaghon, and Monegan.
Notable individuals with the surname Monagan include:
1. Seán Ó Monacháin (1609-1678), an Irish Franciscan friar and scholar who wrote extensively on Irish history and culture.
2. Patrick Monagan (1700-1782), an Irish-born soldier who served in the French army during the Seven Years' War.
3. Sarah Monagan (1828-1896), an Irish-American philanthropist and founder of the Little Sisters of the Assumption, a Catholic religious order.
4. Michael Monagan (1941-2021), an Australian mathematician and computer scientist known for his contributions to symbolic computation.
5. John Monagan (born 1952), an American actor and playwright, best known for his roles in films like "Mystic River" and "The Departed."
The Monagan surname has a rich history deeply rooted in Irish culture and tradition, with its origins dating back to the monastic settlements of medieval Ireland.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Monagan surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lancashire leads with 44 Monagans recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.66x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 44 | 3.66x |
| Yorkshire | 16 | 1.59x |
| Midlothian | 8 | 5.89x |
| Northumberland | 8 | 5.30x |
| Kirkcudbrightshire | 6 | 40.87x |
| Durham | 5 | 1.66x |
| Lincolnshire | 4 | 2.47x |
| Angus | 2 | 2.13x |
| Kent | 2 | 0.58x |
| Surrey | 2 | 0.40x |
| Warwickshire | 2 | 0.78x |
| Argyllshire | 1 | 3.54x |
| Cheshire | 1 | 0.45x |
| Devon | 1 | 0.47x |
| Dunbartonshire | 1 | 3.67x |
| Hampshire | 1 | 0.48x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Liverpool in Lancashire leads with 17 Monagans recorded in 1881 and an index of 23.26x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Liverpool | 17 | 23.26x |
| Sheffield | 10 | 31.25x |
| South Leith | 8 | 52.32x |
| Worsley | 8 | 107.82x |
| Kirkmabreck | 6 | 937.50x |
| Birtley | 5 | 406.50x |
| Middlesbrough | 5 | 38.20x |
| Kirkdale | 4 | 19.75x |
| Spittlegate | 4 | 178.57x |
| Cheetham | 3 | 33.41x |
| Eccleston In Prescot | 3 | 49.67x |
| Elswick | 3 | 24.92x |
| Great Sankey | 3 | 1363.64x |
| Aston | 2 | 2.84x |
| Bedlington | 2 | 39.68x |
| Preston In Tynemouth | 2 | 338.98x |
| Southwark St George Martyr | 2 | 9.80x |
| Woolwich | 2 | 15.64x |
| Atherton | 1 | 22.83x |
| Buckfastleigh | 1 | 103.09x |
| Cardross | 1 | 30.58x |
| Dunoon | 1 | 172.41x |
| Great Bolton | 1 | 6.27x |
| Liff Benvie | 1 | 7.01x |
| Lochee | 1 | 119.05x |
| Manchester | 1 | 1.85x |
| Morpeth | 1 | 56.50x |
| Normanby In | 1 | 37.17x |
| Pendleton In Salford | 1 | 6.97x |
| Runcorn | 1 | 19.38x |
| Southampton St Mary | 1 | 7.65x |
| Sutton | 1 | 24.75x |
| Toxteth Park | 1 | 2.45x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Monagan surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Monagan surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Monagan households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 15 |
| Labourer | 6 |
| General Labourer | 4 |
| Cook | 2 |
| Hawker | 2 |
| Lab | 2 |
| (B) Smiths Labourer | 1 |
| Annuitant | 1 |
| Apprentice (Undef) | 1 |
| Barmaid | 1 |
| Blast Furnace Keeper (Iron) | 1 |
| Charwoman | 1 |
| Coal Miner | 1 |
| Dock Laborer | 1 |
| Finisher (CP) | 1 |
| General Laborer In R Arsneal | 1 |
| General Servant | 1 |
| Genl Labourer | 1 |
| Glass Maker | 1 |
| Groom (ND) | 1 |
| Iron Core Maker (Casters) | 1 |
| Iron Works Laborer | 1 |
| Laborer In Soap Works | 1 |
| Labour Furness (Iron) | 1 |
| Labourer Dock | 1 |
| Labourers Wife | 1 |
| Marine Fireman | 1 |
| Mason Laborer | 1 |
| Masons Labourer | 1 |
| Mechanich (E&M) | 1 |
| Sailor | 1 |
| Seamans Wife | 1 |
| Seamstress | 1 |
| Shoe Maker | 1 |
| Smallware Hawker | 1 |
| Warehouse Girl | 1 |
| Wife | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 104 people were recorded with the Monagan surname. That placed it at #19,296 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 10 in 2016. That gives Monagan a modern rank of #37,599.
Irish surname from Gaelic Ó Monacháin translating to "descendant of the monk".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Monagan bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.