NameCensus.

UK surname

Nolan

A surname of Irish origin, derived from Ó Nualláin, meaning "descendant of Nuallán" (a personal name meaning "noble" or "famous").

In the 1881 census there were 4,062 people recorded with the Nolan surname, ranking it #1,112 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 12,999, ranked #496, up from #1,112 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Manchester and Liverpool. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wirral, Liverpool and Merthyr Tydfil.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Nolan is 13,088 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 220.0%.

1881 census count

4,062

Ranked #1,112

Modern count

12,999

2016, ranked #496

Peak year

2014

13,088 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Nolan had 4,062 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,112 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 12,999 in 2016, ranked #496.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 5,129 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Nolan surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Nolan surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Nolan 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 943 #2,943
1861 historical 1,743 #1,654
1881 historical 4,062 #1,112
1891 historical 3,878 #1,235
1901 historical 4,939 #1,141
1911 historical 5,129 #1,024
1997 modern 11,949 #516
1998 modern 12,308 #521
1999 modern 12,429 #518
2000 modern 12,350 #518
2001 modern 11,972 #521
2002 modern 12,389 #518
2003 modern 12,018 #521
2004 modern 12,053 #522
2005 modern 12,068 #512
2006 modern 12,060 #515
2007 modern 12,136 #515
2008 modern 12,368 #506
2009 modern 12,774 #500
2010 modern 13,078 #500
2011 modern 12,849 #500
2012 modern 12,614 #497
2013 modern 12,993 #494
2014 modern 13,088 #496
2015 modern 13,015 #496
2016 modern 12,999 #496

Geography

Back to top

Where Nolans are most common

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

The modern local-area list points to Wirral, Liverpool, Merthyr Tydfil, Rochdale and Rossendale. 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 London parishes London 3
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 Liverpool Lancashire
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wirral 011 Wirral
2 Liverpool 048 Liverpool
3 Merthyr Tydfil 006 Merthyr Tydfil
4 Rochdale 022 Rochdale
5 Rossendale 010 Rossendale

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Nolan

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Nolan

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Nolan is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Nolan 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

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

Meaning and origin of Nolan

The surname Nolan has its origins in Ireland, where it first appeared in the 10th century. It is derived from the Irish Gaelic words "O'Nualláin," meaning "descendant of Nualláin." Nualláin was an ancient personal name that may have meant "famous" or "shout."

The Nolan family is believed to have originated in County Carlow, in the southeast of Ireland. The name is also found in County Kilkenny and other parts of Leinster. Early forms of the name included O'Nualláin, O'Nuallain, and O'Nolan.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Nolan surname is found in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history. In the year 1014, it mentions a man named Gilla Pádraig Ó Nualláin, who was the chief poet of Ireland.

In the 16th century, the Nolan family possessed lands in County Carlow, particularly in the barony of Forth. A notable figure from this time was Patrick Nolan, a Catholic priest who was executed in 1579 for his religious beliefs during the Elizabethan persecutions.

Another prominent individual was Michael Nolan (1798-1876), an Irish-born architect who designed numerous buildings in Canada, including the Notre-Dame Basilica in Montreal. He was a leading figure in the Neoclassical architectural style in Canada during the 19th century.

In the United States, one of the earliest recorded instances of the Nolan surname was Benjamin Nolan (1752-1836), a military officer who served in the American Revolutionary War. He later became a distinguished judge in Kentucky.

In the 20th century, Christopher Nolan (born 1970) is a renowned British-American film director known for acclaimed works such as "Inception," "The Dark Knight" trilogy, and "Dunkirk." He has won numerous awards, including an Academy Award and several BAFTAs.

Other notable individuals with the surname Nolan include Sir Sidney Nolan (1917-1992), an Australian artist known for his paintings depicting the outback and figures from Australian history, and Lloyd Nolan (1902-1985), an American actor who appeared in numerous films and television shows during the Golden Age of Hollywood.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Nolan families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Nolan 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 1,901 Nolans recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.02x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 1,901 4.02x
Yorkshire 460 1.17x
Middlesex 346 0.87x
Cheshire 172 1.96x
Staffordshire 146 1.09x
Lanarkshire 111 0.86x
Warwickshire 110 1.09x
Durham 98 0.83x
Surrey 93 0.48x
Kent 59 0.43x
Hampshire 48 0.59x
Angus 45 1.22x
Cumberland 37 1.08x
Glamorgan 33 0.48x
Derbyshire 32 0.51x
Midlothian 32 0.60x
Northumberland 32 0.54x
Nottinghamshire 26 0.48x
Renfrewshire 26 0.84x
Northamptonshire 22 0.59x
Essex 21 0.27x
Worcestershire 20 0.38x
Gloucestershire 19 0.24x
Perthshire 15 0.84x
Ayrshire 13 0.44x
Caernarfonshire 13 0.81x
Devon 12 0.14x
Royal Navy 12 2.53x
Sussex 12 0.18x
Lincolnshire 11 0.17x
Monmouthshire 11 0.38x
Brecknockshire 10 1.26x
Flintshire 10 0.93x
Leicestershire 7 0.16x
Berkshire 6 0.20x
Channel Islands 6 0.51x
Anglesey 4 0.57x
Fife 4 0.17x
Herefordshire 4 0.24x
Isle of Man 4 0.54x
Radnorshire 4 1.24x
Shropshire 4 0.12x
Dorset 3 0.11x
Inverness-shire 3 0.25x
Kirkcudbrightshire 3 0.52x
West Lothian 3 0.50x
Argyllshire 2 0.18x
Buckinghamshire 2 0.08x
Cornwall 2 0.04x
Hertfordshire 2 0.07x
Somerset 2 0.03x
Suffolk 2 0.04x
Wiltshire 2 0.06x
Bedfordshire 1 0.05x
Buteshire 1 0.41x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.04x
East Lothian 1 0.19x
Oxfordshire 1 0.04x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.08x
Westmorland 1 0.11x

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 419 Nolans recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.59x.

Place Total Index
Liverpool 419 14.59x
Manchester 209 9.83x
Salford 87 6.26x
West Derby 87 6.29x
Everton 70 4.65x
Birkenhead 67 9.56x
Bradford 63 6.59x
Kirkdale 58 7.29x
Birmingham 56 1.67x
Preston 55 4.35x
Hulme 53 5.37x
Toxteth Park 50 3.12x
Leeds 49 2.20x
Oldham 46 3.01x
Dundee 40 2.90x
Aston 37 1.34x
Warrington 37 6.60x
Govan 36 1.13x
St Luke London 34 5.32x
Wolverhampton 34 3.29x
Parr 33 19.51x
Kensington London 32 1.44x
Widnes 32 9.39x
Sheffield 30 2.39x
Wakefield 30 9.90x
Newcastle Under Lyme 29 12.19x
Blackburn 27 2.15x
Great Bolton 27 4.31x
St Marylebone London 27 1.27x
Lambeth 25 0.72x
Dewsbury 24 5.93x
Pendleton In Salford 24 4.26x
St George Hanover 24 4.62x
Wardleworth 24 8.88x
Bootle Cum Linacre 22 5.86x
Brightside Bierlow 22 2.84x
Bury 22 4.07x
Habergham Eaves 22 5.09x
Ashton Under Lyne 21 2.03x
Chelsea London 20 1.67x
Eccleston In Prescot 20 8.43x
Tottington Lower End 19 8.46x
Wigan 19 2.88x
Ardwick 18 4.22x
Chorlton On Medlock 18 2.40x
Glasgow 18 0.79x
Sculcoates 18 2.88x
Shoreditch London 18 1.04x
Walton On Hill 18 7.03x
Wolstanton 18 4.41x
Barony 17 0.52x
Nottingham St Mary 17 1.22x
Woolwich 17 3.39x
Bollington In 16 20.44x
Mile End Old Town 16 2.54x
Bermondsey 15 1.26x
Little Bolton 15 2.47x
Royton 15 10.37x
Spotland 15 2.85x
Aldershot 14 5.12x
Bradford 14 6.33x
Cleator 14 9.81x
Farnworth 14 4.94x
Hoyland Nether 14 14.46x
St Anne Soho London 14 6.15x
St Pancras London 14 0.44x
Bethnal Green London 13 0.75x
Huddersfield 13 2.26x
Newchurch 13 3.36x
Mangotsfield 12 15.41x
Westminster St James 12 2.93x
Windle 12 4.51x
Witton Gilbert 12 25.65x
Battersea 11 0.75x
Cheetham 11 3.12x
Heworth 11 4.71x
Royal Navy 11 2.71x
Walsall Foreign 11 1.58x
West Bromwich 11 1.43x
Westoe 11 1.64x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 486
Margaret 135
Catherine 121
Ellen 103
Elizabeth 97
Ann 93
Bridget 88
Sarah 58
Annie 56
Eliza 47
Jane 47
Julia 38
Kate 29
Alice 28
Maria 26
Agnes 18
Hannah 18
Frances 17
Rose 16
Anne 14
Emma 14
Martha 12
Charlotte 9
Emily 9
Fanny 9
Harriet 9
Elizth. 8
Louisa 8
Maggie 8
Margret 8
Margt. 8
Florence 7
Isabella 7
Teresa 7
Winifred 7
Anastasia 6
Catharine 6
Susan 6
Amelia 5
Caroline 5
Clara 5
Rebecca 5
Anna 4
Christina 4
Esther 4
Selina 4
Sophia 4
Helena 3
Johanna 3
Margeret 3

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 365
James 226
Thomas 189
William 140
Michael 138
Patrick 135
Joseph 70
Edward 44
Peter 40
Martin 39
Francis 31
Henry 26
Daniel 24
George 23
Charles 22
Robert 12
David 11
Richard 11
Stephen 11
Christopher 10
Hugh 10
Luke 10
Andrew 9
Frank 9
Frederick 9
Alfred 8
Thos. 8
Arthur 7
Dennis 7
Jas. 7
Samuel 7
Wm. 7
Laurence 6
Lawrence 6
Matthew 6
Philip 6
Timothy 6
Bernard 5
Anthony 4
Denis 4
Jno. 4
Micheal 4
Michel 4
Nicholas 4
Owen 4
Albert 3
Cornelius 3
Frances 3
Michl. 3
Patk. 3

FAQ

Nolan surname: questions and answers

How common was the Nolan surname in 1881?

In 1881, 4,062 people were recorded with the Nolan surname. That placed it at #1,112 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Nolan surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 12,999 in 2016. That gives Nolan a modern rank of #496.

What does the Nolan surname mean?

A surname of Irish origin, derived from Ó Nualláin, meaning "descendant of Nuallán" (a personal name meaning "noble" or "famous").

What does the Nolan map show?

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