Geo-Genealogy of Irish Surnames
I wanted to share this very nice (and potentially useful) map created by Kingston University, London. The Irish surnames plotted on this map have either historic or numeric importance to the counties of Ireland. Of numeric importance are the birth counts from the 1891 census. Indigenous Irish names beginning with O', Mac, Mc, De, Le, and others, indicates historic significance. The 1891 census contained over 2,500 individual surnames.
Because this map is based on a relatively late census (1891), many of the areas of historic stronghold associated with certain surnames are not reflected. A good example of this is my own surname, O'Rourke. One would expect to see this surname prominently represented in Counties Leitrim, Sligo, and Cavan. By 1891, however, the vast majority of the O'Rourkes who descended from the kings of Bréifne in that region had emigrated.
The image of the map to the left is just a thumbnail. Click on the image to see and download the full-size (50 MB) version.
I'd be interested in hearing about anything you see in relation to your own family surnames on this map. Please leave your observations in the comments section below.
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Timothy McQuaid
Interesting map. If you would like to compare your family name distribution mid 19th century (1840's-60's) to this 1890 map, go to http://www.irishtimes.com/ancestor/surname/index.cfm?fuseaction=Go.... . My McQuaid family came from Tyrone. In the Primary Valuation property survey of 1847-64, the McQuaid name (and all it's variations), was most prevalent in Tyrone. 27.2 % out of all the occurrences, in all of Ireland, were in Tyrone. By 1890 they did not have enough to make it on to the Tyrone map. My Family left Tummery, Dromore, Tyrone in 1880.
Oct 17, 2013
Seamus McCaul
Very interesting. The McCauls were fairly well distributed throughout the north. I myself am from Newry. My research so far seems to indicate our family originated from County Tyrone and possibly my great great Grandfather emigrated to the USA in approx. 1840s
Oct 17, 2013
Eamon Loingsigh
You can see there was the Lynch family right around Coolmeen, County Clare.
Oct 22, 2013
James McNamara
A few issues with this - in 1890 there was not any census. There was a census in 1891 but it was intentionally destroyed so this map cannot be based on that. This must be based on the 1890 Matheson report which records all surnames for which at least 5 children were born in any county (in 1890). I wouldn't put any importance on where you find the surname on the map as it cannot be correct for many surnames I reviewed. McNAMARAs and O'BRIENs were practically everywhere in County Clare in 1890 so just finding these surnames in one place in the county doesn't mean that much. It appears that the size of the surname's font is the indication of how many children were born in 1890.
Oct 23, 2013