NameCensus.

UK surname

Airth

Habitational surname derived from a place near Falkirk, Scotland, likely meaning "slope" or "ascent" in Old Norse or Gaelic.

In the 1881 census there were 183 people recorded with the Airth surname, ranking it #13,596 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 179, ranked #21,086, down from #13,596 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Arbilot, Forfar and Arbroath and St. Vigeans. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Blairgowrie West, Newmains and Leeds.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Airth is 198 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 2.2%.

1881 census count

183

Ranked #13,596

Modern count

179

2016, ranked #21,086

Peak year

1901

198 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Airth had 183 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,596 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 179 in 2016, ranked #21,086.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 198 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Airth surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Airth surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Airth 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 173 #11,629
1861 historical 157 #14,732
1881 historical 183 #13,596
1891 historical 177 #16,330
1901 historical 198 #15,213
1911 historical 40 #28,913
1997 modern 166 #19,797
1998 modern 162 #20,673
1999 modern 180 #19,454
2000 modern 180 #19,425
2001 modern 172 #19,696
2002 modern 176 #19,829
2003 modern 167 #20,245
2004 modern 161 #20,840
2005 modern 159 #20,983
2006 modern 164 #20,715
2007 modern 171 #20,387
2008 modern 176 #20,224
2009 modern 169 #21,190
2010 modern 177 #21,034
2011 modern 172 #21,248
2012 modern 173 #21,135
2013 modern 179 #21,028
2014 modern 185 #20,739
2015 modern 181 #20,934
2016 modern 179 #21,086

Geography

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Where Airths are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Arbilot, Forfar, Arbroath and St. Vigeans, Govan Combination and Edinburgh. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Blairgowrie West, Newmains, Leeds, Fetteresso, Netherley and Catter and Wyre. 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 Arbilot Forfar
2 Forfar Forfar
3 Arbroath and St. Vigeans Forfar
4 Govan Combination Lanark
5 Edinburgh Edinburgh

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Blairgowrie West Perth and Kinross
2 Newmains North Lanarkshire
3 Leeds 070 Leeds
4 Fetteresso, Netherley and Catter Aberdeenshire
5 Wyre 004 Wyre

Forenames

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First names often paired with Airth

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Airth

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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Airth surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Airth household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Airth is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Airth 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

Airth falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Airth is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Airth

The surname AIRTH is believed to have originated in Scotland, specifically in the region of Falkirk. It is thought to be derived from the place name "Airth," a small village located near the River Forth. The name Airth itself is likely of Brythonic origin, possibly meaning "high place" or "elevated ground."

The earliest recorded instances of the surname AIRTH can be traced back to the 13th century. One of the earliest known bearers of the name was John de Airth, who was mentioned in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a record of Scottish landowners who swore fealty to King Edward I of England during the Wars of Scottish Independence.

In the 14th century, the name appears in various charters and land records. One notable mention is in the Register of the Great Seal of Scotland, where a Robert de Airth is listed as a landowner in the county of Stirlingshire in 1365.

The surname AIRTH has also been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One such person was Sir William Airth (1475-1551), a Scottish lawyer and judge who served as Lord Justice Clerk of Scotland during the reign of King James V.

Another prominent bearer of the name was Captain John Airth (1670-1734), a Scottish sailor and explorer who is credited with being one of the first Europeans to set foot on the Hawaiian Islands in 1719, during his voyage aboard the HMS Defiance.

In the 18th century, the AIRTH surname gained further recognition through the works of Archibald Airth (1715-1795), a Scottish minister and author who wrote several religious texts and sermons.

During the 19th century, the AIRTH name was associated with the literary world through the works of Jessie Airth (1836-1912), a Scottish writer and poet who published several collections of poetry and children's stories.

Lastly, one cannot overlook the contributions of Sir Lancelot Airth (1875-1956), a British diplomat and politician who served as the Governor of Madras Presidency in British India from 1934 to 1939.

While the surname AIRTH may not be as widespread as some other Scottish surnames, its rich history and association with notable individuals from various fields have contributed to its enduring legacy.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Airth families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Airth 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. Angus leads with 89 Airths recorded in 1881 and an index of 52.95x.

County Total Index
Angus 89 52.95x
Aberdeenshire 26 15.47x
Lanarkshire 20 3.41x
Perthshire 12 14.74x
Cumberland 8 5.12x
Kincardineshire 8 36.22x
Midlothian 6 2.47x
Essex 4 1.12x
Channel Islands 3 5.58x
Cheshire 2 0.50x
Middlesex 2 0.11x
Banffshire 1 2.66x
Dunbartonshire 1 2.05x
Durham 1 0.19x
Hampshire 1 0.27x
Northumberland 1 0.37x
Renfrewshire 1 0.71x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Vigeans in Angus leads with 33 Airths recorded in 1881 and an index of 363.84x.

Place Total Index
St Vigeans 33 363.84x
Govan 14 9.65x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 13 41.35x
Aberdeen Old Machar 12 34.21x
Forfar 11 120.88x
Perth East Church 11 143.23x
Liff Benvie 8 31.36x
Millom 8 167.01x
Dundee 7 11.16x
Fordoun 7 564.52x
Montrose 7 68.69x
Brechin 6 90.91x
Arbirlot 4 784.31x
Barony 4 2.69x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 4 4.09x
Farnell 4 1025.64x
South Weald 4 130.29x
St Helier 3 17.14x
Arbroath 2 35.91x
Craig 2 123.46x
Glasgow 2 1.92x
Kinnel 2 465.12x
Aboyne 1 112.36x
Abroath St Vigeans 1 144.93x
Arbuthnott 1 200.00x
Bishopwearmouth 1 2.16x
Chester Holy Trinity 1 53.19x
Chester St Oswald 1 13.79x
Dalkeith 1 20.88x
Deskford 1 185.19x
Dumbarton 1 14.73x
Dun 1 294.12x
Edinburgh St Marys 1 21.19x
Elswick 1 4.64x
Hound 1 39.68x
Monifieth 1 16.84x
Monzie 1 212.77x
Renfrew 1 21.55x
St Marylebone London 1 1.03x
Whitechapel London 1 5.59x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 2
Alice 1
Anne 1
Annie 1
Beatrice 1
Dora 1
Isabella 1
Mary 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 5
Robert 2
Andrew 1
Arthur 1
Francis 1
George 1
Walter 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Airth households.

FAQ

Airth surname: questions and answers

How common was the Airth surname in 1881?

In 1881, 183 people were recorded with the Airth surname. That placed it at #13,596 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Airth surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 179 in 2016. That gives Airth a modern rank of #21,086.

What does the Airth surname mean?

Habitational surname derived from a place near Falkirk, Scotland, likely meaning "slope" or "ascent" in Old Norse or Gaelic.

What does the Airth map show?

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