NameCensus.

UK surname

Ragan

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic "Ó Reagáin," meaning "descendant of Reagán," a personal name of unknown meaning.

In the 1881 census there were 489 people recorded with the Ragan surname, ranking it #6,883 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 259, ranked #16,393, down from #6,883 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, St Mary Whitechapel and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Chesterfield, Gateshead and Southend-on-Sea.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ragan is 489 in 1881. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 47.0%.

1881 census count

489

Ranked #6,883

Modern count

259

2016, ranked #16,393

Peak year

1881

489 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Ragan had 489 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,883 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 259 in 2016, ranked #16,393.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 489 in 1881.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Ragan surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Ragan surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Ragan 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 412 #5,889
1861 historical 419 #6,133
1881 historical 489 #6,883
1891 historical 450 #8,074
1901 historical 309 #11,418
1911 historical 246 #13,054
1997 modern 208 #17,219
1998 modern 233 #16,459
1999 modern 225 #16,931
2000 modern 214 #17,457
2001 modern 207 #17,573
2002 modern 211 #17,696
2003 modern 212 #17,454
2004 modern 223 #16,965
2005 modern 219 #17,126
2006 modern 222 #17,092
2007 modern 226 #17,103
2008 modern 233 #16,885
2009 modern 232 #17,293
2010 modern 243 #17,100
2011 modern 246 #16,833
2012 modern 261 #16,041
2013 modern 252 #16,689
2014 modern 259 #16,509
2015 modern 256 #16,524
2016 modern 259 #16,393

Geography

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Where Ragans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, St Mary Whitechapel, London parishes, St Giles-in-the-Fields and Manchester. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Chesterfield, Gateshead, Southend-on-Sea, Kirklees and Wakefield. 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 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
2 St Mary Whitechapel London (East Districts)
3 London parishes London 3
4 St Giles-in-the-Fields London (Central Districts)
5 Manchester Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Chesterfield 004 Chesterfield
2 Gateshead 010 Gateshead
3 Southend-on-Sea 016 Southend-on-Sea
4 Kirklees 014 Kirklees
5 Wakefield 014 Wakefield

Forenames

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First names often paired with Ragan

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Ragan

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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Ragan surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Ragan household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Ragan is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Ragan 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

Ragan falls in decile 10 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.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Ragan

The surname Ragan originated in Ireland and is believed to be a variant of the Gaelic name Ó Rabhartaigh, which means "descendant of Rabhartach". The name Rabhartach is derived from the Old Irish word "rabhart", meaning "great prosperity" or "great wealth".

The Ragan family is thought to have originated in County Donegal, Ireland, where they held lands and were considered a prominent sept (clan) of the region. The name is first recorded in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history, in the 13th century.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name is found in the Annals of Ulster, a chronicle of medieval Irish history, where a man named Ruaidhri O'Rabhartaigh is mentioned in the year 1305. This suggests that the family had established themselves in County Donegal by the early 14th century.

In the 16th century, during the Plantation of Ulster, many members of the Ragan family were dispossessed of their lands and scattered throughout Ireland and beyond. This led to the spread of the name to other parts of the country and eventually to other parts of the world.

Notable individuals with the surname Ragan throughout history include:

1. Philip Ragan (1715-1795), an Irish-born American soldier who fought in the American Revolutionary War. 2. John H. Ragan (1818-1904), an American lawyer and politician who served as a U.S. Representative from Arkansas. 3. William H. Ragan (1827-1909), an American judge and politician who served as the 16th Governor of Arkansas. 4. Henry S. Ragan (1853-1924), an American businessman and philanthropist who co-founded the Ragan-Nassor Company, a wholesale grocery business in Kansas City, Missouri. 5. John S. Ragan (1868-1945), an American lawyer and politician who served as the Mayor of Kansas City, Missouri, from 1923 to 1927.

While the surname Ragan has its roots in Ireland, it has since spread to other parts of the world, including the United States, Canada, and Australia, due to immigration and migration patterns over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Ragan families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Ragan 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. Middlesex leads with 121 Ragans recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.53x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 121 2.53x
Yorkshire 83 1.75x
Lancashire 77 1.36x
Durham 68 4.78x
Surrey 34 1.46x
Glamorgan 14 1.68x
Essex 9 0.95x
Carmarthenshire 8 3.97x
Kent 8 0.49x
Cheshire 7 0.66x
Northumberland 6 0.84x
Buckinghamshire 5 1.73x
Cumberland 5 1.22x
Hertfordshire 5 1.52x
Lanarkshire 5 0.32x
Monmouthshire 5 1.45x
Warwickshire 5 0.41x
Derbyshire 4 0.53x
Devon 4 0.40x
Staffordshire 3 0.19x
Fife 2 0.71x
Hampshire 2 0.20x
Worcestershire 2 0.32x
Brecknockshire 1 1.05x
Gloucestershire 1 0.11x
Midlothian 1 0.16x
Montgomeryshire 1 0.91x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.16x
Renfrewshire 1 0.27x
Wiltshire 1 0.24x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Whitechapel London in Middlesex leads with 18 Ragans recorded in 1881 and an index of 38.21x.

Place Total Index
Whitechapel London 18 38.21x
Leeds 17 6.36x
Bethnal Green London 13 6.26x
Batley 11 24.44x
Bermondsey 10 7.03x
Heaton Norris 10 30.98x
Kyo 9 134.53x
Livesey 9 90.45x
Shincliffe 9 566.04x
Sunderland 9 35.84x
Carmarthen St Peter 8 46.46x
Ratcliffe London 8 30.30x
St Clement Danes 8 103.36x
Trimdon 8 159.05x
Accrington 7 13.58x
Fulham London 7 10.10x
Liverpool 7 2.03x
Merthyr Tydfil 7 8.75x
Over Darwen 7 15.45x
Penarth 7 86.10x
Sheffield 7 4.64x
Bury 6 9.26x
Darlington 6 10.93x
Elvet 6 58.48x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 6 9.74x
Lambeth 6 1.44x
Middlesbrough 6 9.73x
St Gilesin Fields 6 215.83x
Tanfield 6 35.48x
Birmingham 5 1.24x
Chester St John Baptist 5 26.37x
Horton 5 354.61x
Islington London 5 1.08x
Knaresborough 5 67.20x
Linthorpe 5 17.69x
Manchester 5 1.96x
Poplar London 5 5.54x
Southwark St John 5 34.20x
St Martin In Fields 5 17.47x
Dewsbury 4 8.23x
Enfield 4 12.76x
Fylingdales 4 169.49x
Hammersmith London 4 3.40x
Medomsley 4 60.33x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 4 9.42x
Rainham 4 195.12x
Rotherhithe 4 6.77x
Southwark St George Martyr 4 4.16x
St George In East 4 12.30x
Wakefield 4 11.00x
Walton Le Dale 4 26.25x
Wigan 4 5.05x
Abergavenny 3 23.18x
Bradford 3 2.62x
Bromley London 3 2.85x
Broxbourne 3 45.94x
Ealing 3 7.02x
East Ham 3 17.13x
Great Bolton 3 3.99x
Greenwich 3 3.94x
Hunslet 3 4.06x
Mile End New Town 3 45.94x
Oldham 3 1.64x
Rutherglen 3 13.23x
St Mary Le Strand 3 197.37x
Toxteth Park 3 1.56x
Westminster St John 3 5.15x
Abbotshall 2 18.92x
Bedwellty 2 3.28x
Chellaston 2 246.91x
Hackney London 2 0.75x
Holdenhurst 2 7.78x
Horton In Bradford 2 2.70x
Keighley 2 3.96x
Kidderminster Borough 2 5.48x
Pocklington 2 44.74x
South Shields 2 15.79x
Stoke Damerel 2 2.87x
Whitefriars Precinct 2 263.16x
Woolwich 2 3.32x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 57
Catherine 20
Sarah 19
Bridget 14
Ellen 14
Margaret 12
Ann 11
Elizabeth 8
Julia 8
Annie 6
Kate 6
Alice 5
Emily 4
Margret 4
Hannah 3
Caroline 2
Eliza 2
Honora 2
Isabella 2
Jane 2
Johanna 2
Maria 2
Norah 2
Rose 2
Carrie 1
Cath. 1
Cathe. 1
Cathrine 1
Charlotte 1
Cicilia 1
Elizabath 1
Ella 1
Emma 1
Fanny 1
Florence 1
Frances 1
Hanora 1
Harriett 1
Jenny 1
Joanna 1
Johannah 1
Kelly 1
M. 1
Margt. 1
Martha 1
Phebe 1
Rachel 1
Rosabell 1
Rosannah 1
Sophia 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 48
James 24
Michael 24
Thomas 17
William 9
Dennis 8
Patrick 7
Daniel 6
Joseph 6
Peter 6
Timothy 6
Martin 5
Walter 5
Denis 4
George 4
Richard 4
Wm. 4
David 3
Jas. 3
Jeremiah 3
Owen 3
Arthur 2
Charles 2
Edward 2
Edwd. 2
Henry 2
Pat 2
Stephen 2
Thos. 2
Andrew 1
Baby 1
Bartholemew 1
Bartholomew 1
Chas.Hy. 1
Clifford 1
Cornelins 1
Dan 1
Donnick 1
Edwin 1
Francis 1
Frederick 1
Hugh 1
Jame 1
Jno. 1
Josp. 1
Mike 1
Pat. 1
Patsy 1
Robert 1
S. 1

FAQ

Ragan surname: questions and answers

How common was the Ragan surname in 1881?

In 1881, 489 people were recorded with the Ragan surname. That placed it at #6,883 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Ragan surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 259 in 2016. That gives Ragan a modern rank of #16,393.

What does the Ragan surname mean?

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic "Ó Reagáin," meaning "descendant of Reagán," a personal name of unknown meaning.

What does the Ragan map show?

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