NameCensus.

UK surname

Wogan

English surname meaning "son of Wogan", a diminutive of the given name Wazo/Wazzo.

In the 1881 census there were 84 people recorded with the Wogan surname, ranking it #21,690 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 280, ranked #15,491, up from #21,690 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St Mary, Glossop and Silkstone. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Barnsley, Kensington and Chelsea and Wigan.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Wogan is 307 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 233.3%.

1881 census count

84

Ranked #21,690

Modern count

280

2016, ranked #15,491

Peak year

1998

307 bearers

Map years

5

1901 to 2016

Key insights

  • Wogan had 84 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #21,690 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 280 in 2016, ranked #15,491.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 133 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Wogan surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Wogan surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Wogan 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 61 #22,412
1861 historical 68 #25,196
1881 historical 84 #21,690
1891 historical 90 #25,399
1901 historical 108 #21,836
1911 historical 133 #19,214
1997 modern 297 #13,623
1998 modern 307 #13,690
1999 modern 298 #14,026
2000 modern 290 #14,237
2001 modern 287 #14,131
2002 modern 301 #13,962
2003 modern 286 #14,259
2004 modern 274 #14,762
2005 modern 273 #14,708
2006 modern 264 #15,170
2007 modern 269 #15,123
2008 modern 269 #15,260
2009 modern 271 #15,511
2010 modern 297 #14,841
2011 modern 282 #15,233
2012 modern 284 #15,090
2013 modern 290 #15,107
2014 modern 287 #15,342
2015 modern 277 #15,622
2016 modern 280 #15,491

Geography

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Where Wogans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St Mary, Glossop, Silkstone, 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 Barnsley, Kensington and Chelsea and Wigan. 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 Mary Pembrokeshire
2 Glossop Derbyshire
3 Silkstone Yorkshire, West Riding
4 London parishes London 3
5 Manchester Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Barnsley 007 Barnsley
2 Barnsley 011 Barnsley
3 Kensington and Chelsea 013 Kensington and Chelsea
4 Wigan 014 Wigan
5 Barnsley 010 Barnsley

Forenames

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First names often paired with Wogan

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Wogan

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

Young Families in Industrial Towns

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

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

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

Senior Professionals

Within London, Wogan is most associated with areas classed as Senior Professionals, part of Central Connected Professionals and Managers. 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 very central neighbourhoods house residents whose ages are more skewed towards older age cohorts than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Few households have young children. Rates of illness are low. Indian ethnicity is rare compared to the Supergroup mean. Property under occupation is more common, despite the centrality of neighbourhoods, and more residents live in communal establishments than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Adult residents of these neighbourhoods are typically aged 25 to 44, working full-time in professional, managerial or associate professional occupations. There are few families with dependent children. The predominantly Inner London neighbourhoods have an international character, including many residents born elsewhere in Europe alongside high numbers of individuals identifying as of Chinese ethnicity. Many individuals are never married, childless and/or living alone. Above average numbers of individuals, likely to be full-time students, live in communal establishments. Elsewhere, privately rented flats are the dominant housing type. Residents of these areas are well-qualified, with a significant number holding Level 4 or above qualifications. There is a correspondingly high level of individuals employed full-time in professional, managerial and associated professional or technical occupations. Employing industries are financial, real estate, professional, administration, and, to a lesser degree, transport and communications. Unemployment is uncommon.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Wogan 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

Wogan falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Wogan

The surname Wogan has its origins in the British Isles, particularly in Wales and Ireland. The name is believed to have been derived from the Welsh personal name Gwgon or Gwgon, composed of the elements "gw" which means "battle" and "gan" meaning "birth" or "born." This reflects a warrior lineage or a person born in battle scenarios.

One of the earliest references to the name Wogan appears in medieval Welsh records. The first significant recording of the name dates back to the 11th century, involving the Normans' influence in Wales and their migration into Ireland. The family name started gaining prominence when the Norman Lord Osbern Wogan was recorded owning lands and titles. A notable reference includes the Wogan family of Picton Castle in Pembrokeshire, Wales, which was established around the 13th century.

Historical manuscripts also mention the Wogan name in legal and land documents. For instance, there is a record of Sir John Wogan, born around 1240 and deceased in 1321, who served as a Lord Chief Justice of Ireland, marking a significant footprint on the surname’s legacy. His contributions to the legal framework in Ireland during his tenure are well-documented and highlight the administrative clout wielded by the Wogan family.

The Wogan surname took root in Ireland during the medieval period, where it is anglicized from the Old Irish name Mac Giolla Ghogáin. Historical accounts from the 14th century reference Sir Nicholas Wogan, reputedly born in 1271 and deceased in 1310, who served as a notable figure in the political arena of both England and Ireland.

Another prominent figure is Sir Edward Wogan, born approximately in 1625 and deceased in 1654. He was a staunch Royalist during the English Civil War and displayed remarkable bravery and loyalty to King Charles II, which earned him a distinguished place in history despite his short life. His exploits and the subsequent impact on the Wogan surname illuminate its standing in the realm of military valor and loyalty.

In the 16th century, historical records indicate the existence of John Wogan, born in 1520 and deceased in 1580, who was a member of Parliament for Pembroke. His political involvement showcased the surname’s continuing legacy in positions of governance and public service.

Throughout history, the surname Wogan has also been linked to notable places such as Woganstown in County Meath, Ireland, reinforcing the geographic spread and influence of the family. The proliferation and varying records of the Wogan name through centuries demonstrate its rich historical tapestry, weaving through battles, legal reforms, political arenas, and geographic transitions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Wogan families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Wogan 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 18 Wogans recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.85x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 18 1.85x
Yorkshire 18 2.22x
Pembrokeshire 17 65.31x
Middlesex 14 1.71x
Kent 5 1.79x
Cheshire 4 2.21x
Durham 2 0.82x
Staffordshire 2 0.72x
Derbyshire 1 0.78x
Essex 1 0.62x
Gloucestershire 1 0.62x
Wiltshire 1 1.38x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Monckton in Pembrokeshire leads with 16 Wogans recorded in 1881 and an index of 3478.26x.

Place Total Index
Monckton 16 3478.26x
Barnsley 11 131.42x
Shoreditch London 9 25.35x
Salford 8 27.98x
Aspull 5 218.34x
Rastrick 5 222.22x
Manchester 4 9.15x
Woolwich 4 38.72x
Dukinfield 3 35.89x
Bishop Auckland 2 61.16x
Westminster St John 2 20.04x
Bradford 1 5.09x
Bristol St James St Paul 1 18.66x
Chelmsford 1 36.10x
Folkestone 1 18.45x
Glossop Dale 1 16.64x
Kirkdale 1 6.12x
Mottram 1 121.95x
Pembroke St Michael 1 263.16x
Potterne 1 312.50x
Scarborough 1 13.55x
St Andrew Holborn 1 35.97x
St George Hanover 1 9.35x
Stafford St Mary 1 25.58x
Stoke Newington London 1 15.67x
Tixall 1 1666.67x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 9
Catherine 4
Eliza 4
Elizabeth 2
Ellen 2
Emma 2
Margret 2
Sarah 2
Ann 1
Anne 1
Annie 1
Cathe. 1
Edith 1
Hanah 1
Isabella 1
Jane 1
Kate 1
Katherine 1
Maggie 1
Margaret 1
Rachel 1
Rose 1
Susan 1
Susanah 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Wogan surname: questions and answers

How common was the Wogan surname in 1881?

In 1881, 84 people were recorded with the Wogan surname. That placed it at #21,690 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Wogan surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 280 in 2016. That gives Wogan a modern rank of #15,491.

What does the Wogan surname mean?

English surname meaning "son of Wogan", a diminutive of the given name Wazo/Wazzo.

What does the Wogan map show?

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