NameCensus.

UK surname

Odwyer

Irish surname meaning descendant or follower of Dwyer, an Irish clan name.

In the 1881 census there were 91 people recorded with the Odwyer surname, ranking it #20,843 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,890, ranked #3,367, up from #20,843 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Stockport, London parishes and Toxteth Park. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Halton, Maldon and Oldham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Odwyer is 1,952 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 1976.9%.

1881 census count

91

Ranked #20,843

Modern count

1,890

2016, ranked #3,367

Peak year

2002

1,952 bearers

Map years

5

1901 to 2016

Key insights

  • Odwyer had 91 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #20,843 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,890 in 2016, ranked #3,367.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 179 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Odwyer surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Odwyer surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Odwyer 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 26 #28,667
1861 historical 43 #28,562
1881 historical 91 #20,843
1891 historical 69 #28,188
1901 historical 122 #20,344
1911 historical 179 #16,023
1997 modern 1,877 #3,211
1998 modern 1,926 #3,252
1999 modern 1,916 #3,297
2000 modern 1,931 #3,255
2001 modern 1,905 #3,231
2002 modern 1,952 #3,233
2003 modern 1,869 #3,281
2004 modern 1,829 #3,348
2005 modern 1,802 #3,367
2006 modern 1,816 #3,344
2007 modern 1,822 #3,365
2008 modern 1,852 #3,345
2009 modern 1,889 #3,360
2010 modern 1,918 #3,388
2011 modern 1,906 #3,367
2012 modern 1,855 #3,397
2013 modern 1,888 #3,395
2014 modern 1,921 #3,363
2015 modern 1,899 #3,365
2016 modern 1,890 #3,367

Geography

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Where Odwyers are most common

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

The modern local-area list points to Halton, Maldon, Oldham, Blaenau Gwent and Torfaen. 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 Stockport Cheshire
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Toxteth Park Lancashire
5 Liverpool Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Halton 011 Halton
2 Maldon 006 Maldon
3 Oldham 020 Oldham
4 Blaenau Gwent 006 Blaenau Gwent
5 Torfaen 007 Torfaen

Forenames

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First names often paired with Odwyer

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Odwyer

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Odwyer, 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 Odwyer surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Odwyer 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, Odwyer 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

Odwyer 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

Odwyer falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Odwyer

The surname ODWYER is of Irish origin, dating back to the 12th century. It is an anglicized form of the Gaelic name O'Duibhir, which means 'descendant of the dark one' or 'descendant of the black-haired one'. The name is believed to have originated in County Tipperary, Ireland.

The ODWYER clan was one of the most prominent families in the region of Kilnamanagh in County Tipperary during the Middle Ages. They were lords of the territory and played a significant role in the conflicts between the Anglo-Norman invaders and the native Irish clans.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Annals of Inisfallen, a chronicle of medieval Irish history compiled in the 12th century. The Annals mention an ODWYER chieftain named Domnall O'Duibhir, who was killed in 1185.

Another notable mention of the name is in the Annals of the Four Masters, a 17th-century chronicle of medieval Irish history. It records the death of Maolmuire ODWYER, the Lord of Kilnamanagh, in 1282.

A famous bearer of the ODWYER name was Sir James ODWYER, an Irish soldier and landowner who lived in the 16th century. He served as a captain in the army of Queen Elizabeth I and was granted lands in County Tipperary for his loyalty to the English crown.

Another prominent figure was Andrew ODWYER (1555-1642), an Irish Catholic priest and scholar who served as the Bishop of Limerick from 1600 to 1642. He played a crucial role in preserving the Catholic faith in Ireland during the turbulent times of the English Reformation.

In the 18th century, Michael ODWYER (1737-1795) was a notable Irish rebel who fought against English rule during the Irish Rebellion of 1798. He was a leader of the United Irishmen, a republican revolutionary group, and was eventually captured and executed for his role in the uprising.

John ODWYER (1819-1888) was an Irish-American philanthropist and businessman who made his fortune in the California gold rush. He donated large sums of money to support Catholic education and charities in California and Ireland.

The ODWYER surname has evolved over time, with various spellings such as O'Dwyer, O'Dyer, and Dwyer appearing in historical records. Many bearers of this name can trace their ancestry back to the ancient territory of Kilnamanagh in County Tipperary, Ireland, where the ODWYER clan once held significant power and influence.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Odwyer families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Odwyer 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 17 Odwyers recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.77x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 17 3.77x
Somerset 8 13.07x
Hampshire 4 5.13x
Herefordshire 2 12.82x
Kent 2 1.54x
Surrey 2 1.08x
Cheshire 1 1.19x
Cumberland 1 3.05x
Middlesex 1 0.26x
Warwickshire 1 1.04x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Everton in Lancashire leads with 10 Odwyers recorded in 1881 and an index of 69.49x.

Place Total Index
Everton 10 69.49x
Bedminster 8 139.13x
Portsea 4 26.18x
Toxteth Park 4 26.18x
Folkestone 2 79.37x
Liverpool 2 7.30x
Lower Bullingham 2 3333.33x
Rotherhithe 2 42.55x
Barnacre With Bonds 1 833.33x
Birkenhead 1 14.95x
Birmingham 1 3.13x
Bow London 1 20.66x
Preston Quarter 1 108.70x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 7
Alice 1
Annie 1
Bridget 1
Catherine 1
Ellen 1
Henrietta 1
Jennie 1
Katie 1
Lousia 1
W.J. 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 4
Thomas 4
Richard 3
James 2
Charles 1
Dennis 1
Edward 1
Louis 1
Patrick 1
Philip 1
Wm.M. 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 Odwyer households.

FAQ

Odwyer surname: questions and answers

How common was the Odwyer surname in 1881?

In 1881, 91 people were recorded with the Odwyer surname. That placed it at #20,843 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Odwyer surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,890 in 2016. That gives Odwyer a modern rank of #3,367.

What does the Odwyer surname mean?

Irish surname meaning descendant or follower of Dwyer, an Irish clan name.

What does the Odwyer map show?

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