NameCensus.

UK surname

Odonoghue

A surname of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic "Ó Donnchadha," meaning "descendant of Donnchadh" (a personal name meaning "brown warrior").

In the 1881 census there were 167 people recorded with the Odonoghue surname, ranking it #14,443 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 3,042, ranked #2,213, up from #14,443 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, North Meols and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Greenock East, Kensington and Chelsea and Coventry.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Odonoghue is 3,168 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 1721.6%.

1881 census count

167

Ranked #14,443

Modern count

3,042

2016, ranked #2,213

Peak year

2010

3,168 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Odonoghue had 167 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #14,443 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 3,042 in 2016, ranked #2,213.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 352 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Odonoghue surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Odonoghue surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Odonoghue 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 19 #29,904
1861 historical 18 #31,580
1881 historical 167 #14,443
1891 historical 194 #15,277
1901 historical 332 #10,863
1911 historical 352 #10,229
1997 modern 2,790 #2,306
1998 modern 2,921 #2,306
1999 modern 2,988 #2,269
2000 modern 2,967 #2,272
2001 modern 2,899 #2,272
2002 modern 2,978 #2,257
2003 modern 2,896 #2,271
2004 modern 2,907 #2,261
2005 modern 2,892 #2,244
2006 modern 2,899 #2,233
2007 modern 2,946 #2,222
2008 modern 2,963 #2,220
2009 modern 3,063 #2,199
2010 modern 3,168 #2,185
2011 modern 3,112 #2,192
2012 modern 3,004 #2,220
2013 modern 3,043 #2,237
2014 modern 3,057 #2,236
2015 modern 3,058 #2,211
2016 modern 3,042 #2,213

Geography

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Where Odonoghues are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, North Meols, Manchester and St George the Martyr, St Andrew Holborn above the Bars, Furnival's Inn. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Greenock East, Kensington and Chelsea, Coventry, Greenock Town Centre and East Central and Knowsley. 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 North Meols Lancashire
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 St George the Martyr, St Andrew Holborn above the Bars, Furnival's Inn London (Central Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Greenock East Inverclyde
2 Kensington and Chelsea 003 Kensington and Chelsea
3 Coventry 002 Coventry
4 Greenock Town Centre and East Central Inverclyde
5 Knowsley 008 Knowsley

Forenames

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First names often paired with Odonoghue

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Odonoghue

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Odonoghue surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Odonoghue household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Odonoghue 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

Odonoghue 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

Odonoghue falls in decile 4 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Odonoghue 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 Odonoghue, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Odonoghue

The surname O'Donoghue has its origins in Ireland, and it is derived from the Irish Gaelic name "Ó Donnchadha," which means "descendant of Donnchadh." Donnchadh is an Irish personal name that is believed to be derived from the words "donn," meaning "brown," and "cath," meaning "battle" or "warrior."

The O'Donoghue family is believed to have originated in County Kerry, in the southwestern part of Ireland. The name is particularly associated with the Kenmare and Killarney areas of County Kerry, where the O'Donoghue clan held significant power and influence during the Middle Ages.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the O'Donoghue name can be found in the Annals of Inisfallen, a medieval Irish chronicle that covers events from the 5th to the 13th centuries. The annals mention several members of the O'Donoghue family, including Donnchadh O'Donoghue, who is recorded as having died in 1166.

In the 14th century, the O'Donoghues were among the most powerful families in County Kerry, and they held extensive lands and castles in the region. One of the most notable members of the family during this period was Geoffroy O'Donoghue, who was the Lord of Glenflesk and Tore in the early 14th century.

Another notable figure from the O'Donoghue family was Dermot O'Donoghue, who was a prominent military leader during the Irish Confederate Wars of the 1640s. He played a significant role in the defense of Munster against the forces of Oliver Cromwell.

In the 18th century, John O'Donoghue (1726-1786) was a prominent Irish-born artist who worked primarily in London. He was known for his portrait paintings and was elected a member of the Royal Academy in 1773.

In more recent times, one of the most famous individuals with the O'Donoghue surname was Brendan O'Donoghue (1924-2012), who was an Irish politician and member of the Fianna Fáil party. He served as a member of Dáil Éireann (the Irish parliament) for over 40 years and held several ministerial positions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Odonoghue families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Odonoghue 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 27 Odonoghues recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.39x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 27 2.39x
Lancashire 24 1.79x
Surrey 10 1.81x
Somerset 8 4.39x
Kent 6 1.55x
Lanarkshire 6 1.64x
Channel Islands 5 14.91x
Durham 5 1.49x
Warwickshire 5 1.75x
West Lothian 5 29.34x
Yorkshire 5 0.45x
Devon 3 1.27x
Cheshire 1 0.40x
Denbighshire 1 2.34x
Glamorgan 1 0.51x
Hampshire 1 0.43x
Perthshire 1 1.97x
Royal Navy 1 7.42x
Stirlingshire 1 2.40x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Putney in Surrey leads with 7 Odonoghues recorded in 1881 and an index of 135.66x.

Place Total Index
Putney 7 135.66x
Bradford 6 95.54x
St Andrew Holborn London 6 122.45x
Minster In Sheppey 5 78.13x
Rugby 5 129.53x
St Giles In Fields London 5 90.09x
Stockton On Tees 5 30.81x
Walcot 5 51.55x
Walton On Hill 5 68.78x
Widnes 5 51.65x
Holy Trinity 4 14.83x
Linlithgow 4 182.65x
St Helier 4 36.66x
Wapping London 4 465.12x
Clerkenwell London 3 11.23x
Everton 3 7.01x
Glasgow 3 4.62x
Long Ashton 3 333.33x
Mortlake 3 121.95x
Stoke Damerel 3 18.20x
Chelsea London 2 5.87x
Govan 2 2.21x
Kensington London 2 3.18x
Liverpool 2 2.45x
Paddington London 2 4.81x
Barony 1 1.08x
Bathgate 1 27.03x
Bootle Cum Linacre 1 9.38x
Deptford St Paul 1 3.36x
Headingley Cum Burley 1 13.85x
Holdenhurst 1 16.45x
Islington London 1 0.91x
Kirkdale 1 4.43x
Larbert 1 40.16x
Longton 1 178.57x
Monks Coppenhall 1 10.62x
Neath 1 24.94x
Perth East Church 1 20.88x
Royal Navy 1 8.67x
St Paul Covent Garden 1 88.50x
St Peter 1 103.09x
Westminster St James 1 8.60x
Wrexham Regis 1 31.55x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 11
Elizabeth 6
Sarah 4
Barbara 2
Cristiana 2
Ellen 2
Julia 2
Ada 1
Ann 1
Anna 1
Anne 1
Annie 1
Belinda 1
Bertha 1
Catherine 1
Cecilia 1
Christina 1
Eliza 1
Emily 1
Emma 1
Ethel 1
F. 1
Frances 1
Helen 1
Honora 1
Isabel 1
Johonah 1
Kate 1
Lucy 1
S. 1
Sabina 1
Susanna 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 6
Cornelius 4
Daniel 4
Patrick 3
Thomas 3
Denis 2
Dennis 2
Joseph 2
Timothy 2
Alfred 1
Algernon 1
Ambrose 1
Charles 1
David 1
Digby 1
Edward 1
Gustavous 1
Henry 1
James 1
Jas. 1
Lemuel 1
Louis 1
Michael 1
Peter 1
Raymond 1
Robert 1
Roger 1
T. 1
William 1
Willm. 1

FAQ

Odonoghue surname: questions and answers

How common was the Odonoghue surname in 1881?

In 1881, 167 people were recorded with the Odonoghue surname. That placed it at #14,443 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Odonoghue surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 3,042 in 2016. That gives Odonoghue a modern rank of #2,213.

What does the Odonoghue surname mean?

A surname of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic "Ó Donnchadha," meaning "descendant of Donnchadh" (a personal name meaning "brown warrior").

What does the Odonoghue map show?

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