NameCensus.

UK surname

Oday

A variant of the Irish surname O'Day, derived from the Gaelic "Ó Deághaidh," meaning "descendant of Deaghadh."

In the 1881 census there were 117 people recorded with the Oday surname, ranking it #18,026 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 147, ranked #24,071, down from #18,026 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Rochdale, Toxteth Park and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Rochdale and Livingston Village and Eliburn South.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Oday is 155 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 25.6%.

1881 census count

117

Ranked #18,026

Modern count

147

2016, ranked #24,071

Peak year

2010

155 bearers

Map years

6

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Oday had 117 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #18,026 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 147 in 2016, ranked #24,071.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 119 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Oday surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Oday surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Oday 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 32 #27,570
1861 historical 63 #25,901
1881 historical 117 #18,026
1891 historical 118 #21,540
1901 historical 119 #20,624
1911 historical 26 #30,547
1997 modern 127 #23,352
1998 modern 141 #22,517
1999 modern 143 #22,521
2000 modern 134 #23,358
2001 modern 137 #22,740
2002 modern 134 #23,492
2003 modern 124 #24,378
2004 modern 123 #24,679
2005 modern 127 #24,178
2006 modern 128 #24,267
2007 modern 136 #23,708
2008 modern 134 #24,249
2009 modern 145 #23,473
2010 modern 155 #22,985
2011 modern 141 #24,294
2012 modern 139 #24,485
2013 modern 142 #24,547
2014 modern 148 #24,075
2015 modern 145 #24,246
2016 modern 147 #24,071

Geography

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Where Odays are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Rochdale, Toxteth Park, St Pancras, Warrington 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 Rochdale and Livingston Village and Eliburn South. 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 Rochdale Lancashire
2 Toxteth Park Lancashire
3 St Pancras London (North Districts)
4 Warrington Lancashire
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Rochdale 016 Rochdale
2 Rochdale 004 Rochdale
3 Rochdale 012 Rochdale
4 Livingston Village and Eliburn South West Lothian
5 Rochdale 010 Rochdale

Forenames

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First names often paired with Oday

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Oday

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

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Oday 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

Oday 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

Oday 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 Oday 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 - British

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

Meaning and origin of Oday

The surname ODAY originated in Ireland, with the earliest recorded examples dating back to the 12th century. It is an anglicized version of the Irish Gaelic name "O'Dáith," which means "descendant of Dáith." The name Dáith is thought to be derived from the Old Irish word "dáth," meaning "poet" or "learned person."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name ODAY can be found in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history compiled in the 17th century. The annals mention an individual named "Domhnall O'Dáith" who lived in the 13th century and was a member of the bardic family of O'Dáith in County Westmeath, Ireland.

In the 16th century, the name ODAY appeared in various Irish records, such as the Fiants of the Tudor Sovereigns, which were legal documents issued by the English Crown in Ireland. One notable individual from this time was Edmond ODAY, who was granted lands in County Cavan in 1584.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, the ODAY surname was found in various parts of Ireland, particularly in Counties Westmeath, Cavan, and Longford. One prominent figure was Patrick ODAY (1670-1747), a Catholic priest who served as the Archbishop of Armagh from 1726 until his death.

In the 19th century, the name ODAY became more widespread, with families bearing the surname found in various regions of Ireland and beyond. John ODAY (1805-1877) was a notable Irish politician and journalist who served as a Member of Parliament for County Cavan in the mid-1800s.

Another individual of note was Thomas ODAY (1848-1922), an Irish-born American politician who served as the Mayor of San Francisco from 1895 to 1897. He played a significant role in the city's reconstruction efforts following the devastating earthquake and fire of 1906.

Throughout its history, the surname ODAY has undergone various spelling variations, including O'Day, O'Dea, and O'Dee, reflecting the anglicization of the original Irish Gaelic name. While the name has been found in various parts of the world due to Irish emigration, its roots can be traced back to the poetic and learned families of Ireland's ancient bardic tradition.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Oday families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Oday 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 41 Odays recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.66x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 41 4.66x
Yorkshire 10 1.36x
Angus 6 8.74x
Gloucestershire 6 4.13x
Renfrewshire 3 5.22x
Clackmannanshire 2 32.68x
Cheshire 1 0.61x
Dumfriesshire 1 6.11x
Dunbartonshire 1 5.02x
Fife 1 2.28x
Flintshire 1 5.02x
Glamorgan 1 0.77x
Perthshire 1 3.01x
Worcestershire 1 1.03x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bristol St Augustine in Gloucestershire leads with 6 Odays recorded in 1881 and an index of 255.32x.

Place Total Index
Bristol St Augustine 6 255.32x
Liff Benvie 6 57.58x
Oldham 6 21.13x
Selby 5 326.80x
Warrington 5 47.94x
Pilkington 4 119.76x
Ulverston 4 156.25x
Wigan 4 32.55x
Failsworth 3 149.25x
Liverpool 3 5.62x
Ripon 3 176.47x
West Greenock 3 29.10x
Alloa 2 67.34x
Crumpsall 2 96.62x
Reddish 2 165.29x
Wardleworth 2 39.76x
Widnes 2 31.55x
Bury 1 9.95x
Dewsbury 1 13.28x
Dumbarton 1 36.10x
Forgan 1 119.05x
Huddersfield 1 9.35x
Kirkmichael 1 454.55x
Knutsford Nether 1 101.01x
Merthyr Tydfil 1 8.06x
Northfield 1 54.35x
Perth East Church 1 31.85x
Radcliffe 1 23.58x
Toxteth Park 1 3.36x
Tyldesley Cum Shakerley 1 39.53x
Whitford 1 97.09x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 9
Catherine 5
Margaret 4
Bridget 3
Ellen 3
Ann 2
Agnes 1
Delia 1
Honora 1
Miriam 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 5
Michael 4
Patrick 4
Thomas 3
Stephen 2
William 2
Andrew 1
Daniel 1
Darbey 1
Jack 1
James 1
Jno. 1
Margaret 1
Thos. 1
Timothy 1
Whelam 1

FAQ

Oday surname: questions and answers

How common was the Oday surname in 1881?

In 1881, 117 people were recorded with the Oday surname. That placed it at #18,026 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Oday surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 147 in 2016. That gives Oday a modern rank of #24,071.

What does the Oday surname mean?

A variant of the Irish surname O'Day, derived from the Gaelic "Ó Deághaidh," meaning "descendant of Deaghadh."

What does the Oday map show?

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