NameCensus.

UK surname

Oflaherty

An old Gaelic surname meaning 'descendant of the ruddy one'.

In the 1881 census there were 116 people recorded with the Oflaherty surname, ranking it #18,126 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 990, ranked #5,847, up from #18,126 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Toxteth Park and Dover St James, Dover St Mary. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Newport, Liverpool and Sandwell.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Oflaherty is 1,031 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 753.4%.

1881 census count

116

Ranked #18,126

Modern count

990

2016, ranked #5,847

Peak year

2014

1,031 bearers

Map years

6

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Oflaherty had 116 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #18,126 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 990 in 2016, ranked #5,847.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 149 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Oflaherty surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Oflaherty surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Oflaherty 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 40 #26,118
1861 historical 67 #25,342
1881 historical 116 #18,126
1891 historical 57 #29,533
1901 historical 131 #19,552
1911 historical 149 #17,937
1997 modern 971 #5,628
1998 modern 1,012 #5,625
1999 modern 991 #5,754
2000 modern 975 #5,814
2001 modern 957 #5,785
2002 modern 988 #5,755
2003 modern 998 #5,603
2004 modern 984 #5,669
2005 modern 976 #5,648
2006 modern 971 #5,686
2007 modern 994 #5,634
2008 modern 1,000 #5,655
2009 modern 1,007 #5,734
2010 modern 1,029 #5,742
2011 modern 1,012 #5,762
2012 modern 991 #5,777
2013 modern 1,014 #5,759
2014 modern 1,031 #5,716
2015 modern 995 #5,831
2016 modern 990 #5,847

Geography

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Where Oflahertys are most common

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

The modern local-area list points to Newport, Liverpool, Sandwell, Windsor and Maidenhead 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 3
2 Toxteth Park Lancashire
3 Dover St James, Dover St Mary Kent
4 Edinburgh Edinburgh
5 Liverpool Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Newport 018 Newport
2 Liverpool 017 Liverpool
3 Sandwell 012 Sandwell
4 Windsor and Maidenhead 010 Windsor and Maidenhead
5 Knowsley 005 Knowsley

Forenames

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First names often paired with Oflaherty

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Oflaherty

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

Oflaherty 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

Oflaherty falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Oflaherty is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Oflaherty

The surname O'Flaherty has its origins in Ireland, tracing back to the medieval period. It is an anglicized version of the Irish Gaelic name Ó Flathartaigh, which means "descendant of Flathartach." Flathartach was a personal name derived from the Old Irish word "flathri," meaning "prince" or "chief."

The O'Flahertys were a prominent Irish clan based in the region of Connemara, County Galway. They were a branch of the larger Muintir Murchadha (Clan Murphy) and held significant power and influence in the area during the Middle Ages. The name is closely associated with the town of Aughnanure, where the O'Flahertys had a strong presence and built a impressive castle in the 16th century.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the O'Flaherty name can be found in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history compiled in the 17th century. The annals reference several notable members of the clan, including Donal O'Flaherty, who was killed in a battle in 1385.

In the 14th century, Muircheartach O'Flaherty was recorded as the Chief of Muintir Murchadha and played a significant role in the conflicts between the Irish and Anglo-Norman settlers in Connacht. Another notable figure was Ruaidhri O'Flaherty (c. 1629–1718), an Irish historian and chronicler who authored several important works, including "Ogygia" and "A Chorographical Description of West or H-Iar Connaught."

Other prominent individuals bearing the O'Flaherty surname include Roderic O'Flaherty (1784–1858), an Irish writer and historian; Liam O'Flaherty (1896–1984), a renowned Irish novelist and short story writer known for works like "The Informer" and "The Landord's Best War"; and Theophilus O'Flaherty (1753–1799), an Irish-born British Army officer who served during the American Revolutionary War.

The O'Flaherty name has also been associated with various place names in Ireland, such as Ballynahinch Castle (Baile na hInse in Irish), which was once owned by the O'Flaherty clan, and the town of Oranmore (Úran Mór in Irish), which is believed to have derived its name from a combination of the Irish words "úr" (fresh) and "an mór" (the great), referring to the great freshwater springs in the area controlled by the O'Flahertys.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Oflaherty families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Oflaherty 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. Kent leads with 14 Oflahertys recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.33x.

County Total Index
Kent 14 5.33x
Devon 13 8.11x
Midlothian 8 7.75x
Lancashire 7 0.77x
Somerset 7 5.65x
Channel Islands 6 26.28x
Middlesex 6 0.78x
Cheshire 4 2.35x
Hampshire 4 2.53x
Northumberland 4 3.49x
Northamptonshire 2 2.76x
Royal Navy 2 21.79x
Dorset 1 1.98x
Surrey 1 0.27x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Plymouth St Andrew in Devon leads with 12 Oflahertys recorded in 1881 and an index of 97.17x.

Place Total Index
Plymouth St Andrew 12 97.17x
Charlton 10 571.43x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 8 19.27x
St Decumans Watchet 7 2258.06x
St Helier 6 80.75x
Birkenhead 4 29.50x
Morpeth 4 296.30x
Pendleton In Salford 3 27.55x
Portsea 3 9.69x
St Gilesin Fields London 3 461.54x
Maidstone 2 25.54x
Northampton St Sepulchre 2 54.20x
Royal Navy 2 25.48x
Shoreditch London 2 5.99x
Aighton Bailey 1 227.27x
Bootle Cum Linacre 1 13.77x
Chorlton On Medlock 1 6.89x
Folkestone 1 19.61x
Gillingham 1 18.45x
Leatherhead 1 106.38x
Liverpool 1 1.80x
Portland 1 36.76x
Portsmouth 1 27.47x
St Marylebone London 1 2.43x
Tavistock 1 54.64x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

FAQ

Oflaherty surname: questions and answers

How common was the Oflaherty surname in 1881?

In 1881, 116 people were recorded with the Oflaherty surname. That placed it at #18,126 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Oflaherty surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 990 in 2016. That gives Oflaherty a modern rank of #5,847.

What does the Oflaherty surname mean?

An old Gaelic surname meaning 'descendant of the ruddy one'.

What does the Oflaherty map show?

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