NameCensus.

UK surname

Teahan

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic personal name Tadhg, meaning poet or philosopher.

In the 1881 census there were 15 people recorded with the Teahan surname, ranking it #31,451 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 149, ranked #23,844, up from #31,451 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Doncaster, North Tyneside and Coventry.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Teahan is 165 in 2013. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 893.3%.

1881 census count

15

Ranked #31,451

Modern count

149

2016, ranked #23,844

Peak year

2013

165 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Teahan had 15 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #31,451 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 149 in 2016, ranked #23,844.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 16 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Teahan surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Teahan surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Teahan 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 #33,412
1861 historical 3 #33,861
1881 historical 15 #31,451
1891 historical 13 #33,099
1901 historical 16 #32,260
1911 historical 16 #31,804
1997 modern 128 #23,238
1998 modern 134 #23,202
1999 modern 141 #22,702
2000 modern 142 #22,544
2001 modern 141 #22,344
2002 modern 144 #22,501
2003 modern 144 #22,270
2004 modern 140 #22,793
2005 modern 149 #21,866
2006 modern 141 #22,833
2007 modern 143 #22,924
2008 modern 147 #22,720
2009 modern 156 #22,351
2010 modern 155 #22,985
2011 modern 160 #22,282
2012 modern 161 #22,157
2013 modern 165 #22,163
2014 modern 164 #22,445
2015 modern 159 #22,796
2016 modern 149 #23,844

Geography

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Where Teahans 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 Doncaster, North Tyneside, Coventry and Leeds. 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 Doncaster 029 Doncaster
2 Doncaster 028 Doncaster
3 North Tyneside 006 North Tyneside
4 Coventry 025 Coventry
5 Leeds 042 Leeds

Forenames

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First names often paired with Teahan

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Teahan

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Established Multi-Ethnic Communities

Nationally, the Teahan surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established Multi-Ethnic Communities, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Teahan household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Parents and young children in this Group are drawn from diverse ethnic backgrounds in broadly similar proportions. Employment is typically in elementary occupations, though workers in professional, intermediate or skilled trades occupations are also present. The residential landscape is dominated by terraced housing, although semi-detached houses and flats are also present. This Group is found in London and in many provincial towns and cities throughout the U.K.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Teahan is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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 residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Teahan 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

Teahan falls in decile 5 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Teahan

The surname TEAHAN is of Irish origin, originating from the Gaelic name "O'Teaghain" or "O'Teachain". This name is derived from the Irish word "teach", meaning "house" or "homestead". The prefix "O" signifies "descendant of" or "grandson of".

The TEAHAN name can be traced back to County Kerry in the southwestern part of Ireland, specifically the Iveragh Peninsula. It is believed that the name originated in this region during the 11th or 12th century.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the TEAHAN surname can be found in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history compiled in the early 17th century. The annals mention a "Donnchadh O'Teaghain" who was involved in a conflict in County Kerry in the year 1265.

In the 16th century, the TEAHAN surname appeared in various Irish records and manuscripts, such as the Fiants of the Tudor Sovereigns and the Rental of the Earl of Desmond. These documents reveal that the TEAHANs were prominent landowners in County Kerry during this period.

Dermot TEAHAN, born in 1550, was a notable figure who served as the Lord of Iveragh in the late 16th century. He played a significant role in the Desmond Rebellions against English rule in Ireland.

In the 18th century, a TEAHAN family settled in County Cork, where they became influential landowners and merchants. One notable member was John TEAHAN (1720-1789), a prosperous merchant and ship owner based in the city of Cork.

During the 19th century, many TEAHANs emigrated from Ireland to other parts of the world, particularly the United States, Canada, and Australia, due to the Great Famine and economic hardships.

Other notable individuals with the TEAHAN surname include:

1. Michael TEAHAN (1860-1939), an Irish-American politician who served as a member of the Massachusetts State Senate. 2. Eileen TEAHAN (1906-1991), an Australian author and playwright known for her works depicting rural life in Australia. 3. John TEAHAN (1942-2021), an American professional baseball player who played for the Boston Red Sox and the Milwaukee Brewers. 4. Sean TEAHAN (born 1967), an Irish hurler who played for the Kerry senior hurling team and won the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship in 1987. 5. Siobhan TEAHAN (born 1979), an Irish singer-songwriter and musician known for her folk and traditional Irish music.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Teahan families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Teahan 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 14 Teahans recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.58x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 14 9.58x
Devon 1 3.29x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Westminster St James in Middlesex leads with 9 Teahans recorded in 1881 and an index of 600.00x.

Place Total Index
Westminster St James 9 600.00x
Isleworth 5 769.23x
Lidford 1 714.29x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Katherine 2
Mary 2
Elizabeth 1
Hannah 1
Honoria 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 2
John 2
Joseph 2
Arthur 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 Teahan households.

FAQ

Teahan surname: questions and answers

How common was the Teahan surname in 1881?

In 1881, 15 people were recorded with the Teahan surname. That placed it at #31,451 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Teahan surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 149 in 2016. That gives Teahan a modern rank of #23,844.

What does the Teahan surname mean?

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic personal name Tadhg, meaning poet or philosopher.

What does the Teahan map show?

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