NameCensus.

UK surname

Monahan

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic "Ó Manacháin," meaning "descendant of Manachán" (a diminutive of "manach," meaning "monk").

In the 1881 census there were 214 people recorded with the Monahan surname, ranking it #12,284 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 756, ranked #7,240, up from #12,284 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St Leonard Shoreditch, Govan Combination and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Camden, Sutherland South and Sefton.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Monahan is 763 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 253.3%.

1881 census count

214

Ranked #12,284

Modern count

756

2016, ranked #7,240

Peak year

1998

763 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Monahan had 214 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,284 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 756 in 2016, ranked #7,240.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 214 in 1881.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Monahan surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Monahan surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Monahan 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 99 #17,294
1861 historical 112 #19,279
1881 historical 214 #12,284
1891 historical 140 #19,193
1901 historical 158 #17,507
1911 historical 140 #18,657
1997 modern 711 #7,165
1998 modern 763 #7,006
1999 modern 748 #7,161
2000 modern 726 #7,290
2001 modern 706 #7,324
2002 modern 716 #7,377
2003 modern 695 #7,421
2004 modern 699 #7,412
2005 modern 691 #7,421
2006 modern 687 #7,479
2007 modern 696 #7,455
2008 modern 681 #7,644
2009 modern 709 #7,568
2010 modern 734 #7,498
2011 modern 731 #7,459
2012 modern 722 #7,445
2013 modern 743 #7,403
2014 modern 755 #7,334
2015 modern 757 #7,247
2016 modern 756 #7,240

Geography

Back to top

Where Monahans are most common

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

The modern local-area list points to Camden, Sutherland South, Sefton, Three Rivers and Watford. 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 St Leonard Shoreditch London (East Districts)
2 Govan Combination Lanark
3 London parishes London 3
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Camden 025 Camden
2 Sutherland South Highland
3 Sefton 007 Sefton
4 Three Rivers 003 Three Rivers
5 Watford 008 Watford

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Monahan

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Monahan

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Monahan, 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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Monahan surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Monahan household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Monahan 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

Monahan 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

Monahan falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Monahan

The surname Monahan is of Irish origin and is derived from the Gaelic words "O'Monachan," which translates to "descendant of the monk." This suggests that the name may have been originally bestowed upon someone who lived as a monk or had close ties to a monastery.

The earliest recorded instances of the Monahan surname can be traced back to the 16th century in County Monaghan, Ireland. This county is believed to be the place of origin for the name, as it shares a similar spelling. It's possible that the name evolved from a place name or a descriptive term referring to a geographical feature associated with a monastery or religious establishment.

During the medieval period, the Monahan name appeared in various Irish annals and manuscripts, although specific references are scarce due to the age and limited documentation from that era. One notable mention is found in the Annals of the Four Masters, a historical chronicle compiled in the early 17th century, which recorded events and genealogies of Irish families and clans.

In the 17th century, the Monahan surname gained prominence with the birth of Theobald Monahan (1615-1699), an Irish Catholic priest and philosopher who was a prominent figure in the Catholic Reformation movement. Another significant figure was John Monahan (1768-1835), an Irish-born American physician and politician who served in the U.S. House of Representatives for Pennsylvania.

Other notable individuals with the Monahan surname include:

1. Thomas Monahan (1828-1903), an Irish-born American businessman and co-founder of the Monahan Truck and Transfer Company in Chicago. 2. Cornelius Monahan (1860-1942), an Irish-born American prelate who served as the Bishop of Wilmington, Delaware, from 1925 to 1942. 3. Michael Monahan (1885-1964), an Irish-American labor leader and president of the Brotherhood of Railway Carmen of America. 4. James Monahan (1904-1995), an American film director and producer known for his work on television series like "Gunsmoke" and "The Rifleman." 5. Terry Monahan (born 1938), an American football player who played as a defensive back for the Chicago Bears in the National Football League.

While the Monahan surname has evolved over time, its roots can be traced back to Ireland, where it originated as a patronymic name associated with monasteries and religious orders. Despite its humble beginnings, the name has been carried by notable individuals in various fields throughout history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Monahan families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Monahan 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 62 Monahans recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.46x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 62 2.46x
Lanarkshire 29 4.22x
Middlesex 28 1.32x
Yorkshire 20 0.95x
Renfrewshire 14 8.50x
Stirlingshire 8 10.20x
Ayrshire 7 4.40x
Cheshire 7 1.49x
Essex 6 1.43x
Monmouthshire 6 3.90x
Surrey 6 0.58x
Hampshire 5 1.15x
Angus 4 2.03x
Channel Islands 4 6.35x
Glamorgan 3 0.81x
Warwickshire 2 0.37x
Devon 1 0.23x
Durham 1 0.16x
Flintshire 1 1.75x
Kincardineshire 1 3.86x
Midlothian 1 0.35x
Roxburghshire 1 2.60x
Staffordshire 1 0.14x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Govan in Lanarkshire leads with 19 Monahans recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.17x.

Place Total Index
Govan 19 11.17x
Eastwood 11 108.37x
Shoreditch London 10 10.85x
West Derby 10 13.55x
Bootle Cum Linacre 8 39.92x
Islington London 7 3.40x
Chadderton 6 48.62x
Clerkenwell London 6 11.95x
Leyton Low 6 70.34x
Little Bolton 6 18.50x
Liverpool 6 3.92x
St Woollos 6 34.97x
Lymm 5 146.63x
Old Monkland 5 18.32x
Salford 5 6.74x
Stirling 5 50.56x
Aldershot 4 27.40x
Barony 4 2.30x
Dundee 4 5.44x
Everton 4 4.97x
Horton In Bradford 4 12.15x
Manchester 4 3.52x
Southwark St Saviour 4 36.60x
St Michaelinthe Vale 4 177.78x
Abbey 3 11.93x
Almondbury 3 29.44x
Bowling 3 14.37x
Cardiff St Mary 3 14.71x
Kilsyth 3 60.00x
Litherland 3 56.82x
Monkton Prestwick 3 193.55x
Oldham 3 3.68x
Castleton 2 7.94x
Edgbaston 2 12.03x
Huddersfield 2 6.51x
Kirkdale 2 4.71x
Largs 2 53.33x
Mauchline 2 109.29x
Middlesbrough 2 7.29x
Selby 2 45.45x
St Pancras London 2 1.17x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 1 5.09x
Banchory Ternan 1 44.64x
Bermondsey 1 1.58x
Bothwell 1 5.36x
Bradford 1 1.96x
Chelsea London 1 1.56x
Devonport 1 19.65x
Dukinfield 1 4.61x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 1 0.87x
Escomb 1 34.36x
Garston 1 13.42x
Hound 1 33.78x
Leeds 1 0.84x
Lichfield St Mary 1 48.31x
Mold 1 19.31x
Pemberton 1 9.94x
Poplar London 1 2.49x
Sheffield 1 1.49x
Southwark St Olave 1 61.73x
St Gilesin Fields 1 80.65x
Walton On Hill 1 7.32x
Weston In Runcorn 1 81.97x
Wilton 1 23.64x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 12
Catherine 8
Bridget 7
Ellen 6
Margaret 5
Ann 4
Elizabeth 3
Anne 2
Emma 2
Honora 2
Kate 2
Lillian 2
Agnes 1
Alice 1
Annie 1
Caroline 1
Eliza 1
Esther 1
Eugenie 1
Eunice 1
Fanny 1
Isabella 1
Jane 1
Johannah 1
Julia 1
Katharine 1
Lizzie 1
Louisa 1
Manarch 1
Margt. 1
Minnie 1
Rosanna 1
Sarah 1
Violet 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 12
Thomas 8
James 7
Patrick 7
William 6
Edward 4
Henry 3
Robert 3
Hugh 2
Joseph 2
Michael 2
Patcey 2
Peter 2
Abraham 1
Andrew 1
Anthony 1
Bernard 1
Charles 1
Ernest 1
Francis 1
Gerald 1
Jeremiah 1
Lawrence 1
Morgan 1
Richd. 1
Stephen 1
Timothy 1

FAQ

Monahan surname: questions and answers

How common was the Monahan surname in 1881?

In 1881, 214 people were recorded with the Monahan surname. That placed it at #12,284 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Monahan surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 756 in 2016. That gives Monahan a modern rank of #7,240.

What does the Monahan surname mean?

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic "Ó Manacháin," meaning "descendant of Manachán" (a diminutive of "manach," meaning "monk").

What does the Monahan map show?

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