Mcguigan
An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic "Mac Uiginn," meaning "son of Uiginn," a personal name of unknown meaning.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 4,250 Americans carry the last name Mcguigan. That puts it at #8,975 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 1.24 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 80,648 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Mcguigan surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
4.3K
1 in 80,648
Census rank
#8,975
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
1.2
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
3.6K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 3,646 bearers of the surname Mcguigan in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 1.24 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 8975th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Mcguigan, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.2%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.7%) and Two or More Races (1.0%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Mcguigan
The surname McGuigan is of Irish origin and dates back to the 12th century. It is an Anglicized version of the Gaelic name "Mac Uidhilin," which means "son of Uidhilin," with Uidhilin being a diminutive of the personal name Uidhir, derived from the word "odhar" meaning "pale" or "dun-colored."
The name is believed to have originated in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland, where the McGuigans were part of the Uí Chremthainn sept of the Airghialla people. The earliest recorded instance of the name is found in the Annals of Ulster from the year 1198, which mentions a "Mac Uidhilin."
In the 14th century, the McGuigans were among the many Irish families who were dispossessed of their lands during the Plantation of Ulster. As a result, they dispersed throughout Ireland, with significant populations settling in counties such as Tyrone, Donegal, and Derry.
The name has undergone various spelling variations over the centuries, including McGuigan, McGuiggan, McGuigan, McGuiggen, and McGuiggin. Some notable historical figures bearing the McGuigan surname include:
1. Bernard McGuigan (1849-1928), an Irish-American labor leader and prominent figure in the American Labor Movement.
2. Patrick McGuigan (1811-1877), an Irish journalist and political activist, known for his involvement in the Young Ireland movement.
3. John McGuigan (1853-1933), an Irish-American prelate who served as the Bishop of Richmond, Virginia, from 1920 to 1933.
4. James McGuigan (1834-1886), an Irish-born Australian politician and Member of the Legislative Assembly of New South Wales.
5. Thomas McGuigan (1892-1957), an Irish Nationalist and member of the Irish Republican Army during the Irish War of Independence.
The McGuigan name has also been associated with various place names, such as McGuigan's Bridge in County Fermanagh and McGuigan's Lough in County Tyrone, both of which are believed to have been named after members of the McGuigan clan.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Mcguigan
Among Census respondents with the surname Mcguigan, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.2%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.7%) and Two or More Races (1.0%).
The bar chart below shows how Mcguigan bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Mcguigan surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White95.2%
- Hispanic or Latino2.7%
- Two or more races1.0%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.6%
- Black or African American0.4%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.1%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Mcguigan surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #8,676 | #8,975 | -3.4% |
| Count | 3,489 | 3,646 | 4.5% |
| Per 100K | 1.29 | 1.24 | -3.9% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Mcguigan bearers went from 3,489 to 3,646 (+4.5% change). The surname moved down 299 positions in the national ranking, going from #8,676 to #8,975.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Mcguigan
FAQ
Mcguigan surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Mcguigan?
The surname Mcguigan holds position #8,975 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 4,250 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 1.24 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Mcguigan surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Mcguigan, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.2%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.7%) and Two or More Races (1.0%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.