NameCensus.

UK surname

Muldowney

An Anglicized form of the Gaelic surname Ó Maoldomhnaigh meaning "descendant of a servant of the Church."

In the 1881 census there were 104 people recorded with the Muldowney surname, ranking it #19,296 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 445, ranked #10,890, up from #19,296 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, West Derby and Bradford. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Stockton-on-Tees.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Muldowney is 492 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 327.9%.

1881 census count

104

Ranked #19,296

Modern count

445

2016, ranked #10,890

Peak year

2010

492 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Muldowney had 104 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #19,296 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 445 in 2016, ranked #10,890.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 173 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Muldowney surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Muldowney surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Muldowney 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 8 #31,867
1861 historical 47 #28,023
1881 historical 104 #19,296
1891 historical 106 #23,105
1901 historical 155 #17,704
1911 historical 173 #16,361
1997 modern 422 #10,571
1998 modern 446 #10,469
1999 modern 445 #10,535
2000 modern 447 #10,497
2001 modern 444 #10,348
2002 modern 448 #10,477
2003 modern 425 #10,765
2004 modern 428 #10,737
2005 modern 423 #10,713
2006 modern 432 #10,583
2007 modern 441 #10,513
2008 modern 451 #10,394
2009 modern 476 #10,227
2010 modern 492 #10,178
2011 modern 468 #10,460
2012 modern 480 #10,168
2013 modern 471 #10,464
2014 modern 465 #10,628
2015 modern 446 #10,898
2016 modern 445 #10,890

Geography

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Where Muldowneys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, West Derby, Bradford, Wallasey and Minster Yard with Beddern. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Stockton-on-Tees. 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 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
2 West Derby Lancashire
3 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Wallasey Cheshire
5 Minster Yard with Beddern Yorkshire, East Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Stockton-on-Tees 007 Stockton-on-Tees
2 Stockton-on-Tees 020 Stockton-on-Tees
3 Stockton-on-Tees 009 Stockton-on-Tees
4 Stockton-on-Tees 008 Stockton-on-Tees
5 Stockton-on-Tees 014 Stockton-on-Tees

Forenames

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First names often paired with Muldowney

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Muldowney

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Muldowney, 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 Muldowney surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Muldowney 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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Muldowney 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

Muldowney 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

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

Meaning and origin of Muldowney

The surname Muldowney is of Irish origin and dates back to the 16th century. It is derived from the Gaelic words 'Maol Domhnaigh', which translates to 'follower of St. Dominic'. The name likely originated from County Westmeath, where the Muldowney family had a strong presence.

The earliest recorded mention of the Muldowney surname can be found in the Fiants of the Reign of Queen Elizabeth I, where a Fergus Muldowney is listed as receiving a pardon in 1598. Another early reference is in the 1659 Census of Ireland, which lists several Muldowney families in County Westmeath.

In the 17th century, the Muldowney family was prominent in the Barony of Rathconrath, County Westmeath. The name is associated with the townland of Muldowney, which was likely named after the family. The earliest recorded person with this surname is Terence Muldowney, who was born in Westmeath in 1602.

One notable individual from the Muldowney family was John Muldowney (1822-1895), an Irish Catholic priest who served as the first Bishop of Dromore, Northern Ireland. He was a prominent figure in the Church and played a significant role in the development of the Catholic community in the region.

Another noteworthy Muldowney was Patrick Muldowney (1858-1933), a British soldier and recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest military decoration awarded for valor in the face of the enemy. He was born in County Westmeath and earned the Victoria Cross for his bravery during the Second Boer War in South Africa.

In the late 19th century, a branch of the Muldowney family migrated to the United States, where they settled in various parts of the country. One notable American Muldowney was Michael Muldowney (1888-1973), a professional baseball player who played for the Boston Red Sox and the St. Louis Browns in the early 20th century.

The Muldowney surname has also been associated with various place names and alternative spellings throughout its history. For example, the townland of Muldowney in County Westmeath was sometimes spelled as 'Muldowny' or 'Muldownie' in historical records.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Muldowney families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Muldowney 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 52 Muldowneys recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.08x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 52 5.08x
Lancashire 20 1.63x
Durham 9 2.93x
Cheshire 8 3.51x
Flintshire 7 25.19x
Lanarkshire 5 1.50x
Middlesex 2 0.19x
Hampshire 1 0.47x
Kent 1 0.28x
Royal Navy 1 8.12x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Normanby In in Yorkshire leads with 12 Muldowneys recorded in 1881 and an index of 437.96x.

Place Total Index
Normanby In 12 437.96x
Churwell 8 1142.86x
Liscard 8 194.65x
Liverpool 7 9.39x
York Minster Yard W 7 2916.67x
Bradford 6 24.19x
Hawarden Pentrobin 6 1363.64x
Manchester 6 10.88x
York St Helen On Walls 6 3529.41x
Burnley 5 48.40x
Glasgow 5 8.42x
Heworth 5 82.51x
Middlesbrough 5 37.48x
Stockton On Tees 4 26.97x
Dewsbury 3 28.54x
Helperby 3 1304.35x
Wigan 2 11.67x
Clifton In York 1 46.73x
Hope 1 72.46x
Littleton 1 1428.57x
Paddington London 1 2.63x
Royal Navy 1 9.50x
Sculcoates 1 6.16x
Towerof London London 1 303.03x
Woolwich 1 7.67x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 12
Margaret 8
Ann 5
Annie 4
Alice 3
Bridget 3
Catherine 3
Elizabeth 3
Sarah 2
Anne 1
Frances 1
Hannah 1
Helen 1
Honor 1
Johanna 1
Julia 1
Kate 1
Margt. 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Muldowney surname: questions and answers

How common was the Muldowney surname in 1881?

In 1881, 104 people were recorded with the Muldowney surname. That placed it at #19,296 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Muldowney surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 445 in 2016. That gives Muldowney a modern rank of #10,890.

What does the Muldowney surname mean?

An Anglicized form of the Gaelic surname Ó Maoldomhnaigh meaning "descendant of a servant of the Church."

What does the Muldowney map show?

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