NameCensus.

UK surname

Odonohue

Irish surname derived from the Gaelic Ó Donnchadha meaning "descendant of Donnchadh" (dark brown-haired warrior).

In the 1881 census there were 64 people recorded with the Odonohue surname, ranking it #24,561 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 287, ranked #15,212, up from #24,561 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Shawhead and Whifflet, IZ06 and Knowsley.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Odonohue is 298 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 348.4%.

1881 census count

64

Ranked #24,561

Modern count

287

2016, ranked #15,212

Peak year

2002

298 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Odonohue had 64 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #24,561 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 287 in 2016, ranked #15,212.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 64 in 1881.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Odonohue surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Odonohue surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Odonohue 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 17 #30,267
1861 historical 12 #32,329
1881 historical 64 #24,561
1891 historical 54 #29,849
1901 historical 29 #30,848
1911 historical 18 #31,542
1997 modern 271 #14,486
1998 modern 281 #14,506
1999 modern 282 #14,545
2000 modern 283 #14,488
2001 modern 271 #14,691
2002 modern 298 #14,048
2003 modern 280 #14,472
2004 modern 277 #14,644
2005 modern 275 #14,624
2006 modern 273 #14,804
2007 modern 281 #14,660
2008 modern 290 #14,466
2009 modern 288 #14,838
2010 modern 283 #15,363
2011 modern 285 #15,140
2012 modern 281 #15,198
2013 modern 286 #15,259
2014 modern 290 #15,203
2015 modern 286 #15,270
2016 modern 287 #15,212

Geography

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Where Odonohues 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 Shawhead and Whifflet, IZ06, Knowsley, Halton and West Lancashire. 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 Shawhead and Whifflet North Lanarkshire
2 IZ06 West Dunbartonshire
3 Knowsley 010 Knowsley
4 Halton 010 Halton
5 West Lancashire 013 West Lancashire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Odonohue

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Odonohue

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Odonohue surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Odonohue household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Odonohue 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

Odonohue 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

Odonohue 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 Odonohue is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Odonohue

The surname O'Donohue originates from Ireland and dates back to the 10th century. It is an anglicized version of the Irish Gaelic name Ó Donnchadha, which means "descendant of Donnchadh". Donnchadh was a personal name derived from the words "donn" meaning brown, and "cath" meaning battle or warrior.

O'Donohue is a prominent surname found in County Kerry, particularly in the Dingle Peninsula and the surrounding areas. The name is associated with the ancient Irish clan of Uí Donnchadha, who were rulers and chieftains in this region during the Middle Ages.

One of the earliest recorded references to the name can be found in the Annals of Inisfallen, a chronicle of medieval Irish history. In this text, the name Donnchadh appears as early as 977 AD, indicating the long-standing presence of the name in Ireland.

The O'Donohue clan played a significant role in the history of County Kerry. One notable figure was Dermot O'Donohue, who was the chief of the clan in the 16th century. He was involved in conflicts with the English crown during the Desmond Rebellions, which aimed to assert Irish independence.

Another prominent O'Donohue was Reverend Jeremiah O'Donohue (1823-1898), a Catholic priest and author. He wrote several books on Irish history and language, including "The Life and Writings of St. Patrick" and "Brendaniana", which explored the legend of St. Brendan the Navigator.

In the literary world, John Francis O'Donohue (1956-2008) was a renowned Irish poet, author, and philosopher. His works, such as "Anam Cara" and "Eternal Echoes", explored themes of spirituality, Celtic heritage, and the human experience.

The surname O'Donohue has also been associated with several notable athletes. John O'Donohue (1948-2022) was an Irish hurler who played for the Waterford senior hurling team, winning two All-Ireland medals in 1959 and 1963. Patrick O'Donohue (born 1962) is a former Irish cricketer who played for the Irish national team in the 1980s and 1990s.

Throughout history, the spelling of the surname has varied, including Donohue, O'Donoghue, and Donoghue. This variation is often attributed to the anglicization of the original Irish name, as well as regional differences in pronunciation and spelling conventions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Odonohue families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Odonohue 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 11 Odonohues recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.13x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 11 4.13x
Yorkshire 5 2.25x
Angus 3 14.43x
Middlesex 3 1.34x
Essex 1 2.26x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Wigan in Lancashire leads with 9 Odonohues recorded in 1881 and an index of 241.94x.

Place Total Index
Wigan 9 241.94x
Halifax 5 153.37x
Dundee 3 38.66x
Kensington London 2 16.04x
Boreham 1 1250.00x
Cheetham 1 50.25x
Clerkenwell London 1 18.87x
Droylsden 1 114.94x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Bridget 2
Margaret 2
Ann 1
Catherine 1
Honora 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 4
Charles 1
George 1
Michael 1
Murt 1
P. 1
Telford 1
Thomas 1
Thos. 1
Timothy 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Odonohue households.

FAQ

Odonohue surname: questions and answers

How common was the Odonohue surname in 1881?

In 1881, 64 people were recorded with the Odonohue surname. That placed it at #24,561 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Odonohue surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 287 in 2016. That gives Odonohue a modern rank of #15,212.

What does the Odonohue surname mean?

Irish surname derived from the Gaelic Ó Donnchadha meaning "descendant of Donnchadh" (dark brown-haired warrior).

What does the Odonohue map show?

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