NameCensus.

UK surname

Aird

From the Gaelic word "àrd," meaning "high" or "lofty," likely referring to someone who lived on high ground.

In the 1881 census there were 1,571 people recorded with the Aird surname, ranking it #2,695 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,831, ranked #3,461, down from #2,695 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Hamilton, Govan Combination and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Crail and Boarhills, Stockbridge and Dalry West.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Aird is 1,964 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 16.5%.

1881 census count

1,571

Ranked #2,695

Modern count

1,831

2016, ranked #3,461

Peak year

1901

1,964 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Aird had 1,571 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,695 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,831 in 2016, ranked #3,461.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,964 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Aird surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Aird surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Aird 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 982 #2,843
1861 historical 1,100 #2,552
1881 historical 1,571 #2,695
1891 historical 1,696 #2,664
1901 historical 1,964 #2,698
1911 historical 530 #7,500
1997 modern 1,802 #3,334
1998 modern 1,844 #3,386
1999 modern 1,846 #3,401
2000 modern 1,836 #3,404
2001 modern 1,762 #3,457
2002 modern 1,811 #3,431
2003 modern 1,762 #3,462
2004 modern 1,759 #3,469
2005 modern 1,732 #3,487
2006 modern 1,775 #3,415
2007 modern 1,790 #3,423
2008 modern 1,751 #3,514
2009 modern 1,756 #3,575
2010 modern 1,819 #3,535
2011 modern 1,786 #3,555
2012 modern 1,791 #3,496
2013 modern 1,826 #3,488
2014 modern 1,848 #3,477
2015 modern 1,842 #3,468
2016 modern 1,831 #3,461

Geography

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Where Airds are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Hamilton, Govan Combination, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Loudoun. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Crail and Boarhills, Stockbridge, Dalry West, Ballingry and Ross and Cromarty Central. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Hamilton Lanark
2 Govan Combination Lanark
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 Glasgow Lanark
5 Loudoun Ayr

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Crail and Boarhills Fife
2 Stockbridge City of Edinburgh
3 Dalry West North Ayrshire
4 Ballingry Fife
5 Ross and Cromarty Central Highland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Aird

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Aird

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

Established but Challenged

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Aird 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

Aird is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Aird 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 Aird is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Aird, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Aird

The surname Aird has its origins in Scotland, with records dating back to the 16th century. It is derived from the Scottish Gaelic word 'ard,' meaning a high place or promontory, often referring to a prominent hill or headland near where the family lived. This suggests that the name's earliest bearers likely resided near a notable elevated landform.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the Aird name can be found in the Scottish state papers from the 16th century, where individuals with this surname were documented. The name has been historically associated with the regions of Ayrshire and Lanarkshire in the west of Scotland.

In the 17th century, the Aird surname appears in various historical records, including the Register of the Privy Council of Scotland and the Acts of the Parliaments of Scotland. One notable bearer of this name was Sir John Aird, a Scottish lawyer and judge who lived from 1616 to 1685.

During the 18th century, the Aird name continued to be present in Scottish records. A notable individual from this period was James Aird, a Scottish writer and poet who lived from 1738 to 1808. His works included the poem "The Captive Linnet" and other nature-themed writings.

In the 19th century, the Aird name gained prominence in the field of engineering and construction. One of the most renowned individuals with this surname was John Aird, a Scottish civil engineer and contractor who lived from 1833 to 1911. He was responsible for the construction of many notable structures, including the Tay Bridge in Scotland and the Victoria Embankment in London.

Another notable figure with the Aird surname was Sir John Aird, 1st Baronet, a Scottish businessman and politician who lived from 1833 to 1911. He served as a Member of Parliament and was also involved in the construction industry, continuing the family's legacy in that field.

The Aird name has also been associated with various place names in Scotland, such as Aird Point, a headland on the Isle of Lewis, and Aird Hill, a prominent elevation near the town of Newburgh in Fife. These place names likely reflect the original meaning of the surname, referring to elevated landforms.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Aird families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Aird 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. Ayrshire leads with 402 Airds recorded in 1881 and an index of 35.34x.

County Total Index
Ayrshire 402 35.34x
Lanarkshire 361 7.34x
Ross-shire 96 23.00x
Renfrewshire 86 7.30x
Middlesex 82 0.54x
Midlothian 79 3.88x
Lancashire 77 0.43x
Surrey 37 0.50x
Northumberland 36 1.59x
Aberdeenshire 30 2.13x
Durham 29 0.64x
Kent 26 0.50x
Yorkshire 22 0.15x
Wigtownshire 20 9.91x
Morayshire 19 8.05x
Angus 13 0.92x
Sutherland 13 11.12x
Hampshire 11 0.35x
Hertfordshire 11 1.05x
Peeblesshire 10 13.99x
Sussex 9 0.35x
Cumberland 8 0.61x
Nairnshire 8 17.25x
Fife 7 0.78x
Pembrokeshire 7 1.45x
Cheshire 5 0.15x
Kinross-shire 5 13.01x
Warwickshire 5 0.13x
Argyllshire 4 0.95x
Lincolnshire 4 0.16x
Dumfriesshire 3 0.89x
Dunbartonshire 3 0.73x
Kirkcudbrightshire 3 1.36x
Stirlingshire 3 0.54x
Westmorland 3 0.90x
Buteshire 2 2.17x
Caithness 2 0.96x
Dorset 2 0.20x
Norfolk 2 0.09x
Perthshire 2 0.29x
Selkirkshire 2 1.45x
Essex 1 0.03x
Glamorgan 1 0.04x
Herefordshire 1 0.16x
Inverness-shire 1 0.22x
Leicestershire 1 0.06x
Shropshire 1 0.08x
Staffordshire 1 0.02x
West Lothian 1 0.44x
Worcestershire 1 0.05x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Govan in Lanarkshire leads with 111 Airds recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.13x.

Place Total Index
Govan 111 9.13x
Kilmarnock 96 70.91x
Barony 83 6.67x
Loudoun 69 252.29x
Hamilton 39 28.45x
Lesmahagow 33 63.49x
Rosskeen 32 162.93x
West Greenock 32 15.14x
South Leith 31 13.53x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 29 3.54x
Galston 27 86.79x
Glasgow 26 2.98x
Maybole 22 63.53x
Berwick Upon Tweed 21 43.83x
Liverpool 21 1.92x
Old Cumnock 17 67.11x
Bishopwearmouth 15 3.86x
Paddington London 15 2.68x
Stranraer 15 81.26x
Cambuslang 13 26.24x
Kilwinning 13 35.39x
Toxteth Park 13 2.13x
Cambusnethan 12 10.99x
Muirkirk 12 44.93x
Neilston 12 20.29x
Bothwell 11 8.25x
Camberwell 11 1.13x
Colmonell 11 96.24x
Dalry 11 20.55x
St Albans St Peter 11 31.12x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 10 3.80x
Alness 10 185.53x
Ayr 10 18.63x
Innerleithen 10 52.71x
Irvine 10 31.66x
Riccarton Hurlford 10 50.13x
Ardwick 9 5.53x
Cove 9 220.59x
Eastbourne 9 7.63x
Fearn 9 80.94x
Hackney London 9 1.06x
Kirkmichael 9 86.79x
New Cumnock 9 45.64x
Riccarton 9 52.45x
Sorn 9 40.29x
Tain 9 56.93x
Ashton Under Lyne 8 2.03x
Auckinleck 8 22.72x
Blackburn 8 1.67x
Culsalmond 8 184.76x
Dingwall 8 68.14x
Drighlington 8 36.46x
Folkestone 8 7.95x
Lambeth 8 0.60x
Nairn 8 28.42x
Southwark St George Martyr 8 2.62x
Westoe 8 3.12x
Wigton 8 40.77x
Avondale 7 24.36x
Beith 7 20.62x
Dyke 7 108.19x
Eastwood 7 9.65x
Paisley Low Church 7 18.77x
Paisley Middle Church 7 10.21x
Pembroke St Michael 7 100.00x
St Anne Soho London 7 8.07x
St Martin In Fields 7 7.69x
Stoer Assynt 7 96.29x
Crail 6 65.36x
Girvan 6 21.02x
Islington London 6 0.41x
Kiltearn 6 97.56x
Maryhill 6 6.24x
Plumstead 6 3.47x
Resolis 6 80.54x
Rothes 6 52.08x
Shoreditch London 6 0.91x
Symington 6 164.38x
East Greenock 5 4.50x
Over 5 14.66x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 24
Elizabeth 18
Sarah 11
Jane 10
Margaret 9
Ellen 6
Jessie 6
Agnes 5
Annie 5
Eliza 5
Isabella 5
Janet 5
Ada 4
Hannah 4
Alice 3
Catherine 3
Florence 3
Louisa 3
Maria 3
Amy 2
Caroline 2
Charlotte 2
Christina 2
Delia 2
Dorothy 2
Edith 2
Eleanor 2
Emily 2
Harriet 2
Lilian 2
Mabel 2
Nellie 2
Amelia 1
Anne 1
Barbara 1
Bessie 1
Blanch 1
Bridget 1
Christiania 1
Clara 1
Dane 1
Elisabeth 1
Elizth. 1
Gertrude 1
Grace 1
Habenia 1
Helen 1
James 1
Kate 1
Winfred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 29
James 23
William 18
Thomas 15
Henry 11
Alexander 7
Robert 7
David 5
Edward 5
Adam 4
Charles 4
George 4
Matthew 4
Richard 3
Walter 3
Albert 2
Andrew 2
Arthur 2
Daniel 2
Harry 2
Thos. 2
Alexandra 1
Alexr. 1
Alexr.D. 1
Benjamin 1
Bob 1
Brook 1
Danil 1
Darcey 1
Edwin 1
Felix 1
Francis 1
Fred 1
Frederick 1
Hamilton 1
Herbert 1
Joseph 1
Kenneth 1
Malcolm 1
Mathew 1
Percy 1
Ralph 1
W. 1
Webster 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Aird surname: questions and answers

How common was the Aird surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,571 people were recorded with the Aird surname. That placed it at #2,695 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Aird surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,831 in 2016. That gives Aird a modern rank of #3,461.

What does the Aird surname mean?

From the Gaelic word "àrd," meaning "high" or "lofty," likely referring to someone who lived on high ground.

What does the Aird map show?

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