NameCensus.

UK surname

Ogara

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic name "O'Gadhra," meaning "descendant of the goat-keeper."

In the 1881 census there were 126 people recorded with the Ogara surname, ranking it #17,245 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 587, ranked #8,864, up from #17,245 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Stockport, Rutherglen and Toxteth Park. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Tameside, Bury and Cannock Chase.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ogara is 591 in 2015. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 365.9%.

1881 census count

126

Ranked #17,245

Modern count

587

2016, ranked #8,864

Peak year

2015

591 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Ogara had 126 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #17,245 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 587 in 2016, ranked #8,864.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 216 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Ogara surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Ogara surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Ogara 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 76 #20,127
1861 historical 29 #30,287
1881 historical 126 #17,245
1891 historical 125 #20,713
1901 historical 169 #16,824
1911 historical 216 #14,240
1997 modern 503 #9,259
1998 modern 540 #9,058
1999 modern 524 #9,319
2000 modern 509 #9,504
2001 modern 498 #9,498
2002 modern 529 #9,255
2003 modern 526 #9,151
2004 modern 503 #9,480
2005 modern 516 #9,236
2006 modern 531 #9,063
2007 modern 532 #9,122
2008 modern 526 #9,271
2009 modern 550 #9,169
2010 modern 558 #9,260
2011 modern 542 #9,387
2012 modern 549 #9,184
2013 modern 569 #9,066
2014 modern 584 #8,978
2015 modern 591 #8,828
2016 modern 587 #8,864

Geography

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Where Ogaras are most common

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

The modern local-area list points to Tameside, Bury, Cannock Chase, Tamworth and Birmingham. 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 Rutherglen Lanark
3 Toxteth Park Lancashire
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Tameside 027 Tameside
2 Bury 016 Bury
3 Cannock Chase 012 Cannock Chase
4 Tamworth 004 Tamworth
5 Birmingham 046 Birmingham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Ogara

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Ogara

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Ogara surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Ogara household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Ogara is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Ogara is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Ogara 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 Ogara 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 Ogara, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Ogara

The surname OGARA is believed to have originated in Ireland, specifically in the counties of Sligo and Mayo. The name is derived from the Old Irish word "O'Gadhra," which means "descendant of Gadhra." Gadhra is thought to have been a personal name meaning "wild goat" or "ardent one."

The earliest recorded instances of the name date back to the 12th century, with references found in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history. One notable bearer of the name from this era was Conor O'Gara, a lord of Coolavin in County Sligo, who lived in the late 12th century.

In the 16th century, the O'Garas were among the most influential families in the Barony of Coolavin. They were allies of the powerful O'Donnell clan and played a significant role in the Nine Years' War (1593-1603) against English rule in Ireland. Donal O'Gara (c. 1570-1636) was a prominent military leader during this conflict.

As the name spread throughout Ireland, variations in spelling emerged, including O'Gara, O'Gare, and Ogara. Records from the 17th and 18th centuries show the name being present in counties like Mayo, Galway, and Roscommon.

One notable bearer of the name was Sir Oliver Ogara (1585-1665), an Irish soldier who fought for the Catholic Confederacy during the Irish Confederate Wars (1641-1653). He was knighted by the Confederation and later served as a colonel in the Spanish Army.

Another prominent figure was Maurice O'Gara (1700-1768), an Irish Catholic priest and historian who wrote extensively about the history of Ireland and the Irish language. His works include "Dissertations on the Antiquities of Connaught" and "A Compendious Antiquarian of the Diocese of Elphin."

During the 19th century, the name OGARA became more widespread as many Irish families emigrated to other parts of the world, particularly the United States and Australia, due to events like the Great Famine (1845-1849).

Throughout its history, the surname OGARA has been associated with various place names in Ireland, such as Coolavin, Ballycogley, and Castlerea, reflecting the ancestral lands and territories of different branches of the family.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Ogara families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Ogara 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 22 Ogaras recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.02x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 22 3.02x
Lanarkshire 15 7.55x
Cheshire 9 6.64x
Warwickshire 9 5.81x
Derbyshire 2 2.08x
Durham 2 1.09x
Renfrewshire 2 4.20x
Kent 1 0.48x
Middlesex 1 0.16x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hulme in Lancashire leads with 17 Ogaras recorded in 1881 and an index of 111.70x.

Place Total Index
Hulme 17 111.70x
Aston 9 21.10x
Rutherglen 9 309.28x
Stockport 6 85.96x
Glasgow 4 11.34x
Brinnington 3 236.22x
Burnley 2 32.57x
Monkwearmouth Shore 2 56.02x
Preston 2 10.26x
Smisby 2 3333.33x
Abbey 1 13.77x
Cathcart 1 38.76x
Golborne 1 105.26x
Govan 1 2.04x
Maryhill 1 25.71x
St Marylebone London 1 3.05x
Woolwich 1 12.92x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 6
Catherine 2
Ann 1
Annie 1
Bridget 1
Elizabeth 1
Ellen 1
Oney 1
Sarah 1
Winnifred 1

Top male names

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

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 Ogara households.

FAQ

Ogara surname: questions and answers

How common was the Ogara surname in 1881?

In 1881, 126 people were recorded with the Ogara surname. That placed it at #17,245 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Ogara surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 587 in 2016. That gives Ogara a modern rank of #8,864.

What does the Ogara surname mean?

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic name "O'Gadhra," meaning "descendant of the goat-keeper."

What does the Ogara map show?

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