NameCensus.

UK surname

Oriordan

Irish surname derived from "Ó Riordáin" meaning descendant of Riordán.

In the 1881 census there were 11 people recorded with the Oriordan surname, ranking it #32,081 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,188, ranked #5,009, up from #32,081 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bury, Stockton-on-Tees and Cheltenham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Oriordan is 1,188 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 10700.0%.

1881 census count

11

Ranked #32,081

Modern count

1,188

2016, ranked #5,009

Peak year

2016

1,188 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Oriordan had 11 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #32,081 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,188 in 2016, ranked #5,009.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 37 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Oriordan surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Oriordan surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Oriordan 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 2 #33,133
1861 historical 2 #34,135
1881 historical 11 #32,081
1891 historical 4 #34,098
1901 historical 26 #31,152
1911 historical 37 #29,263
1997 modern 1,017 #5,415
1998 modern 1,083 #5,325
1999 modern 1,088 #5,334
2000 modern 1,089 #5,310
2001 modern 1,065 #5,310
2002 modern 1,102 #5,263
2003 modern 1,064 #5,317
2004 modern 1,090 #5,225
2005 modern 1,079 #5,208
2006 modern 1,069 #5,248
2007 modern 1,086 #5,237
2008 modern 1,104 #5,200
2009 modern 1,113 #5,271
2010 modern 1,174 #5,137
2011 modern 1,179 #5,062
2012 modern 1,157 #5,061
2013 modern 1,186 #5,043
2014 modern 1,185 #5,080
2015 modern 1,180 #5,048
2016 modern 1,188 #5,009

Geography

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Where Oriordans 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 Bury, Stockton-on-Tees, Cheltenham, Dacorum and East Cambridgeshire. 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 Bury 007 Bury
2 Stockton-on-Tees 020 Stockton-on-Tees
3 Cheltenham 010 Cheltenham
4 Dacorum 011 Dacorum
5 East Cambridgeshire 006 East Cambridgeshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Oriordan

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Oriordan

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

Oriordan 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

Oriordan falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Oriordan

The surname ORIORDAN is of Irish origin, originating from the County Cork region of Ireland. It dates back to the 12th century and is derived from the Irish Gaelic words "O Riordain," which translates to "descendant of Riordan." The prefix "O" was commonly used to denote a grandson or descendant in Irish surnames.

ORIORDAN is an anglicized version of the original Irish Gaelic spelling, as many Irish names were adapted to English spellings during the centuries of English rule in Ireland. The earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in ancient Irish annals and manuscripts, such as the Annals of Inisfallen, which date back to the 12th and 13th centuries.

One of the earliest documented individuals with this surname was Donal O'Riordan, a prominent Irish chieftain who lived in the 14th century. He was a member of the powerful O'Riordan clan, which held significant influence in the Muskerry region of County Cork during the Middle Ages.

Another notable figure was Aodh Ó Rioghbhardáin, also known as Hugh O'Riordan, a 16th-century Irish poet and historian. He was a renowned scholar and is remembered for his contributions to the preservation of Irish literature and history.

In the 17th century, during the Irish Confederate Wars and the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland, many Irish families, including the ORIORDANs, lost their lands and were forced into exile. Some ORIORDANs fled to continental Europe, particularly Spain and France, where their name was sometimes spelled as "O'Riordan" or "O'Reardon."

In the 18th century, Edmund O'Riordan (1670-1737) was a prominent Irish Catholic priest and writer. He was a staunch defender of the Catholic faith during a time of religious persecution in Ireland and published several works on theological and historical subjects.

Another notable figure was John O'Riordan (1810-1872), an Irish-American architect who designed several notable buildings in New York City, including St. Patrick's Old Cathedral and the Old St. Patrick's Cathedral School.

Throughout history, the ORIORDAN surname has been associated with various place names in County Cork, such as Ballyoriordan, Cooloriordan, and Killoriordan, reflecting the clan's historical connections to specific regions within the county.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Oriordan families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Oriordan 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. Yorkshire leads with 4 Oriordans recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.15x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 4 4.15x
Shropshire 3 35.71x
Herefordshire 2 50.13x
Kent 1 3.01x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bramley In Bramley in Yorkshire leads with 4 Oriordans recorded in 1881 and an index of 1081.08x.

Place Total Index
Bramley In Bramley 4 1081.08x
Stanton Lacy 3 4285.71x
Lower Bullingham 2 10000.00x
Deptford St Nicholas 1 384.62x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 2
Elizabeth 1
Flora 1
Kate 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 2
Patrick 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 Oriordan households.

FAQ

Oriordan surname: questions and answers

How common was the Oriordan surname in 1881?

In 1881, 11 people were recorded with the Oriordan surname. That placed it at #32,081 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Oriordan surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,188 in 2016. That gives Oriordan a modern rank of #5,009.

What does the Oriordan surname mean?

Irish surname derived from "Ó Riordáin" meaning descendant of Riordán.

What does the Oriordan map show?

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