NameCensus.

UK surname

Mulroy

An anglicized form of the Irish surname Ó Maolruaidh meaning "descendant of the tonsured one".

In the 1881 census there were 250 people recorded with the Mulroy surname, ranking it #11,070 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 455, ranked #10,716, up from #11,070 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Rochdale, Wolstanton and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Islington, Newcastle upon Tyne and Staffordshire Moorlands.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mulroy is 509 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 82.0%.

1881 census count

250

Ranked #11,070

Modern count

455

2016, ranked #10,716

Peak year

2010

509 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mulroy had 250 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,070 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 455 in 2016, ranked #10,716.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 390 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Mature Families.

Mulroy surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mulroy surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mulroy 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 145 #13,223
1861 historical 152 #15,126
1881 historical 250 #11,070
1891 historical 255 #12,552
1901 historical 390 #9,650
1911 historical 347 #10,318
1997 modern 482 #9,567
1998 modern 508 #9,473
1999 modern 488 #9,846
2000 modern 493 #9,736
2001 modern 488 #9,645
2002 modern 501 #9,611
2003 modern 476 #9,830
2004 modern 471 #9,942
2005 modern 474 #9,826
2006 modern 486 #9,675
2007 modern 477 #9,907
2008 modern 480 #9,948
2009 modern 480 #10,162
2010 modern 509 #9,916
2011 modern 499 #9,965
2012 modern 472 #10,295
2013 modern 469 #10,492
2014 modern 471 #10,541
2015 modern 470 #10,480
2016 modern 455 #10,716

Geography

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Where Mulroys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Rochdale, Wolstanton, St Pancras, Manchester and Long Benton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Islington, Newcastle upon Tyne, Staffordshire Moorlands and Leeds. 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 Rochdale Lancashire
2 Wolstanton Staffordshire
3 St Pancras London (North Districts)
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 Long Benton Northumberland

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Islington 014 Islington
2 Newcastle upon Tyne 020 Newcastle upon Tyne
3 Staffordshire Moorlands 003 Staffordshire Moorlands
4 Newcastle upon Tyne 028 Newcastle upon Tyne
5 Leeds 041 Leeds

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mulroy

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mulroy

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Established Mature Families

Nationally, the Mulroy surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established Mature Families, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Mulroy household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Married couples predominate, many with older dependent children. Detached housing is common. Homeownership rates are the highest within this Supergroup. The presence of some students suggests that households are towards the end of a child rearing phase. Many residents have degree level qualifications, and the occupational profile is heavily skewed towards managerial and professional occupations. Residential developments commonly occur on the periphery of major urban cities or conurbations.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Mulroy is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Mulroy 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

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

Meaning and origin of Mulroy

The surname Mulroy originated in Ireland, specifically in the northern part of the country. It is a variant of the Gaelic name Ó Maolruaidh, which means "descendant of the servant of the red one." The name is derived from the Gaelic words "maol," meaning "tonsured" or "servant," and "ruadh," meaning "red."

The Mulroy name can be traced back to the 11th century and is closely associated with County Donegal in Ulster. The name is particularly prevalent in the Inishowen peninsula and the Fanad peninsula, where the Mulroy family held significant lands and influence.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the Mulroy name is in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history compiled in the 17th century. The annals mention a Niall Ó Maolruaidh, who was the chief of the Cinél Moen, a branch of the Northern Uí Néill, in the late 12th century.

In the 14th century, the Mulroy family was involved in conflicts with the O'Donnell clan, a powerful family in Donegal. The Annals of the Four Masters record a battle in 1367 between the Mulroys and the O'Donnells, in which several members of the Mulroy family were killed.

One notable member of the Mulroy family was Pádraig Ó Maolruaidh, who lived in the 16th century and was a renowned Irish bard and poet. His poetic compositions, which were written in the Gaelic language, provide valuable insights into the culture and traditions of the time.

Another influential figure was Seán Ó Maolruaidh, born in 1615, who was a prominent Catholic priest and scholar. He played a significant role in preserving Irish language and culture during the 17th century, a period of significant upheaval and oppression for Catholics in Ireland.

In the 18th century, the Mulroy name was also associated with the Irish Jacobite movement, which supported the restoration of the Catholic Stuart monarchy to the thrones of England, Scotland, and Ireland. Several members of the Mulroy family were known to have participated in the Jacobite risings of 1715 and 1745.

One notable figure from this period was Séamus Ó Maolruaidh, born in 1685, who was a Catholic priest and Jacobite sympathizer. He was forced to flee Ireland after the failed Jacobite uprising of 1715 and eventually settled in France, where he continued his literary and scholarly pursuits.

Another influential Mulroy was Éamonn Ó Maolruaidh, born in 1760, who was a prominent Irish nationalist and United Irish leader. He played a significant role in the Irish Rebellion of 1798 and was eventually captured and executed by the British authorities for his involvement.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mulroy families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mulroy 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 108 Mulroys recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.82x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 108 3.82x
Yorkshire 24 1.02x
Midlothian 15 4.70x
Durham 13 1.84x
Staffordshire 12 1.49x
Perthshire 11 10.30x
Stirlingshire 11 12.53x
Shropshire 7 3.40x
Surrey 7 0.60x
Warwickshire 7 1.17x
Ayrshire 5 2.81x
Cumberland 5 2.44x
Middlesex 5 0.21x
Cheshire 4 0.76x
Northumberland 4 1.13x
Wigtownshire 2 6.33x
Angus 1 0.45x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.70x
Hampshire 1 0.21x
Kent 1 0.12x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Manchester in Lancashire leads with 17 Mulroys recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.38x.

Place Total Index
Manchester 17 13.38x
Toxteth Park 13 13.59x
Shildon 12 210.90x
Perth Middle Church 11 273.63x
West Derby 10 12.10x
Edinburgh Old 9 466.32x
Halifax 8 23.11x
Liverpool 8 4.66x
Stirling 8 72.27x
Wolverhampton 8 12.95x
Battersea 7 7.99x
Birmingham 7 3.50x
Kirkdale 7 14.73x
Newport 7 282.26x
Pendleton In Salford 7 20.80x
Thornaby 7 79.46x
Wardleworth 7 43.37x
Blackburn 6 7.99x
Cockpen 6 160.86x
Aspull 5 75.30x
Great Bolton 5 13.37x
Preston Quarter 5 87.11x
St Pancras London 5 2.61x
Widnes 5 24.55x
Hoose 4 408.16x
Maybole 4 73.80x
Wolstanton Oldcott 4 137.46x
Castleton 3 10.64x
Horton In Bradford 3 8.15x
Rotherham 3 22.56x
St Ninians 3 34.48x
Fazakerley 2 454.55x
Kirkinner 2 152.67x
Knowsley 2 196.08x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 2 9.46x
Preston 2 2.65x
Sutton 2 21.12x
Wakefield 2 11.04x
Aldershot 1 6.12x
Ardsley 1 36.76x
Ayr 1 11.89x
Bootle Cum Linacre 1 4.46x
Burnley 1 4.21x
Deptford St Nicholas 1 15.53x
Dundee 1 1.21x
Everton 1 1.11x
Gorton 1 3.77x
Habergham Eaves 1 3.87x
Middle Claydon 1 555.56x
Middleton St George 1 112.36x
North Middleton In Morpeth 1 1666.67x
Salford 1 1.20x
West Chevington 1 243.90x
Wigan 1 2.53x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 23
Bridget 10
Catherine 8
Ann 6
Elizabeth 6
Ellen 6
Alice 3
Margaret 3
Agnes 2
Jane 2
Margt. 2
Maria 2
Amelia 1
Anne 1
Annie 1
B. 1
Barbara 1
Celia 1
Eleanor 1
Emma 1
Ester 1
Hilda 1
Infant 1
Isabella 1
Johannah 1
Kate 1
Lydia 1
Maggie 1
Maud 1
Rose 1
Sarah 1
Susan 1
Winifred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 26
James 20
Thomas 15
Patrick 7
William 7
Edward 5
Michael 4
Bernard 2
Joseph 2
Peter 2
Richard 2
Thos. 2
Charles 1
Chrysostom 1
Conner 1
David 1
Ernest 1
Geo. 1
George 1
Gerry 1
Martin 1
Terence 1
Timothy 1

FAQ

Mulroy surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mulroy surname in 1881?

In 1881, 250 people were recorded with the Mulroy surname. That placed it at #11,070 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mulroy surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 455 in 2016. That gives Mulroy a modern rank of #10,716.

What does the Mulroy surname mean?

An anglicized form of the Irish surname Ó Maolruaidh meaning "descendant of the tonsured one".

What does the Mulroy map show?

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