NameCensus.

UK surname

Morahan

An Anglicized form of the Irish surname Ó Moracháin, derived from a personal name meaning "mariner" or "sailor."

In the 1881 census there were 19 people recorded with the Morahan surname, ranking it #30,872 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 136, ranked #25,377, up from #30,872 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Waverley, Camden and Finnieston and Kelvinhaugh.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Morahan is 154 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 615.8%.

1881 census count

19

Ranked #30,872

Modern count

136

2016, ranked #25,377

Peak year

1999

154 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Morahan had 19 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #30,872 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 136 in 2016, ranked #25,377.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 27 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Young Families.

Morahan surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Morahan surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Morahan 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 27 #30,543
1881 historical 19 #30,872
1891 historical 17 #32,787
1901 historical 17 #32,146
1911 historical 13 #32,172
1997 modern 128 #23,238
1998 modern 146 #22,031
1999 modern 154 #21,455
2000 modern 154 #21,415
2001 modern 142 #22,234
2002 modern 144 #22,501
2003 modern 132 #23,459
2004 modern 143 #22,471
2005 modern 139 #22,887
2006 modern 136 #23,378
2007 modern 133 #24,059
2008 modern 134 #24,249
2009 modern 134 #24,711
2010 modern 143 #24,247
2011 modern 145 #23,837
2012 modern 143 #24,019
2013 modern 140 #24,779
2014 modern 136 #25,452
2015 modern 136 #25,352
2016 modern 136 #25,377

Geography

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Where Morahans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Waverley, Camden, Finnieston and Kelvinhaugh, West Berkshire and Ealing. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Waverley 012 Waverley
2 Camden 012 Camden
3 Finnieston and Kelvinhaugh Glasgow City
4 West Berkshire 008 West Berkshire
5 Ealing 027 Ealing

Forenames

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First names often paired with Morahan

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Morahan

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Ethnically Diverse Young Families

Nationally, the Morahan surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Young Families, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Morahan 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 includes many younger parents born overseas (particularly in Africa or EU countries) with children aged 0-4. Individuals identifying as of Mixed or Multiple ethnicities are also common. English may not be the primary language spoken. Accommodation consists principally of flats, and many properties are socially rented and/or overcrowded. Students are also present, unemployment is common, and other adults tend to work in low skilled jobs.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Morahan 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

Morahan 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

Morahan 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 Morahan 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 - Other

This describes the area pattern most associated with Morahan, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Morahan

The surname Morahan is of Irish origin, deriving from the Gaelic word "Ó Moracháin," which means "descendant of Morachán." Morachán was a personal name in Irish, derived from the Old Irish word "mor," meaning "great" or "large," combined with a diminutive suffix.

The Morahan name can be traced back to County Sligo in the northwestern region of Ireland, where it was particularly prevalent in the medieval period. It is believed that the name was first adopted by a family residing in the area known as Coolera (Cuil Ire) in County Sligo.

One of the earliest recorded references to the Morahan surname can be found in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history compiled by Franciscan monks in the early 17th century. The annals mention a Morahan chieftain named Cormac O'Morahan, who was involved in conflicts with the O'Conors and the English in the late 13th century.

In the 16th century, during the Tudor conquest of Ireland, the Morahan family was among the Irish clans that resisted English rule. A notable figure from this period was Terence Morahan, who fought against the English forces in the Nine Years' War (1594-1603).

Another prominent individual with the Morahan surname was John Morahan (1645-1728), an Irish Catholic priest and historian who wrote a significant work titled "The Ecclesiastical History of Ireland." This book provided a detailed account of the Catholic Church in Ireland during the 17th century.

Other notable individuals with the Morahan surname include:

1. Michael Morahan (1770-1825), an Irish-born soldier who fought in the British Army during the Napoleonic Wars. 2. James Morahan (1803-1879), an Irish-born Australian politician and landowner who played a role in the development of the colony of Victoria. 3. John Morahan (1859-1932), an Irish-born American politician who served as the Mayor of Detroit, Michigan, from 1904 to 1908. 4. Thomas Morahan (1890-1966), an Irish-born American Catholic priest and educator who served as the president of the University of Dayton from 1937 to 1950. 5. Michael Morahan (born 1934), an Irish writer and journalist who authored several books on Irish history and culture.

The Morahan surname has also been associated with various place names in Ireland, such as Morahan's Lough and Morahan's Bridge, both located in County Sligo. These place names reflect the historical presence of the Morahan family in the region.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Morahan families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Morahan 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. Midlothian leads with 9 Morahans recorded in 1881 and an index of 36.28x.

County Total Index
Midlothian 9 36.28x
Lancashire 6 2.73x
Middlesex 3 1.62x
Kent 1 1.58x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Penicuik in Midlothian leads with 9 Morahans recorded in 1881 and an index of 2647.06x.

Place Total Index
Penicuik 9 2647.06x
Spotland 3 122.95x
Clerkenwell London 2 45.77x
Tyldesley Cum Shakerley 2 317.46x
Gillingham 1 76.92x
Hackney London 1 9.63x
Toxteth Park 1 13.44x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Anne 1
Ellen 1
Martha 1
Mary 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Edward 1
James 1
John 1
Malachi 1
Michael 1
S.L. 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 Morahan households.

FAQ

Morahan surname: questions and answers

How common was the Morahan surname in 1881?

In 1881, 19 people were recorded with the Morahan surname. That placed it at #30,872 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Morahan surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 136 in 2016. That gives Morahan a modern rank of #25,377.

What does the Morahan surname mean?

An Anglicized form of the Irish surname Ó Moracháin, derived from a personal name meaning "mariner" or "sailor."

What does the Morahan map show?

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