NameCensus.

UK surname

Tynan

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

In the 1881 census there were 350 people recorded with the Tynan surname, ranking it #8,762 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,287, ranked #4,655, up from #8,762 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Rochdale, London parishes and Eccles. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Copeland, Knowsley and Liverpool.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Tynan is 1,299 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 267.7%.

1881 census count

350

Ranked #8,762

Modern count

1,287

2016, ranked #4,655

Peak year

2010

1,299 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Tynan had 350 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,762 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,287 in 2016, ranked #4,655.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 484 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Tynan surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Tynan surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Tynan 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 122 #14,966
1861 historical 110 #19,562
1881 historical 350 #8,762
1891 historical 309 #10,848
1901 historical 479 #8,313
1911 historical 484 #8,026
1997 modern 1,144 #4,908
1998 modern 1,194 #4,905
1999 modern 1,197 #4,938
2000 modern 1,199 #4,908
2001 modern 1,181 #4,866
2002 modern 1,215 #4,855
2003 modern 1,196 #4,820
2004 modern 1,197 #4,817
2005 modern 1,180 #4,829
2006 modern 1,174 #4,866
2007 modern 1,187 #4,855
2008 modern 1,214 #4,798
2009 modern 1,264 #4,735
2010 modern 1,299 #4,705
2011 modern 1,272 #4,741
2012 modern 1,246 #4,759
2013 modern 1,270 #4,758
2014 modern 1,291 #4,705
2015 modern 1,278 #4,706
2016 modern 1,287 #4,655

Geography

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Where Tynans are most common

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

The modern local-area list points to Copeland, Knowsley, Liverpool and Calderdale. 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 Rochdale Lancashire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Eccles Lancashire
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 Liverpool Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Copeland 004 Copeland
2 Knowsley 004 Knowsley
3 Liverpool 008 Liverpool
4 Calderdale 008 Calderdale
5 Knowsley 003 Knowsley

Forenames

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First names often paired with Tynan

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Tynan

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

Tynan 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

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

Meaning and origin of Tynan

The surname Tynan originated in Ireland and is derived from the Gaelic name Ó Tionnáin, meaning "descendant of Tionnán." Tionnán was an Irish personal name derived from the word "tonn," meaning "wave" or "billow." This suggests that the earliest bearers of this name may have lived near the sea or had some connection to the ocean.

The name is thought to have emerged in County Westmeath, Ireland, in the 12th or 13th century. Some of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history compiled in the 17th century.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Donnell O'Tynan, a Gaelic poet and historian who lived in the 15th century. He is mentioned in several ancient Irish manuscripts for his scholarly works.

In the 16th century, the Tynan family established themselves as landowners in County Westmeath, particularly in the baronies of Rathconrath and Corkaree. The Tynan Castle, located near the town of Castlepollard, was once the family's ancestral seat.

Notable individuals with the surname Tynan throughout history include:

1. John Tynan (1725-1792), an Irish historian and writer who authored several works on Irish antiquities and genealogy.

2. Patrick Tynan (1773-1834), an Irish Catholic priest and writer who served as the Bishop of Dromore from 1828 until his death.

3. Katharine Tynan (1859-1931), an Irish novelist and poet who wrote extensively on Irish themes and published over 100 books during her lifetime.

4. James Tynan (1879-1923), an Irish revolutionary and member of the Irish Republican Brotherhood who participated in the 1916 Easter Rising.

5. Kenneth Tynan (1927-1980), an influential English theatre critic and writer known for his provocative and influential reviews and essays on contemporary theatre and culture.

While the surname Tynan is primarily associated with Ireland, it has also been found in other parts of the world due to Irish emigration over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Tynan families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Tynan 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 162 Tynans recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.95x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 162 3.95x
Middlesex 48 1.39x
Yorkshire 19 0.56x
Cumberland 17 5.72x
Staffordshire 17 1.46x
Durham 16 1.56x
Northumberland 12 2.34x
Kent 10 0.85x
Lanarkshire 8 0.72x
Warwickshire 7 0.80x
Surrey 6 0.36x
Caernarfonshire 5 3.58x
Cheshire 5 0.66x
Shropshire 5 1.68x
Worcestershire 5 1.11x
Channel Islands 3 2.93x
Ayrshire 2 0.77x
Hampshire 2 0.28x
Stirlingshire 2 1.57x
Devon 1 0.14x
Dunbartonshire 1 1.08x
Royal Navy 1 2.43x

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 32 Tynans recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.86x.

Place Total Index
Liverpool 32 12.86x
Manchester 24 13.02x
Kensington London 13 6.77x
Salford 13 10.79x
Wardleworth 12 51.24x
Everton 10 7.66x
Frindsbury 10 225.23x
Warrington 10 20.59x
Wolstanton 10 28.25x
Salter Eskat 9 3913.04x
Hensingham 8 329.22x
Paddington London 8 6.30x
Ashton Under Lyne 7 7.82x
Birmingham 7 2.41x
Bradford 7 36.50x
Ecclesall Bierlow 7 10.06x
Cassop 6 845.07x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 6 13.49x
Islington London 6 1.79x
Lambeth 6 1.99x
Longbenton 6 27.57x
St Marylebone London 6 3.25x
Bangor 5 37.12x
Harborne 5 13.38x
Oldham 5 3.78x
Oswestry Town 5 52.36x
St Botolph Bishopsgate 5 102.25x
Barton Upon Irwell 4 12.97x
Berwick Upon Tweed 4 36.73x
Birkenhead 4 6.58x
Chelsea London 4 3.84x
Crumpsall 4 41.41x
Govan 4 1.45x
Halifax 4 7.96x
Northfield 4 46.73x
Prestwich 4 39.14x
West Derby 4 3.34x
Beswick 3 28.63x
Castleton 3 7.33x
Eccleston In Prescot 3 14.58x
Leeds 3 1.55x
Mile End Old Town 3 5.50x
St Helier 3 9.01x
Washington 3 69.61x
Bold 2 196.08x
Bradford 2 2.41x
Broughton In Salford 2 5.34x
Drymen 2 116.96x
Glasgow 2 1.01x
Halliwell 2 13.41x
Horton In Bradford 2 3.74x
Largs 2 32.84x
Newton 2 6.33x
Oswaldtwistle 2 13.81x
Shettleston 2 20.00x
Stoke Upon Trent 2 1.62x
Tottenham 2 3.64x
Westgate 2 6.29x
Boldre 1 39.37x
Dudley 1 1.82x
Great Bolton 1 1.84x
Heaton Norris 1 4.29x
Hulme 1 1.17x
Hurworth 1 55.56x
Leyburn 1 86.96x
Little Bolton 1 1.90x
Newchurch 1 2.98x
Old Kilpatrick 1 9.12x
Portsmouth 1 6.14x
Royal Navy 1 2.84x
South Molton 1 25.32x
St George Hanover 1 2.22x
Tranmere 1 3.57x
Whittingham 1 55.56x
Worsley 1 3.96x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 47
Elizabeth 12
Catherine 11
Ellen 11
Margaret 9
Sarah 7
Jane 6
Ann 4
Annie 4
Martha 4
Eliza 3
Emma 3
Edith 2
Frances 2
Jessie 2
Julia 2
Kate 2
Maggie 2
Margrett 2
Maria 2
Alica 1
Alice 1
Alicia 1
Amy 1
Angelina 1
Beatrice 1
Betsy 1
Bridget 1
Cathne 1
E. 1
Elizth. 1
Esther 1
Hannah 1
Honoria 1
Israel 1
Jemima 1
Juley 1
Kathleen 1
Louisa 1
Lydia 1
Margt. 1
Margt.Ann 1
Mary. 1
Matilda 1
Nora 1
Rachael 1
Rosana 1
Rose 1
Selina 1
Theresa 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 31
James 24
Michael 15
William 14
Joseph 11
Thomas 11
Patrick 9
Edward 5
Francis 5
George 5
Charles 4
David 4
Frank 3
Martin 3
Arthur 2
Denis 2
Alfred 1
Andrew 1
Christopher 1
Daniel 1
Dennis 1
Edwin 1
Ernest 1
Henery 1
Herbert 1
Isaac 1
Jane 1
Jas. 1
Jno. 1
Joe 1
Josh. 1
Matthew 1
Peter 1
Richard 1
Samuel 1
Stanislaus 1
Stephen 1
Terence 1
Thos. 1
Will 1
Willm. 1

FAQ

Tynan surname: questions and answers

How common was the Tynan surname in 1881?

In 1881, 350 people were recorded with the Tynan surname. That placed it at #8,762 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Tynan surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,287 in 2016. That gives Tynan a modern rank of #4,655.

What does the Tynan surname mean?

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

What does the Tynan map show?

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