NameCensus.

UK surname

Noreen

A surname derived from the Irish word "an Nóirín" meaning little nun.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bradford, Pendle and Birmingham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Noreen is 943 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

943

2016, ranked #6,083

Peak year

2016

943 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 943 in 2016, ranked #6,083.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 4 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Noreen surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Noreen surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Noreen 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
1861 historical 4 #33,628
1891 historical 1 #34,674
1901 historical 1 #34,548
1911 historical 1 #34,332
1997 modern 180 #18,812
1998 modern 214 #17,366
1999 modern 263 #15,267
2000 modern 308 #13,685
2001 modern 318 #13,205
2002 modern 410 #11,226
2003 modern 441 #10,458
2004 modern 483 #9,743
2005 modern 532 #9,019
2006 modern 602 #8,269
2007 modern 640 #7,962
2008 modern 677 #7,676
2009 modern 731 #7,387
2010 modern 771 #7,234
2011 modern 810 #6,857
2012 modern 861 #6,459
2013 modern 901 #6,336
2014 modern 888 #6,448
2015 modern 923 #6,210
2016 modern 943 #6,083

Geography

Back to top

Where Noreens 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 Bradford, Pendle, Birmingham and Calderdale. 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 Bradford 033 Bradford
2 Pendle 013 Pendle
3 Birmingham 070 Birmingham
4 Calderdale 012 Calderdale
5 Birmingham 051 Birmingham

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Noreen

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Noreen

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

Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students

Nationally, the Noreen surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Noreen 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 with dependent children are common in this Group, with many parents born in Africa or the EU. The representation of residents amongst different ethnic minority groups is high, particularly for individuals of Pakistani ethnic group. For many residents, English is not their main language, and affiliation to Christian religions is less common. Privately rented terrace properties predominate and levels of overcrowding are high. Part time work is common, with many employed in elementary occupations and sales and customer services. There are also many students living within these areas, and overall unemployment levels are high.

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

Young Asian Family Terraces

Within London, Noreen is most associated with areas classed as Young Asian Family Terraces, 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 households with dependent children typically live in terraced housing and are of (non-Chinese) Asian extraction. Individuals with Bangladeshi origins are particularly in evidence. Employment is often in elementary occupations or as process, plant or machine operatives, and part-time work is common. Students are much in evidence.

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

Noreen 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

Noreen 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 Noreen 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
Other Ethnic Group

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

Meaning and origin of Noreen

The surname Noreen originated in Ireland and is a variant spelling of the much more common Irish surname Noonan. The name Noonan itself is an Anglicized form of the Old Gaelic name O'Nuadhain, which means "descendant of Nuadhan". Nuadhan was a personal name derived from the Irish word "nuadh", meaning new or fresh.

The earliest recorded instances of the Noreen surname can be traced back to the 16th century in County Cork, Ireland. One of the earliest known bearers of the name was John Noreen, who was born in 1546 in the town of Bandon, County Cork. Records show that he was a landowner and farmer in the area.

In the 17th century, the Noreen name began to spread beyond County Cork to other parts of Ireland. One notable figure from this time was Dermot Noreen, a soldier who fought in the Irish Confederate Wars from 1641 to 1653. He was born in 1615 in Kinsale, County Cork, and is believed to have died sometime in the late 1600s.

As the centuries passed, the Noreen surname continued to be associated with various parts of Ireland, particularly in the counties of Cork, Kerry, and Limerick. In the 19th century, a man named Patrick Noreen, born in 1812 in Tralee, County Kerry, gained some prominence as a local politician and community leader.

Another notable bearer of the Noreen surname was Michael Noreen, born in 1858 in Mallow, County Cork. He emigrated to the United States in the 1880s and became a successful businessman in Boston, Massachusetts. He was involved in the shipping and import/export trade.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Noreen surname in the United States can be found in the case of John Noreen, who was born in County Cork, Ireland in 1835. He immigrated to New York City in 1855 and worked as a carpenter and builder, helping to construct many buildings in the rapidly growing metropolis.

While not as common as some other Irish surnames, the Noreen name has left its mark on history through these individuals and many others who bore it over the centuries. Its origins can be traced back to the early modern period in Ireland, where it was a variant spelling of the more widespread Noonan surname.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Noreen surname: questions and answers

How common is the Noreen surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 943 in 2016. That gives Noreen a modern rank of #6,083.

What does the Noreen surname mean?

A surname derived from the Irish word "an Nóirín" meaning little nun.

What does the Noreen map show?

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