NameCensus.

UK surname

Nally

Derived from the Irish surname Ó Niallaigh, meaning "descendant of Niallach," a personal name of uncertain origin.

In the 1881 census there were 121 people recorded with the Nally surname, ranking it #17,671 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 473, ranked #10,409, up from #17,671 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Manchester, St Marylebone and Liverpool. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include IZ04, Bury and Shawhead.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Nally is 485 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 290.9%.

1881 census count

121

Ranked #17,671

Modern count

473

2016, ranked #10,409

Peak year

2000

485 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Nally had 121 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #17,671 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 473 in 2016, ranked #10,409.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 202 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Nally surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Nally surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Nally 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 84 #19,067
1861 historical 116 #18,751
1881 historical 121 #17,671
1891 historical 202 #14,808
1901 historical 146 #18,335
1911 historical 157 #17,348
1997 modern 452 #10,034
1998 modern 471 #10,048
1999 modern 482 #9,950
2000 modern 485 #9,853
2001 modern 471 #9,895
2002 modern 468 #10,117
2003 modern 457 #10,156
2004 modern 472 #9,926
2005 modern 453 #10,155
2006 modern 444 #10,347
2007 modern 444 #10,445
2008 modern 440 #10,622
2009 modern 449 #10,690
2010 modern 444 #11,017
2011 modern 432 #11,132
2012 modern 423 #11,195
2013 modern 448 #10,870
2014 modern 465 #10,628
2015 modern 458 #10,678
2016 modern 473 #10,409

Geography

Back to top

Where Nallys are most common

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

The modern local-area list points to IZ04, Bury, Shawhead and Breckland. 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 Manchester Lancashire
2 St Marylebone London (North Districts)
3 Liverpool Lancashire
4 Leigh Lancashire
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 IZ04 West Dunbartonshire
2 Bury 009 Bury
3 Shawhead Dumfries and Galloway
4 Breckland 002 Breckland
5 Bury 008 Bury

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Nally

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Nally

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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

Nationally, the Nally surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Nally household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Nally 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

Nally is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Nally

The surname Nally is believed to have originated in Ireland, specifically in the province of Connacht. It is thought to be derived from the Irish Gaelic word "O'Naille," which translates to "descendant of Niall" or "descendant of the champion." This suggests that the name has its roots in the ancient Irish tradition of using patronymic surnames, which were based on the given name of a father or ancestor.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Nally surname can be found in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history compiled in the 17th century. The annals mention several individuals with the surname Nally or variations of it, such as O'Naille or O'Naile, indicating that the name has a long and established history in Ireland.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Nally surname was particularly prominent in County Mayo, where several families bearing this name held land and positions of influence. One notable figure from this period was Fearfeasa O'Naille (c. 1590-1653), a historian and poet who wrote extensively about Irish history and culture.

As the centuries passed, the Nally surname spread beyond its original stronghold in Connacht, with families bearing this name establishing themselves in other parts of Ireland and eventually emigrating to various parts of the world, including the United States, Canada, and Australia.

Among the notable individuals with the surname Nally throughout history are:

1. James C. Nally (1808-1876), an American politician who served as a U.S. Representative from Maryland. 2. Edward J. Nally (1849-1925), an American architect who designed several notable buildings in New York City, including the Herald Square Theatre. 3. Patrick Nally (1856-1945), an Irish politician and member of the Irish Parliamentary Party. 4. Kathleen Nally (1932-2019), an American politician and lawyer who served as the first female president of the District of Columbia Bar Association. 5. Joseph Nally (1934-2002), an American actor and screenwriter known for his work on films such as "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" and "The Pom Pom Girls."

While the Nally surname may have originated from a specific region in Ireland, it has since become a global name, carried by individuals from diverse backgrounds and cultures, each with their own unique stories and contributions to the world.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Nally families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Nally 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 56 Nallys recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.10x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 56 4.10x
Middlesex 13 1.13x
Cheshire 11 4.33x
Staffordshire 9 2.32x
Derbyshire 8 4.44x
Yorkshire 8 0.70x
Northumberland 5 2.92x
Dunbartonshire 2 6.47x
Warwickshire 2 0.69x
Kent 1 0.25x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.64x
Royal Navy 1 7.29x
Surrey 1 0.18x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Oldham in Lancashire leads with 15 Nallys recorded in 1881 and an index of 34.03x.

Place Total Index
Oldham 15 34.03x
St Marylebone London 9 14.65x
Stockport 9 68.81x
Colne 8 196.56x
Manchester 7 11.40x
Levenshulme 6 425.53x
Wolverhampton 6 20.09x
Bury 5 32.05x
Habergham Eaves 5 40.06x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 5 48.88x
Brampton Bierlow 4 273.97x
Derby St Alkmund 4 74.07x
Heage 4 421.05x
Leeds 4 6.21x
Biddulph 2 91.32x
Chelsea London 2 5.77x
Old Kilpatrick 2 54.64x
Warrington 2 12.35x
Aston 1 1.25x
Birmingham 1 1.03x
Castleton 1 7.33x
Crumpsall 1 31.06x
Deptford St Paul 1 3.30x
Eccleston In Prescot 1 14.58x
Everton 1 2.30x
Great Bolton 1 5.53x
Heston 1 26.18x
Islington London 1 0.90x
Kirkdale 1 4.35x
Langar 1 588.24x
Macclesfield 1 8.86x
Newcastle Under Lyme 1 14.56x
Newington 1 2.35x
Pleasington 1 555.56x
Royal Navy 1 8.53x
Sale 1 32.05x
Widnes 1 10.15x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 15
Ann 5
Sarah 4
Annie 3
Bridget 3
Ellen 3
Bridgett 2
Catherine 2
Hannah 2
Margaret 2
Sabina 2
Agnes 1
Eliz.A. 1
Eliza 1
Elizabeth 1
Jane 1
Matilda 1
Maud 1
Rose 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 15
Michael 8
James 7
William 5
Patrick 4
Thomas 4
Edward 3
Francis 3
Martin 3
Anthony 2
Joseph 2
Richard 2
Austin 1
Malackey 1
Michal 1
Miles 1
Stephen 1
Tos. 1

FAQ

Nally surname: questions and answers

How common was the Nally surname in 1881?

In 1881, 121 people were recorded with the Nally surname. That placed it at #17,671 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Nally surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 473 in 2016. That gives Nally a modern rank of #10,409.

What does the Nally surname mean?

Derived from the Irish surname Ó Niallaigh, meaning "descendant of Niallach," a personal name of uncertain origin.

What does the Nally map show?

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