NameCensus.

UK surname

Sheridan

Derived from the Irish Ó Sirideáin, meaning "descendant of Sirideán," a personal name of unknown meaning.

In the 1881 census there were 1,801 people recorded with the Sheridan surname, ranking it #2,416 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 6,974, ranked #969, up from #2,416 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Toxteth Park and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wolverhampton, Wigan and Basildon.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Sheridan is 7,160 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 287.2%.

1881 census count

1,801

Ranked #2,416

Modern count

6,974

2016, ranked #969

Peak year

2010

7,160 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Sheridan had 1,801 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,416 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 6,974 in 2016, ranked #969.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,361 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Sheridan surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Sheridan surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Sheridan 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 595 #4,311
1861 historical 718 #3,788
1881 historical 1,801 #2,416
1891 historical 1,825 #2,518
1901 historical 2,361 #2,297
1911 historical 1,922 #2,579
1997 modern 6,408 #1,019
1998 modern 6,658 #1,016
1999 modern 6,780 #1,006
2000 modern 6,647 #1,023
2001 modern 6,534 #1,014
2002 modern 6,772 #998
2003 modern 6,610 #998
2004 modern 6,621 #1,000
2005 modern 6,597 #996
2006 modern 6,598 #996
2007 modern 6,660 #993
2008 modern 6,674 #996
2009 modern 6,899 #984
2010 modern 7,160 #970
2011 modern 7,022 #971
2012 modern 6,863 #970
2013 modern 6,974 #975
2014 modern 7,055 #968
2015 modern 6,996 #972
2016 modern 6,974 #969

Geography

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Where Sheridans are most common

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

The modern local-area list points to Wolverhampton, Wigan, Basildon and Manchester. 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 Manchester Lancashire
4 Liverpool Lancashire
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wolverhampton 007 Wolverhampton
2 Wigan 010 Wigan
3 Wigan 014 Wigan
4 Basildon 009 Basildon
5 Manchester 013 Manchester

Forenames

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First names often paired with Sheridan

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Sheridan

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Sheridan surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Sheridan household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Sheridan 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

Sheridan is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Sheridan

The surname SHERIDAN is of Irish origin, originating in County Cavan in the Ulster province of Ireland. It is believed to have derived from the Irish Gaelic word "Sirideáin," which means "descendants of Sirideán." Sirideán itself is a diminutive form of the name Sraid, meaning "holm," or a small island or piece of land beside a river.

The name SHERIDAN first appeared in records during the 12th century, when it was spelled as "Shyridane" or "O'Shyridane." It is thought to have been associated with the MacCabe family, who were prominent landowners in County Cavan at the time. In the Annals of Ulster, a manuscript dating back to the 15th century, there are references to individuals with the surname SHERIDAN.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name SHERIDAN was James Sheridan, who was born in 1551 in County Cavan. He was a renowned scholar and author, and is considered one of the first to publish works in the Irish language. Another notable figure was Thomas Sheridan, born in 1646, who was a renowned linguist and scholar of the Irish language.

In the 17th century, the SHERIDAN family played a significant role in the Irish Rebellion of 1641, with several members participating in the uprising against English rule. Patrick Sheridan, born in 1609, was a prominent leader in the rebellion and was later executed for his role in the conflict.

The name SHERIDAN also has a strong connection to the literary world. Richard Brinsley Sheridan, born in 1751, was a renowned playwright and poet, best known for his comedies "The Rivals" and "The School for Scandal." His son, Thomas Sheridan, born in 1775, was also a playwright and actor.

Another famous figure with the SHERIDAN surname was Philip Henry Sheridan, born in 1831, who was a celebrated Union Army general during the American Civil War. He was known for his aggressive tactics and played a crucial role in several important battles, including the Battle of Cedar Creek.

Throughout history, the SHERIDAN name has been associated with various professions, including scholars, writers, rebels, and military leaders, reflecting the diverse and rich heritage of this Irish surname.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Sheridan families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Sheridan 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 719 Sheridans recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.45x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 719 3.45x
Lanarkshire 165 2.90x
Middlesex 132 0.75x
Yorkshire 114 0.65x
Cheshire 74 1.91x
Essex 48 1.38x
Midlothian 43 1.83x
Surrey 43 0.50x
Angus 41 2.52x
Renfrewshire 41 3.01x
Dunbartonshire 34 7.20x
Durham 32 0.61x
Hampshire 31 0.86x
Staffordshire 27 0.46x
Warwickshire 27 0.61x
Nottinghamshire 24 1.01x
Northumberland 20 0.76x
Cumberland 17 1.12x
East Lothian 17 7.30x
Kent 16 0.27x
Derbyshire 14 0.51x
Ayrshire 11 0.84x
Devon 9 0.25x
Stirlingshire 9 1.39x
Clackmannanshire 8 5.51x
Aberdeenshire 7 0.43x
Berwickshire 7 3.29x
Kirkcudbrightshire 7 2.75x
Shropshire 6 0.40x
Dorset 5 0.43x
Flintshire 5 1.06x
Royal Navy 5 2.39x
Wigtownshire 5 2.14x
Channel Islands 4 0.77x
Huntingdonshire 4 1.15x
Roxburghshire 4 1.26x
Sussex 4 0.14x
Lincolnshire 3 0.11x
Selkirkshire 3 1.89x
Denbighshire 2 0.30x
Morayshire 2 0.73x
Norfolk 2 0.07x
Northamptonshire 2 0.12x
Shetland 2 1.11x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.09x
Isle of Man 1 0.31x
Kincardineshire 1 0.47x
Suffolk 1 0.05x
West Lothian 1 0.38x
Westmorland 1 0.26x

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 130 Sheridans recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.26x.

Place Total Index
Liverpool 130 10.26x
Glasgow 63 6.24x
Manchester 46 4.90x
Toxteth Park 42 5.95x
Hulme 33 7.58x
Barony 31 2.15x
Everton 31 4.66x
Bootle Cum Linacre 27 16.30x
Wardleworth 26 21.81x
Pendleton In Salford 25 10.06x
Wigan 25 8.58x
Cardross 24 42.31x
Govan 23 1.64x
Kensington London 22 2.25x
Salford 22 3.59x
Nottingham St Mary 20 3.26x
West Derby 20 3.28x
West Greenock 20 8.18x
Portsea 19 2.69x
Camberwell 18 1.60x
Dundee 17 2.80x
Great Bolton 16 5.79x
Heap 16 14.46x
Little Bolton 16 5.97x
Walthamstow 15 12.01x
Ardwick 14 7.44x
Bethnal Green London 14 1.83x
Mobberley 14 158.01x
Norton 13 57.32x
Spotland 13 5.61x
Kirkdale 12 3.42x
Liff Benvie 12 4.85x
Oldham 12 1.78x
Stockport 12 6.01x
Castleton 11 5.28x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 11 1.16x
Haslingden 11 12.74x
Leeds 11 1.12x
Leyton 11 18.40x
Ormskirk 11 27.56x
Shotts 11 16.17x
Stretford 11 9.59x
Bradford 10 2.37x
Cambusnethan 10 7.92x
Haddington 10 29.10x
St Marylebone London 10 1.07x
Chorlton On Medlock 9 2.72x
Currie 9 62.41x
Dumbarton 9 13.69x
Easington In Guisbrough 9 231.96x
Fulham London 9 3.53x
Tranmere 9 6.31x
Wolverhampton 9 1.97x
Ashton Under Lyne 8 1.75x
Aston 8 0.66x
Bermondsey 8 1.53x
Brinnington 8 22.07x
Coventry Holy Trinity 8 6.04x
North Meols 8 3.92x
Tillicoultry 8 24.78x
Withington 8 11.91x
Addingham 7 53.80x
Dalserf 7 12.34x
Edinburgh Tron Church 7 63.41x
Ince In Makerfield 7 7.21x
Lewisham 7 2.19x
Newton In Makerfield 7 10.96x
Plymouth St Andrew 7 2.48x
Poplar London 7 2.11x
Stirling 7 8.56x
Theydon Garnon 7 88.38x
Ulverston 7 11.52x
Abbey 6 2.89x
Broughton In Salford 6 3.15x
Gateshead 6 1.53x
Hackney London 6 0.61x
Hipperholme Cum 6 7.84x
Holy Trinity 6 1.43x
Lower Bebington 6 26.03x
Troqueer 6 17.97x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 174
Ann 41
Catherine 41
Margaret 41
Ellen 38
Elizabeth 34
Sarah 32
Bridget 23
Annie 19
Eliza 13
Alice 12
Jane 11
Kate 11
Emma 9
Anne 8
Rose 8
Maria 6
Emily 5
Hannah 5
Julia 5
Elizth. 4
Fanny 4
Winifred 4
Caroline 3
Edith 3
Florence 3
Hester 3
Honor 3
Isabella 3
Rebecca 3
Susan 3
Susannah 3
Teresa 3
Agnes 2
Amy 2
Anna 2
Catharine 2
Clara 2
Harriet 2
Helena 2
Johanna 2
Katherine 2
Laura 2
Lily 2
Louise 2
Lydia 2
Maggie 2
Margret 2
Martha 2
Selina 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 126
James 63
Thomas 62
Patrick 50
William 47
Michael 34
Charles 20
Francis 19
Joseph 19
George 18
Henry 18
Martin 18
Peter 18
Richard 15
Edward 13
Robert 10
Alfred 9
Thos. 9
Frederick 6
Owen 6
Wm. 6
Frank 5
Hugh 5
Philip 5
Bernard 4
Matthew 4
Anthony 3
Arthur 3
Bartholemew 3
Ernest 3
Harry 3
Walter 3
Albert 2
Ambrose 2
Barnard 2
Bartholomew 2
Bartley 2
Felix 2
Jno. 2
Lawrence 2
Mark 2
Nicholas 2
Patk. 2
Phillip 2
Terence 2
Wm.H. 2
Barth.W. 1
Denis 1
Dennis 1
Dominic 1

FAQ

Sheridan surname: questions and answers

How common was the Sheridan surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,801 people were recorded with the Sheridan surname. That placed it at #2,416 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Sheridan surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 6,974 in 2016. That gives Sheridan a modern rank of #969.

What does the Sheridan surname mean?

Derived from the Irish Ó Sirideáin, meaning "descendant of Sirideán," a personal name of unknown meaning.

What does the Sheridan map show?

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