NameCensus.

UK surname

Regan

Derived from the Irish surname Ó Ríagáin, meaning "descendant of Ríagán," a personal name of uncertain origin.

In the 1881 census there were 3,068 people recorded with the Regan surname, ranking it #1,463 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 7,827, ranked #841, up from #1,463 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St George in the East, St Mary Whitechapel and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Merthyr Tydfil, Braintree and Calderdale.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Regan is 8,078 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 155.1%.

1881 census count

3,068

Ranked #1,463

Modern count

7,827

2016, ranked #841

Peak year

2010

8,078 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Regan had 3,068 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,463 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 7,827 in 2016, ranked #841.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 3,942 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Regan surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Regan surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Regan 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 1,393 #2,057
1861 historical 1,611 #1,768
1881 historical 3,068 #1,463
1891 historical 3,151 #1,500
1901 historical 3,719 #1,511
1911 historical 3,942 #1,302
1997 modern 7,354 #875
1998 modern 7,661 #877
1999 modern 7,753 #873
2000 modern 7,710 #874
2001 modern 7,556 #873
2002 modern 7,739 #869
2003 modern 7,605 #860
2004 modern 7,560 #867
2005 modern 7,497 #865
2006 modern 7,506 #864
2007 modern 7,617 #857
2008 modern 7,611 #865
2009 modern 7,851 #856
2010 modern 8,078 #846
2011 modern 7,953 #846
2012 modern 7,719 #854
2013 modern 7,946 #839
2014 modern 7,975 #838
2015 modern 7,879 #840
2016 modern 7,827 #841

Geography

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Where Regans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St George in the East, St Mary Whitechapel, London parishes and Manchester. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Merthyr Tydfil, Braintree, Calderdale and Cardiff. 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 St George in the East London (East Districts)
2 St Mary Whitechapel London (East Districts)
3 London parishes London 1
4 London parishes London 3
5 Manchester Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Merthyr Tydfil 008 Merthyr Tydfil
2 Braintree 004 Braintree
3 Calderdale 005 Calderdale
4 Calderdale 001 Calderdale
5 Cardiff 008 Cardiff

Forenames

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First names often paired with Regan

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Regan

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Regan, 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 Regan surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Regan 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

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Regan 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

Regan 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

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

Meaning and origin of Regan

The surname Regan has its origins in Ireland, where it first appeared in the 9th century. It is derived from the Gaelic word "rioghan," meaning "queen" or "royal." The name is closely associated with the ancient Irish kingdom of Leinster and the O'Regan clan, who held territories in County Tipperary.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Annals of Inisfallen, a chronicle of medieval Irish history, where it is mentioned in reference to the death of Riogan, King of Leinster, in 842 AD. The name also appears in the Book of Leinster, a 12th-century manuscript containing various texts related to the province of Leinster.

The O'Regan clan played a significant role in Irish history, with several notable members recorded over the centuries. One of the most prominent figures was Dermot O'Regan, who served as the Bishop of Cork in the 13th century. Another notable individual was Maurice Regan, a 17th-century Irish Catholic priest and historian who wrote extensively about the history of Ireland and the Irish people.

In the 16th century, the Regan name also gained prominence in England, particularly in the county of Gloucestershire. This branch of the family is believed to have descended from Irish migrants or settlers who arrived in England during this period. One notable English bearer of the name was Elizabeth Regan, a 17th-century writer and translator who published several works, including a translation of the Greek philosopher Xenophon's "Oeconomicus."

Beyond Ireland and England, the Regan surname can also be found in other parts of the world, particularly in areas with significant Irish diaspora populations. For example, in the United States, the name is well-represented, with notable figures such as Donald Regan, the former White House Chief of Staff under President Ronald Reagan (no relation), and the actress Kathleen Regan, known for her roles in films like "The Godfather Part II" and "The Deerhunter."

Other historical figures with the surname Regan include John Regan, an Irish politician and member of the Irish Republican Brotherhood in the late 19th century, and Patrick Regan, an Irish-American labor leader and union organizer who played a significant role in the labor movement of the early 20th century.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Regan families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Regan 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 683 Regans recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.28x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 683 2.28x
Lancashire 614 1.73x
Yorkshire 247 0.83x
Surrey 204 1.40x
Glamorgan 200 3.83x
Staffordshire 138 1.36x
Lanarkshire 108 1.11x
Monmouthshire 108 4.99x
Cheshire 100 1.51x
Kent 89 0.87x
Durham 55 0.62x
Warwickshire 52 0.69x
Gloucestershire 50 0.85x
Cumberland 45 1.74x
Essex 41 0.69x
Hampshire 40 0.65x
Devon 25 0.40x
Midlothian 25 0.62x
Berkshire 24 1.07x
Derbyshire 23 0.49x
Northumberland 19 0.43x
Royal Navy 19 5.32x
Sussex 18 0.36x
Ayrshire 14 0.62x
Dorset 14 0.71x
Angus 13 0.47x
Worcestershire 11 0.28x
Nottinghamshire 8 0.20x
Selkirkshire 7 2.58x
Caernarfonshire 6 0.50x
Carmarthenshire 6 0.48x
Inverness-shire 6 0.67x
Oxfordshire 6 0.32x
Lincolnshire 5 0.10x
Renfrewshire 5 0.22x
Bedfordshire 4 0.26x
Buckinghamshire 4 0.22x
Montgomeryshire 4 0.58x
Somerset 4 0.08x
Channel Islands 3 0.34x
Leicestershire 3 0.09x
Dunbartonshire 2 0.25x
Pembrokeshire 2 0.21x
Shropshire 2 0.08x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.04x
Anglesey 1 0.19x
Argyllshire 1 0.12x
Brecknockshire 1 0.17x
Cardiganshire 1 0.14x
Denbighshire 1 0.09x
East Lothian 1 0.25x
Isle of Man 1 0.18x
Nairnshire 1 1.09x
Norfolk 1 0.02x
Northamptonshire 1 0.04x
Perthshire 1 0.07x
Stirlingshire 1 0.09x
Suffolk 1 0.03x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Liverpool in Lancashire leads with 113 Regans recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.23x.

Place Total Index
Liverpool 113 5.23x
Poplar London 60 10.61x
Manchester 53 3.32x
Govan 48 2.00x
Leeds 45 2.68x
Cardiff St Mary 44 15.31x
Stoke Upon Trent 44 4.10x
St George In East 43 21.10x
Whitechapel London 43 14.56x
Burslem 42 14.50x
Ratcliffe London 41 24.78x
Islington London 40 1.38x
Birmingham 35 1.39x
Merthyr Tydfil 35 6.98x
Preston 34 3.58x
Toxteth Park 34 2.82x
St Andrew Holborn 32 31.51x
Cheltenham 31 6.84x
Lambeth 29 1.11x
Bedwellty 28 7.32x
St Pancras London 27 1.12x
Brandon Byshottles 26 23.29x
Barony 25 1.02x
Great Bolton 25 5.31x
Southwark St John 25 27.29x
St Marylebone London 24 1.50x
Glasgow 23 1.34x
Shoreditch London 23 1.77x
Southwark St George Martyr 23 3.82x
Westminster St James 23 7.47x
Gorton 22 6.58x
West Derby 22 2.12x
Hulme 21 2.83x
Warrington 21 4.98x
West Ham 21 1.61x
Bermondsey 20 2.24x
Halifax 20 4.59x
Roath 20 8.44x
St Woollos 20 8.28x
Leckwith 19 154.85x
Croydon 18 2.22x
Gillingham 18 8.54x
Kensington London 18 1.08x
Wigan 18 3.62x
Wolstanton 18 5.86x
Clerkenwell London 17 2.40x
Deptford St Paul 17 2.16x
Gelligaer 17 14.27x
Newington 17 1.54x
Newport 17 16.46x
Portsea 17 1.41x
Southwark St Saviour 17 11.04x
Plymouth St Andrew 16 3.33x
Royal Navy 16 5.24x
Sunbury 16 44.47x
Holy Trinity 15 2.10x
Hyde 15 7.69x
Llandaff 15 8.64x
Ashton Under Lyne 14 1.80x
Batley 14 4.96x
Bickerstaffe 14 60.16x
Hackney London 14 0.83x
Limehouse London 14 4.26x
Little Bolton 14 3.06x
Northowram 14 6.73x
St Quivox 14 18.47x
Stockport 14 4.11x
Abergavenny 13 16.03x
Bethnal Green London 13 1.00x
Brighton 13 1.28x
Bromley London 13 1.97x
Chelsea London 13 1.44x
Heaton Norris 13 6.43x
Mile End New Town 13 31.78x
Mywyddyslwyn 13 249.04x
Rotherhithe 13 3.51x
St Giles In Fields 13 12.58x
Westminster St John 13 3.56x
Woolwich 13 3.44x
Salford 12 1.15x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 307
Ellen 116
Catherine 106
Margaret 106
Elizabeth 62
Bridget 55
Ann 52
Annie 44
Jane 36
Sarah 36
Julia 33
Kate 28
Eliza 23
Hannah 23
Emma 20
Alice 19
Johanna 19
Agnes 13
Rose 13
Maria 12
Emily 11
Margt. 11
Anne 10
Harriet 8
Norah 8
Cathrine 7
Clara 7
Catharine 6
Charlotte 6
Elizth. 6
Fanny 6
Florence 6
Joanna 6
Johannah 6
Lizzie 6
Lucy 6
Margret 6
Martha 6
Caroline 5
Gertrude 5
Honorah 5
Katherine 5
Sophia 5
Winifred 5
Louisa 4
Maggie 4
Susan 4
Ada 3
Elen 3
Honora 3

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 271
Patrick 124
James 111
Michael 100
William 97
Thomas 94
Daniel 52
Edward 39
Martin 33
Charles 32
Timothy 28
Jeremiah 24
Joseph 24
George 22
Peter 22
Denis 21
Dennis 20
Cornelius 18
Francis 11
Thos. 11
Henry 10
Richard 10
Owen 9
Anthony 6
Arthur 6
David 6
Hugh 6
Robert 6
Stephen 6
Bernard 5
Micheal 5
Wm. 5
Albert 4
Andrew 4
Dominic 4
Michal 4
Michel 4
Bryan 3
Christopher 3
Edwd. 3
Ernest 3
Frederick 3
Herbert 3
Luke 3
Mark 3
Mathew 3
Maurice 3
Michl. 3
Roger 3
Walter 3

FAQ

Regan surname: questions and answers

How common was the Regan surname in 1881?

In 1881, 3,068 people were recorded with the Regan surname. That placed it at #1,463 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Regan surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 7,827 in 2016. That gives Regan a modern rank of #841.

What does the Regan surname mean?

Derived from the Irish surname Ó Ríagáin, meaning "descendant of Ríagán," a personal name of uncertain origin.

What does the Regan map show?

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