NameCensus.

UK surname

Aitkenhead

A Scottish locational surname derived from a place near Dalmeny in East Lothian, likely meaning "Aitken's headland."

In the 1881 census there were 356 people recorded with the Aitkenhead surname, ranking it #8,665 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 551, ranked #9,266, down from #8,665 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Blantyre, Govan Combination and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Shettleston North, Dartford and North Giffnock and North Thornliebank.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Aitkenhead is 554 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 54.8%.

1881 census count

356

Ranked #8,665

Modern count

551

2016, ranked #9,266

Peak year

1998

554 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Aitkenhead had 356 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,665 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 551 in 2016, ranked #9,266.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 470 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Aitkenhead surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Aitkenhead surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Aitkenhead 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 218 #9,754
1861 historical 240 #10,226
1881 historical 356 #8,665
1891 historical 430 #8,344
1901 historical 470 #8,432
1911 historical 143 #18,401
1997 modern 528 #8,934
1998 modern 554 #8,876
1999 modern 547 #9,024
2000 modern 554 #8,898
2001 modern 536 #8,979
2002 modern 543 #9,059
2003 modern 531 #9,084
2004 modern 516 #9,302
2005 modern 506 #9,367
2006 modern 517 #9,246
2007 modern 530 #9,144
2008 modern 535 #9,155
2009 modern 544 #9,247
2010 modern 541 #9,481
2011 modern 546 #9,322
2012 modern 518 #9,629
2013 modern 533 #9,574
2014 modern 537 #9,565
2015 modern 529 #9,623
2016 modern 551 #9,266

Geography

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Where Aitkenheads are most common

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

The modern local-area list points to Shettleston North, Dartford, North Giffnock and North Thornliebank, Bridgeton and Caithness North West. 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 Blantyre Lanark
2 Govan Combination Lanark
3 London parishes London 3
4 Edinburgh Edinburgh
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Shettleston North Glasgow City
2 Dartford 003 Dartford
3 North Giffnock and North Thornliebank East Renfrewshire
4 Bridgeton Glasgow City
5 Caithness North West Highland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Aitkenhead

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Aitkenhead

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

Ageing Communities

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Aitkenhead is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Aitkenhead is most concentrated in decile 2 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Aitkenhead 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 Aitkenhead 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 Aitkenhead, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Aitkenhead

The surname Aitkenhead originates from Scotland and dates back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Old English words "ac" meaning oak and "hēafod" meaning head or hill, likely referring to a settlement located on an oak-covered hill or promontory.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a historical document containing the names of Scottish landowners who swore fealty to King Edward I of England. The spelling "Akheneved" is found in this record.

In the 14th century, the name was recorded as Akynhevid in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland, which were financial records maintained by the Scottish government. This spelling variation suggests the name's pronunciation may have evolved over time.

A notable early bearer of the name was Sir John Aitkenhead, a Scottish knight who fought alongside Robert the Bruce during the Wars of Scottish Independence in the early 14th century. He was granted lands in Berwickshire for his service.

In the 16th century, the surname was sometimes spelled as Aikinhead or Akinhead, reflecting the various regional pronunciations and dialects of the time. A prominent figure with this spelling was Robert Aikinhead, a Scottish merchant and burgess of Edinburgh who lived from 1540 to 1618.

Another notable individual was Sir Richard Aitkenhead, a Scottish politician and judge who served as Lord Provost of Edinburgh in the late 17th century. He played a significant role in the negotiations leading to the Acts of Union in 1707, which united the kingdoms of Scotland and England.

During the 18th century, the surname was sometimes associated with the place name Aitkenhead, a small village located in East Ayrshire, Scotland. This village likely derived its name from the surname itself, reflecting the connection between the name and a specific geographic location.

Reverend James Aitkenhead, born in 1753, was a prominent Scottish minister and author who wrote several religious works and served as a minister in various parishes throughout his lifetime.

These are just a few examples of notable individuals who bore the surname Aitkenhead throughout history, demonstrating its long-standing Scottish roots and the various spelling variations it has undergone over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Aitkenhead families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Aitkenhead 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. Lanarkshire leads with 164 Aitkenheads recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.64x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 164 14.64x
Renfrewshire 53 19.75x
Surrey 24 1.42x
Angus 23 7.17x
Dunbartonshire 21 22.57x
Northumberland 19 3.69x
Stirlingshire 17 13.31x
West Lothian 8 15.34x
Berwickshire 5 11.92x
Midlothian 5 1.08x
Fife 4 1.95x
Durham 3 0.29x
Hertfordshire 2 0.84x
Lancashire 2 0.05x
Middlesex 2 0.06x
Ayrshire 1 0.39x
Cumberland 1 0.34x
Roxburghshire 1 1.59x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Glasgow in Lanarkshire leads with 38 Aitkenheads recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.11x.

Place Total Index
Glasgow 38 19.11x
Blantyre 32 274.44x
Barony 29 10.23x
Govan 29 10.47x
Eastwood 28 169.39x
Camberwell 24 10.85x
East Kilbride 13 270.83x
Old Kilpatrick 12 109.09x
Abbey 10 24.42x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 10 32.50x
Rutherglen 9 54.78x
Aberlemno 8 672.27x
Inverkip 8 126.38x
Falkirk 7 23.41x
Larbert 7 91.62x
Bonhill 6 40.16x
Byker 6 23.56x
Arbroath 5 47.04x
Earlston 5 238.10x
Kirkliston 5 164.47x
Forfar 4 23.03x
Maryhill 4 18.25x
Monifieth 4 35.30x
Cadder 3 36.28x
Cathcart 3 20.66x
Gateshead 3 3.89x
Linlithgow 3 44.84x
West Greenock 3 6.23x
Cambusnethan 2 8.04x
Ceres 2 81.30x
Kirkintilloch 2 15.82x
Kirknewton East 2 103.09x
Lesmahagow 2 16.89x
Polmont 2 42.37x
Westgate 2 6.27x
Bothwell 1 3.29x
Cambuslang 1 8.86x
Dalziel 1 8.30x
Drymen 1 58.48x
Edinburgh Buccleuch 1 9.12x
Edinburgh Canongate 1 8.47x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 1 0.54x
Elswick 1 2.43x
Great Amwell 1 41.84x
Hawick 1 7.12x
Kennoway 1 53.76x
Lochwinnoch 1 25.00x
Loudoun 1 16.05x
Maghull 1 58.82x
Markinch 1 14.37x
Montrose 1 5.14x
New Kilpatrick 1 11.30x
Paddington London 1 0.79x
Pendlebury 1 11.52x
St Vigeans 1 5.77x
Watford 1 5.40x
Westminster St John 1 2.37x
Whitehaven 1 6.29x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 3
Mary 3
Alice 2
Eliza 2
Emma 2
Sarah 2
Susan 2
Agnes 1
Ann 1
Annie 1
Isabella 1
Margaret 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 5
George 4
James 4
Thomas 4
Charles 3
William 3
Robert 2
Alexander 1
Alfred 1
Edward 1
Francis 1
Jas. 1
Robt. 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 Aitkenhead households.

FAQ

Aitkenhead surname: questions and answers

How common was the Aitkenhead surname in 1881?

In 1881, 356 people were recorded with the Aitkenhead surname. That placed it at #8,665 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Aitkenhead surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 551 in 2016. That gives Aitkenhead a modern rank of #9,266.

What does the Aitkenhead surname mean?

A Scottish locational surname derived from a place near Dalmeny in East Lothian, likely meaning "Aitken's headland."

What does the Aitkenhead map show?

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