NameCensus.

UK surname

Nagle

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic "Ó Niadh Gheala," meaning "descendant of the bright champion."

In the 1881 census there were 359 people recorded with the Nagle surname, ranking it #8,614 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,207, ranked #4,927, up from #8,614 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St Leonard Shoreditch and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bathgate West, Tower Hamlets and South Bucks.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Nagle is 1,207 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 236.2%.

1881 census count

359

Ranked #8,614

Modern count

1,207

2016, ranked #4,927

Peak year

2016

1,207 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Nagle had 359 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,614 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,207 in 2016, ranked #4,927.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 389 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Nagle surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Nagle surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Nagle 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 204 #10,250
1861 historical 207 #11,687
1881 historical 359 #8,614
1891 historical 383 #9,178
1901 historical 389 #9,666
1911 historical 382 #9,615
1997 modern 1,110 #5,032
1998 modern 1,163 #5,011
1999 modern 1,136 #5,158
2000 modern 1,160 #5,048
2001 modern 1,127 #5,067
2002 modern 1,170 #5,012
2003 modern 1,124 #5,083
2004 modern 1,143 #5,027
2005 modern 1,126 #5,039
2006 modern 1,144 #4,957
2007 modern 1,136 #5,043
2008 modern 1,145 #5,039
2009 modern 1,174 #5,033
2010 modern 1,203 #5,033
2011 modern 1,167 #5,106
2012 modern 1,170 #5,017
2013 modern 1,191 #5,019
2014 modern 1,200 #5,021
2015 modern 1,184 #5,030
2016 modern 1,207 #4,927

Geography

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Where Nagles are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St Leonard Shoreditch, St Pancras and Liverpool. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bathgate West, Tower Hamlets, South Bucks, Croydon and Kensington and Chelsea. 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 London parishes London 1
2 St Leonard Shoreditch London (East Districts)
3 London parishes London 3
4 St Pancras London (North Districts)
5 Liverpool Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bathgate West West Lothian
2 Tower Hamlets 001 Tower Hamlets
3 South Bucks 001 South Bucks
4 Croydon 001 Croydon
5 Kensington and Chelsea 007 Kensington and Chelsea

Forenames

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First names often paired with Nagle

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Nagle

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

Established Multi-Ethnic Communities

Nationally, the Nagle surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established Multi-Ethnic Communities, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Nagle household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Parents and young children in this Group are drawn from diverse ethnic backgrounds in broadly similar proportions. Employment is typically in elementary occupations, though workers in professional, intermediate or skilled trades occupations are also present. The residential landscape is dominated by terraced housing, although semi-detached houses and flats are also present. This Group is found in London and in many provincial towns and cities throughout the U.K.

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, Nagle 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

Nagle 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

Nagle falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Nagle is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Nagle

The surname Nagle originated in Ireland, deriving from the Gaelic O'Naghaile, which translates to "descendant of Naille." Naille was a personal name that emerged from the Irish word "nailliu," meaning "poet" or "scholar." The name's roots can be traced back to the 11th century in County Cork, Ireland.

The Nagle family held significant influence and power in County Cork during the Middle Ages. They were among the leading septs (clan-based families) of the region. Historical records mention the Nagles as landowners and chieftains in areas such as Mallow, Fermoy, and Mitchelstown.

One of the earliest documented references to the Nagle surname can be found in the Annals of Innisfallen, an Irish chronicle dating back to the early 13th century. The annals mention several members of the Nagle family, including Dermot O'Nagle, who was killed in 1224.

In the 16th century, the Nagles were among the prominent Irish families who resisted the Tudor conquest of Ireland. Prominent figures from this era include Sir Richard Nagle (c. 1530-1612), a soldier and statesman who served as a Member of Parliament for Cork County, and Reverend Neville Nagle (c. 1575-1631), a Catholic priest and philosopher.

The name Nagle also gained recognition through the life of Venerable Honoria Nagle (1676-1784), an Irish Roman Catholic religious sister and educator who founded the Presentation Sisters. She dedicated her life to providing education and care for the poor and underprivileged in Ireland.

Another notable figure was Sir Edmund Nagle (1839-1911), an Irish-born Australian politician and lawyer who served as the 14th Premier of New South Wales from 1907 to 1910.

Additionally, the Nagle name has been associated with several place names in Ireland, such as Nagle's Hill, Nagle's Meadow, and Nagle's Court, reflecting the family's historical landholdings and influence in various regions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Nagle families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Nagle 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. Middlesex leads with 141 Nagles recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.00x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 141 4.00x
Lancashire 36 0.86x
Surrey 35 2.04x
Kent 31 2.58x
Yorkshire 18 0.52x
Glamorgan 12 1.96x
Monmouthshire 11 4.32x
Cheshire 9 1.16x
Durham 9 0.86x
Essex 9 1.29x
West Lothian 8 15.09x
Northamptonshire 7 2.11x
Devon 6 0.82x
Leicestershire 5 1.28x
Hampshire 4 0.55x
Suffolk 4 0.93x
Hertfordshire 3 1.24x
Sussex 3 0.51x
Warwickshire 3 0.34x
Berkshire 2 0.76x
Royal Navy 2 4.77x
Gloucestershire 1 0.14x
Norfolk 1 0.18x
Worcestershire 1 0.22x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Liverpool in Lancashire leads with 20 Nagles recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.88x.

Place Total Index
Liverpool 20 7.88x
St Pancras London 20 7.06x
Islington London 18 5.27x
Kensington London 13 6.64x
St Luke London 12 21.25x
Bradford 11 13.02x
Gillingham 10 40.37x
Aberystruth 8 35.65x
Bathgate 8 69.50x
Croydon 8 8.40x
St George In East 8 33.40x
Bethnal Green London 7 4.58x
Chatham 7 21.18x
Hammersmith London 7 8.07x
Sully 7 2916.67x
Westminster St 7 53.93x
Woolwich 7 15.77x
Bermondsey 6 5.72x
Northampton All Sts 6 53.38x
St Botolph Aldgate 6 124.74x
St Giles In Fields 6 49.38x
St Marylebone London 6 3.19x
Stoke Damerel 6 11.70x
Leicester St Margaret 5 5.25x
Little Bolton 5 9.31x
Little Leigh 5 892.86x
Maidstone 5 13.97x
Middlesbrough 5 11.00x
Wandsworth 5 14.75x
Brancepeth 4 210.53x
Chelsea London 4 3.77x
Colchester St Giles 4 58.22x
Finchley 4 29.63x
Fulham London 4 7.83x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 4 8.82x
Ingrave 4 634.92x
Ipswich St Margaret 4 27.49x
Manchester 4 2.13x
Shoreditch London 4 2.62x
Southwark Christchurch 4 24.24x
Southwark St George Martyr 4 5.64x
Brighton 3 2.50x
Cardiff St Mary 3 8.88x
Charterhouse London 3 180.72x
Over Darwen 3 8.99x
Trevethin 3 12.48x
Aston 2 0.82x
Bow London 2 4.46x
Camberwell 2 0.89x
Farnborough 2 26.39x
Heston 2 17.11x
Kingston On Thames 2 4.85x
Royal Navy 2 5.58x
Watford 2 10.63x
West Derby 2 1.64x
Barkway 1 105.26x
Birkenhead 1 1.61x
Brightside Bierlow 1 1.46x
Cardiff St John 1 4.99x
Claughton With Grange 1 28.25x
Clerkenwell London 1 1.20x
Farnham 1 7.50x
Fordingbridge 1 25.51x
Great Budworth 1 72.46x
Heigham 1 3.44x
Horfield 1 14.39x
Lambeth 1 0.33x
Lanchester 1 52.08x
Mile End Old Town 1 1.80x
New Windsor 1 11.25x
Newington 1 0.77x
Oldbury 1 4.42x
Penge 1 4.45x
Poulton Cum Seacombe 1 11.19x
Reading St Mary 1 4.72x
St George Bloomsbury 1 4.95x
St George Hanover 1 2.18x
St Gilesin Fields 1 48.78x
Wellingborough 1 6.01x
West Ham 1 0.65x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 33
Ellen 19
Catherine 17
Elizabeth 12
Margaret 11
Annie 8
Bridget 5
Hannah 5
Jane 5
Alice 3
Ann 3
Anna 3
Johanna 3
Susannah 3
Amy 2
Cath. 2
Dora 2
Eliza 2
Elizh. 2
Emma 2
Jesse 2
Julia 2
Kate 2
Margt. 2
Sarah 2
Agness 1
Charlotte 1
Christina 1
Dorothea 1
Edith 1
Eliz. 1
Elizth. 1
Emily 1
Fanny 1
Frances 1
Hanna 1
Harriett 1
Helen 1
Honorah 1
Isabella 1
Jessie 1
Lizzie 1
Louisa 1
Lucy 1
Marry 1
Maude 1
Pauline 1
Priscila 1
Rebecca 1
Rose 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 23
James 19
William 18
Richard 12
Thomas 12
Edward 10
Joseph 9
Patrick 9
David 8
Edmund 4
Michael 4
Henry 3
Daniel 2
Frederick 2
Garrett 2
George 2
Gustave 2
Timothy 2
Wm. 2
Adam 1
Albert 1
Archibald 1
Arthur 1
Bernard 1
Chritopher 1
Cornelius 1
Edwin 1
Ernest 1
Garratt 1
Jas. 1
Jeremiah 1
Jno. 1
Josiah 1
Luke 1
Matthew 1
Micheal 1
Murice 1
Pat. 1
Rd. 1
Richd. 1
Robert 1
Walter 1
Will 1

FAQ

Nagle surname: questions and answers

How common was the Nagle surname in 1881?

In 1881, 359 people were recorded with the Nagle surname. That placed it at #8,614 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Nagle surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,207 in 2016. That gives Nagle a modern rank of #4,927.

What does the Nagle surname mean?

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic "Ó Niadh Gheala," meaning "descendant of the bright champion."

What does the Nagle map show?

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