NameCensus.

UK surname

Aitchison

A patronymic surname derived from the medieval Scottish name Aitkin, meaning "son of Adam."

In the 1881 census there were 2,130 people recorded with the Aitchison surname, ranking it #2,079 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 3,613, ranked #1,877, up from #2,079 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Dunbar, Melrose and Eyemouth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Eyemouth, Berwickshire East and Northumberland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Aitchison is 3,668 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 69.6%.

1881 census count

2,130

Ranked #2,079

Modern count

3,613

2016, ranked #1,877

Peak year

2014

3,668 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Aitchison had 2,130 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,079 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 3,613 in 2016, ranked #1,877.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,872 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Aitchison surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Aitchison surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Aitchison 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 1,522 #1,885
1861 historical 1,516 #1,863
1881 historical 2,130 #2,079
1891 historical 2,481 #1,909
1901 historical 2,872 #1,947
1911 historical 810 #5,426
1997 modern 3,224 #1,997
1998 modern 3,397 #1,973
1999 modern 3,473 #1,956
2000 modern 3,477 #1,944
2001 modern 3,465 #1,916
2002 modern 3,534 #1,921
2003 modern 3,435 #1,928
2004 modern 3,465 #1,910
2005 modern 3,470 #1,879
2006 modern 3,480 #1,873
2007 modern 3,505 #1,879
2008 modern 3,548 #1,866
2009 modern 3,592 #1,900
2010 modern 3,610 #1,929
2011 modern 3,550 #1,937
2012 modern 3,515 #1,915
2013 modern 3,608 #1,900
2014 modern 3,668 #1,881
2015 modern 3,624 #1,880
2016 modern 3,613 #1,877

Geography

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Where Aitchisons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Dunbar, Melrose, Eyemouth, Duns and Gateshead. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Eyemouth, Berwickshire East, Northumberland and Fauldhouse. 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 Dunbar Haddington
2 Melrose Roxburgh
3 Eyemouth Berwick
4 Duns Berwick
5 Gateshead Durham

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Eyemouth Scottish Borders
2 Berwickshire East Scottish Borders
3 Northumberland 002 Northumberland
4 Fauldhouse West Lothian
5 Northumberland 001 Northumberland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Aitchison

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Aitchison

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Aitchison, 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 Aitchison surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Aitchison 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, Aitchison 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

Aitchison 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

Aitchison falls in decile 6 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Aitchison

The surname Aitchison is of Scottish origin and has its roots in the region of Ayrshire, located in the southwest of Scotland. It is believed to have derived from the Gaelic personal name "Ath-chissane," meaning "descendant of the pilgrim" or "traveler."

The earliest recorded instance of this surname dates back to the 13th century, with a mention of "Aythe Ychyssone" in the Ragman Rolls, a collection of instruments of homage and fealty to Edward I of England. This document, compiled in 1296, contains the names of Scottish landowners who pledged allegiance to the English king during the Wars of Scottish Independence.

In the 16th century, the name appears in various spellings, such as "Aitsone," "Aitchisoun," and "Aitchesone," reflecting regional variations and the evolution of language over time. The town of Aitchison's Haven, now known as Saltcoats, in Ayrshire, is believed to have been named after a prominent Aitchison family who owned land in the area during this period.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Aitchison was John Aitchison (c. 1500-1570), a Scottish clergyman who served as Bishop of Dunkeld from 1543 to 1570. Another notable figure was Gilbert Aitchison (c. 1590-1670), a Scottish merchant and businessman who played a significant role in the economic development of Glasgow in the 17th century.

In the 18th century, the Aitchison family gained prominence in the field of education. Thomas Aitchison (1725-1798) was a Scottish minister and educator who founded Aitchison's Hospital, a prestigious school in Ayr, in 1767. This institution, now known as Aitchison College, continues to operate today and is renowned for its academic excellence.

In the 19th century, Sir Charles Umpherston Aitchison (1832-1896) was a notable British Indian civil servant and administrator who served as the Lieutenant-Governor of the Punjab from 1882 to 1888. He played a crucial role in the development of the region's infrastructure and education system.

Another prominent figure with the Aitchison surname was James Aitchison (1835-1898), a Scottish-born Australian politician and businessman. He served as a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly and was a successful merchant and landowner in the colony.

Throughout history, the Aitchison surname has been associated with various professions, including clergy, education, civil service, business, and politics, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and contributions of those who bear this name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Aitchison families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Aitchison 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. Berwickshire leads with 433 Aitchisons recorded in 1881 and an index of 174.63x.

County Total Index
Berwickshire 433 174.63x
Midlothian 320 11.67x
Lanarkshire 316 4.77x
Northumberland 157 5.15x
Roxburghshire 130 35.05x
East Lothian 117 43.14x
Lancashire 66 0.27x
Dumfriesshire 64 14.15x
Durham 57 0.94x
Selkirkshire 45 24.29x
Middlesex 41 0.20x
Stirlingshire 33 4.37x
Fife 30 2.48x
Surrey 24 0.24x
Peeblesshire 23 23.88x
Renfrewshire 22 1.39x
Yorkshire 22 0.11x
West Lothian 21 6.81x
Angus 20 1.05x
Dunbartonshire 18 3.27x
Cumberland 17 0.96x
Ayrshire 16 1.04x
Argyllshire 14 2.46x
Perthshire 12 1.31x
Inverness-shire 11 1.80x
Kent 11 0.16x
Aberdeenshire 9 0.47x
Sussex 8 0.23x
Westmorland 6 1.33x
Wigtownshire 5 1.84x
Cambridgeshire 4 0.31x
Cheshire 4 0.09x
Devon 4 0.09x
Gloucestershire 4 0.10x
Somerset 3 0.09x
Denbighshire 2 0.26x
Kirkcudbrightshire 2 0.67x
Oxfordshire 2 0.16x
Suffolk 2 0.08x
Caernarfonshire 1 0.12x
Shropshire 1 0.06x
Warwickshire 1 0.02x
Worcestershire 1 0.04x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Edinburgh St Cuthberts in Midlothian leads with 167 Aitchisons recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.13x.

Place Total Index
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 167 15.13x
Ayton 84 584.14x
Eyemouth 76 367.33x
Barony 69 4.12x
Glasgow 53 4.51x
Dunse 45 191.41x
Dunbar 42 110.47x
Govan 38 2.32x
Earlston 35 282.03x
Coldingham 34 152.53x
South Leith 31 10.04x
Annan 30 77.22x
Cambuslang 29 43.44x
Haddington 27 67.45x
Melrose 24 74.84x
Melrose 20 42.90x
Cadder 18 36.80x
Galashiels 18 26.29x
Rutherglen 18 18.53x
Whitsome 18 458.02x
Duddingston 17 30.88x
Innerleithen 17 66.51x
Whitburn 17 38.16x
Abbey St Bathans 16 914.29x
Alnwick 16 30.55x
Hamilton 16 8.66x
Belford 14 216.05x
Edinburgh St Georges 14 24.59x
Hulme 14 2.76x
Kilsyth 14 29.08x
Swinton 14 206.49x
Crawford 13 105.18x
Kirkdale 13 3.18x
Nenthorn 13 406.25x
St Boswells 13 193.16x
Toxteth Park 13 1.58x
Colinton 12 39.23x
Eckford 12 186.92x
Edrom 12 112.99x
Kelso 12 32.47x
Legerwood 12 306.91x
Monkwearmouth 12 20.58x
Prestonpans 12 65.97x
Ancroft 11 102.71x
Gateshead 11 2.41x
Jedburgh 11 30.26x
Kilmaronock 11 168.71x
Kilrenny 11 49.06x
Linton 11 284.97x
Moffat 11 53.29x
Spott 11 270.94x
Dundee 10 1.41x
Langholm 10 30.76x
Old Monkland 10 3.81x
St Pancras London 10 0.61x
Carstairs 9 65.60x
Coldstream 9 50.17x
Coxlodge 9 38.86x
Longbenton 9 6.98x
New Monkland 9 4.60x
Raw 9 1451.61x
Biggar 8 53.44x
Carnwath 8 19.54x
Clapham 8 3.13x
Cockpen 8 24.95x
Eccles 8 73.66x
Edinburgh Buccleuch 8 12.33x
Hutton 8 117.82x
Kilcalmonell 8 62.02x
Minto 8 264.03x
North Shields 8 13.16x
Oathlaw 8 255.59x
Stow 8 56.74x
Strathblane 8 84.84x
Haughton Le Skerne 7 139.44x
Lasswade 7 11.16x
Mordington 7 272.37x
Newcastle On Tyne St 7 4.43x
Selkirk 7 13.41x
Sprouston 7 97.22x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 34
William 30
James 19
Thomas 18
George 17
Robert 17
Andrew 9
Adam 7
Henry 5
Alexander 4
Peter 4
Samuel 4
David 3
Joseph 3
Alfred 2
Edward 2
Frederick 2
Jas. 2
Jno. 2
Matthew 2
Richard 2
Willm. 2
Archibald 1
Benjamin 1
Charles 1
Clarence 1
Colin 1
Douglass 1
Edith 1
Ernest 1
Fredk. 1
Geo. 1
Gowrin 1
Harry 1
Hary 1
Herbert 1
Hugh 1
Isaac 1
Jasper 1
R. 1
Robt. 1
Sydney 1
Thos. 1
Tom 1
Walter 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Aitchison surname: questions and answers

How common was the Aitchison surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,130 people were recorded with the Aitchison surname. That placed it at #2,079 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Aitchison surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 3,613 in 2016. That gives Aitchison a modern rank of #1,877.

What does the Aitchison surname mean?

A patronymic surname derived from the medieval Scottish name Aitkin, meaning "son of Adam."

What does the Aitchison map show?

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