NameCensus.

UK surname

Murnane

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic "O'Muirneachain" meaning descendant of the sea-battler or mariner.

In the 1881 census there were 27 people recorded with the Murnane surname, ranking it #29,793 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 229, ranked #17,878, up from #29,793 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Halton, Westminster and Uttlesford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Murnane is 248 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 748.1%.

1881 census count

27

Ranked #29,793

Modern count

229

2016, ranked #17,878

Peak year

1999

248 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Murnane had 27 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #29,793 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 229 in 2016, ranked #17,878.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 47 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Murnane surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Murnane surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Murnane 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 14 #30,790
1861 historical 14 #32,072
1881 historical 27 #29,793
1891 historical 39 #31,257
1901 historical 37 #30,009
1911 historical 47 #28,110
1997 modern 236 #15,852
1998 modern 245 #15,903
1999 modern 248 #15,884
2000 modern 247 #15,864
2001 modern 243 #15,791
2002 modern 237 #16,413
2003 modern 237 #16,191
2004 modern 229 #16,684
2005 modern 222 #16,983
2006 modern 227 #16,842
2007 modern 242 #16,296
2008 modern 235 #16,777
2009 modern 243 #16,742
2010 modern 235 #17,477
2011 modern 236 #17,279
2012 modern 229 #17,537
2013 modern 241 #17,202
2014 modern 244 #17,189
2015 modern 234 #17,577
2016 modern 229 #17,878

Geography

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Where Murnanes 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 Halton, Westminster, Uttlesford, Ceredigion and North Dorset. 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 Halton 003 Halton
2 Westminster 007 Westminster
3 Uttlesford 005 Uttlesford
4 Ceredigion 009 Ceredigion
5 North Dorset 007 North Dorset

Forenames

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First names often paired with Murnane

These lists show first names that appear often with the Murnane 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 Murnane

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

Murnane is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Murnane falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Murnane is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Murnane

The surname Murnane originated in Ireland and is believed to have derived from the Irish Gaelic name "Ó Muirneacháin," which means "descendant of Muirneachán." Muirneachán itself is a diminutive form of the name Muirnechan, derived from the Gaelic words "muir" meaning sea and "neach" meaning person or being.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in various Irish annals and historical records dating back to the 11th century. One notable reference is in the Annals of Inisfallen, which mention a "Muirnechan Mac Carthaigh" in the year 1034.

In the 16th century, the name Murnane appeared in the Fiants of the Tudor Sovereigns, which were records of official documents issued by the English Crown in Ireland. These records often provide insights into the locations and landholdings associated with different Irish surnames.

The name Murnane has been associated with various regions in Ireland, particularly counties Cork, Kerry, and Limerick, where it has had a strong presence. The variant spellings "Murnan," "Murnane," and "Murnen" can be found in historical records from these areas.

Notable individuals with the surname Murnane throughout history include:

1. William Murnane (1756-1825), an Irish Catholic priest and educator who founded several schools in Cork.

2. John Murnane (1843-1914), an Irish-American businessman and politician who served as a member of the Massachusetts State Legislature.

3. Mary Murnane (1876-1953), an Irish writer and playwright known for her works depicting rural life in County Limerick.

4. Edmund Murnane (1896-1962), an Irish-American prelate who served as the Bishop of Corpus Christi, Texas, from 1945 to 1962.

5. Walter Murnane (1904-1976), an Australian cricketer who played for the national team in the 1920s and 1930s.

While the name Murnane continues to be prevalent in Ireland and among the Irish diaspora, it has also spread to other parts of the world through immigration and family lines over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Murnane families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Murnane 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 9 Murnanes recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.88x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 9 2.88x
Middlesex 8 3.04x
Suffolk 5 15.60x
Warwickshire 3 4.52x
Kent 1 1.11x
Surrey 1 0.78x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hindley in Lancashire leads with 8 Murnanes recorded in 1881 and an index of 601.50x.

Place Total Index
Hindley 8 601.50x
Stradbroke 5 4545.45x
Warwick St Mary 3 517.24x
Whitechapel London 3 115.83x
Chelsea London 2 25.22x
Chiswick 2 138.89x
Bermondsey 1 12.76x
Lewisham 1 20.88x
Salford 1 10.88x
Shoreditch London 1 8.76x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Ellen 2
Mary 2
Sarah 2
Ann 1
Bridget 1
Florence 1
Honora 1
Kate 1
Kathleen 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 3
Patrick 3
Charles 2
Gerald 1
Harvey 1
James 1
Jeremiah 1
Milo 1
Timothy 1
William 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 Murnane households.

FAQ

Murnane surname: questions and answers

How common was the Murnane surname in 1881?

In 1881, 27 people were recorded with the Murnane surname. That placed it at #29,793 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Murnane surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 229 in 2016. That gives Murnane a modern rank of #17,878.

What does the Murnane surname mean?

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic "O'Muirneachain" meaning descendant of the sea-battler or mariner.

What does the Murnane map show?

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