NameCensus.

UK surname

Mongan

A surname of Irish origin, possibly derived from the Gaelic word "mongach" meaning hairy or shaggy.

In the 1881 census there were 22 people recorded with the Mongan surname, ranking it #30,464 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 522, ranked #9,693, up from #30,464 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lantwit Major, Gelligaer and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Hackney, Salford and Hillingdon.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mongan is 522 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 2272.7%.

1881 census count

22

Ranked #30,464

Modern count

522

2016, ranked #9,693

Peak year

2016

522 bearers

Map years

5

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mongan had 22 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #30,464 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 522 in 2016, ranked #9,693.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 198 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Mongan surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mongan surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mongan 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 67 #21,440
1861 historical 158 #14,644
1881 historical 22 #30,464
1891 historical 198 #15,033
1901 historical 73 #26,069
1911 historical 85 #24,322
1997 modern 397 #11,068
1998 modern 399 #11,354
1999 modern 401 #11,422
2000 modern 391 #11,591
2001 modern 392 #11,384
2002 modern 420 #11,041
2003 modern 406 #11,150
2004 modern 412 #11,029
2005 modern 386 #11,493
2006 modern 407 #11,087
2007 modern 412 #11,116
2008 modern 434 #10,756
2009 modern 464 #10,407
2010 modern 479 #10,370
2011 modern 488 #10,135
2012 modern 495 #9,941
2013 modern 515 #9,804
2014 modern 513 #9,899
2015 modern 518 #9,761
2016 modern 522 #9,693

Geography

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Where Mongans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lantwit Major, Gelligaer, London parishes, Gateshead and Southampton St Mary. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Hackney, Salford, Hillingdon and Manchester. 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 Lantwit Major Glamorganshire
2 Gelligaer Glamorganshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Gateshead Durham
5 Southampton St Mary Hampshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Hackney 013 Hackney
2 Hackney 018 Hackney
3 Salford 016 Salford
4 Hillingdon 031 Hillingdon
5 Manchester 015 Manchester

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mongan

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mongan

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Mongan surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Mongan household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Mongan is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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

These residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Mongan 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

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

Meaning and origin of Mongan

The surname Mongan has its origins in Ireland, where it is believed to have emerged in the 11th century or earlier. It is derived from the Irish Gaelic word "mongán," which means "monk" or "little monk." This suggests that the name may have been initially given to someone who lived a monastic life or had some association with a monastery.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Mongan can be found in old Irish annals and manuscripts, such as the Annals of the Four Masters. In these sources, the name is often spelled as "Mongan" or variations like "Mongán" and "Monggán." Some of the earliest known individuals with this surname include Mongán Ua Dálaigh, an Irish poet who lived in the 12th century, and Mongan Ua Ruairc, a King of Conmaicne who ruled in the 10th century.

The name Mongan is also associated with various place names in Ireland, such as Monganstown and Mongans in County Wexford, which likely derived their names from individuals or families bearing this surname. The surname itself may have originated in specific regions of Ireland, such as County Leitrim, where it was particularly prevalent.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals with the surname Mongan. One of the most famous was John Mongan (1625-1687), an Irish Catholic priest and philosopher who played a significant role in the Jansenist controversy in the 17th century. Another prominent figure was John Mongan (1790-1857), an Irish-born American politician who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from Pennsylvania.

Other individuals of note include Thomas Mongan (1824-1904), an Irish-born American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church who served as the Bishop of Wilmington from 1868 to 1904, and James Mongan (1860-1936), an Irish-born American prelate who was the Bishop of Ogdensburg from 1914 to 1925. Additionally, Edward Mongan (1856-1922) was an Irish-American businessman and politician who served as the Mayor of Fall River, Massachusetts, from 1908 to 1912.

While the surname Mongan is not among the most common in Ireland or elsewhere, it has a rich history spanning centuries and is closely tied to the cultural and religious traditions of the Irish people. Its origins and earliest recordings provide valuable insights into the naming practices and historical context of medieval Ireland.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mongan families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mongan 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. Yorkshire leads with 12 Mongans recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.40x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 12 5.40x
Lanarkshire 3 4.13x
Durham 2 3.00x
Channel Islands 1 15.04x
Dunbartonshire 1 16.58x
Lancashire 1 0.38x
Norfolk 1 2.90x
Renfrewshire 1 5.75x
West Lothian 1 29.59x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Leeds in Yorkshire leads with 12 Mongans recorded in 1881 and an index of 95.62x.

Place Total Index
Leeds 12 95.62x
Glasgow 3 23.29x
Elvet 2 416.67x
Cardross 1 138.89x
Kings Lynn St Margaret 1 96.15x
Oldham 1 11.64x
Paisley High Church 1 72.46x
St Helier 1 46.30x
Whitburn 1 204.08x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 3
Annie 1
Bridget 1
Ellen 1
Hannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 3
Thomas 2
William 2
John 1
Michael 1
Patrick 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 Mongan households.

FAQ

Mongan surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mongan surname in 1881?

In 1881, 22 people were recorded with the Mongan surname. That placed it at #30,464 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mongan surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 522 in 2016. That gives Mongan a modern rank of #9,693.

What does the Mongan surname mean?

A surname of Irish origin, possibly derived from the Gaelic word "mongach" meaning hairy or shaggy.

What does the Mongan map show?

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