NameCensus.

UK surname

Alcorn

A Scottish and northern English habitational surname derived from a place name meaning "rocky hill" or "at the horn-shaped hill."

In the 1881 census there were 239 people recorded with the Alcorn surname, ranking it #11,446 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 516, ranked #9,778, up from #11,446 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Tunbridge, Bidborough, London parishes and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Hillhead, Maidstone and Knightswood East.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Alcorn is 516 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 115.9%.

1881 census count

239

Ranked #11,446

Modern count

516

2016, ranked #9,778

Peak year

2016

516 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Alcorn had 239 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,446 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 516 in 2016, ranked #9,778.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 287 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Alcorn surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Alcorn surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Alcorn 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 130 #14,314
1861 historical 148 #15,452
1881 historical 239 #11,446
1891 historical 287 #11,473
1901 historical 283 #12,117
1911 historical 113 #21,168
1997 modern 455 #9,985
1998 modern 477 #9,955
1999 modern 477 #10,014
2000 modern 482 #9,901
2001 modern 469 #9,927
2002 modern 490 #9,771
2003 modern 478 #9,807
2004 modern 467 #10,013
2005 modern 465 #9,958
2006 modern 481 #9,750
2007 modern 470 #10,012
2008 modern 483 #9,890
2009 modern 488 #10,048
2010 modern 489 #10,228
2011 modern 500 #9,952
2012 modern 503 #9,819
2013 modern 513 #9,839
2014 modern 511 #9,927
2015 modern 514 #9,823
2016 modern 516 #9,778

Geography

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Where Alcorns are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Tunbridge, Bidborough, London parishes, Edinburgh, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry and Alyth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Hillhead, Maidstone, Knightswood East, Cowal North and Duddingston and Portobello South. 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 Tunbridge, Bidborough Kent
2 London parishes London 3
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar
5 Alyth Perth

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Hillhead Glasgow City
2 Maidstone 002 Maidstone
3 Knightswood East Glasgow City
4 Cowal North Argyll and Bute
5 Duddingston and Portobello South City of Edinburgh

Forenames

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First names often paired with Alcorn

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Alcorn

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Alcorn surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Alcorn household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Alcorn is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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 concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Alcorn 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

Alcorn falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Alcorn 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 - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Alcorn

The surname Alcorn originated in Scotland during the Middle Ages. It is a locational name derived from the place name Allcorn, which is believed to come from the Scots Gaelic words "ail" meaning "rock" and "corn" meaning "horn" or "promontory." This suggests that the name likely referred to a rocky headland or promontory.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the name dates back to the 13th century, when it appeared in the form "de Aluecorne" in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which recorded the names of Scottish landowners who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England. This early spelling variation highlights the name's Scottish roots.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in various spellings, including "Aulcorne" and "Alecorne," in records from the counties of Dumfriesshire and Ayrshire, where the name is believed to have originated. These records suggest that the Alcorn family held lands in these areas during this time period.

One notable bearer of the Alcorn surname was John Alcorn, a Scottish clergyman who lived in the 16th century. He served as the minister of the parish of Prestonpans in East Lothian and was known for his religious writings and teachings.

In the 17th century, the name appeared in the form "Alquhorn" in the Inquisitionum ad Capellam Domini Regis Retornatarum, a record of land ownership in Scotland. This document mentions an individual named Robert Alquhorn, who held lands in the county of Ayrshire.

Another prominent figure with the Alcorn surname was Sir John Alcorn, a Scottish soldier who lived in the 18th century. He served in the British Army and rose to the rank of lieutenant-general, participating in several notable battles during the Seven Years' War.

During the 19th century, the Alcorn family continued to have a presence in Scotland, with individuals bearing the name appearing in various records and documents. One such individual was James Alcorn, a Scottish businessman and philanthropist who lived from 1838 to 1916. He made significant contributions to the town of Paisley, where he established a public park and funded the construction of several buildings.

The name Alcorn has also been found in other parts of the United Kingdom, including England and Ireland, likely due to migration and the spread of Scottish families over time. However, its origins can be traced back to the rocky landscapes of Scotland, where it first emerged as a locational surname centuries ago.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Alcorn families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Alcorn 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 42 Alcorns recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.69x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 42 5.69x
Kent 35 4.49x
Renfrewshire 25 14.13x
Midlothian 14 4.58x
Aberdeenshire 13 6.15x
Perthshire 13 12.69x
Oxfordshire 12 8.51x
Sussex 11 2.86x
Durham 9 1.33x
Middlesex 9 0.39x
Ayrshire 7 4.10x
Lancashire 7 0.26x
Angus 6 2.84x
Northumberland 6 1.77x
Selkirkshire 5 24.21x
Argyllshire 4 6.30x
Berwickshire 4 14.47x
Surrey 4 0.36x
Nottinghamshire 2 0.65x
Roxburghshire 2 4.84x
Norfolk 1 0.28x
Royal Navy 1 3.68x
Shropshire 1 0.51x
Wigtownshire 1 3.30x

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 14 Alcorns recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.68x.

Place Total Index
Glasgow 14 10.68x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 13 32.87x
Alyth 13 471.01x
Barony 13 6.96x
Horsemonden 12 1052.63x
New Monkland 11 50.41x
Oxford St Clement 10 280.90x
East Greenock 8 47.90x
West Greenock 8 25.20x
Cranbrook 7 212.12x
Paisley High Church 7 49.72x
Tanfield 7 86.74x
Woolwich 7 24.33x
Barrow In Furness 6 16.29x
Dundee 6 7.60x
Tonbridge 6 21.36x
Galston 5 107.07x
Melrose 5 96.15x
North Leith 5 35.34x
St Pancras London 5 2.72x
Kilmore Kilbride 4 99.26x
South Leith 4 11.62x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 3 2.44x
Govan 3 1.64x
Greenlaw 3 306.12x
Hythe St Leonard 3 109.09x
Morwick 3 4285.71x
Basford 2 14.10x
Bishopwearmouth 2 3.43x
Buxted 2 132.45x
Camberwell 2 1.37x
Chailey 2 168.07x
Guyzance 2 1428.57x
Isfield 2 571.43x
Islington London 2 0.90x
Oxford St Ebbe 2 48.19x
Rotherfield 2 59.00x
Sprouston 2 250.00x
Worth 2 71.68x
Amble 1 64.52x
Bromley London 1 1.99x
Carluke 1 14.93x
Charlwood 1 93.46x
Currie 1 53.48x
Ditchingham 1 119.05x
Eastwood 1 9.18x
Edinburgh Canongate 1 12.85x
Inch 1 33.90x
Kilmarnock 1 4.92x
Lambeth 1 0.50x
Manchester 1 0.82x
Oldbury 1 500.00x
Paisley Middle Church 1 9.71x
Polworth 1 555.56x
Royal Navy 1 4.30x
St George Hanover Square 1 2.49x
Tarbolton 1 35.59x
Waldron 1 95.24x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 7
Jane 5
Elizabeth 4
Alice 3
Ellen 2
Emily 2
Janet 2
Louisa 2
Sarah 2
Ann 1
Annie 1
Eleanor 1
Eliza 1
Emma 1
Eugenie 1
Flora 1
Grace 1
Harriett 1
Isabella 1
Kate 1
Lydia 1
Margaret 1
Margiet 1
Margt. 1
Matilda 1
Portia 1
Wilhelmina 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 10
John 7
Thomas 6
George 4
James 4
Andrew 2
Edward 2
Henry 2
Robert 2
Albert 1
Alexander 1
Alfred 1
David 1
Frederick 1
Geo. 1
Harry 1
Jabez 1
Lionel 1
Nicholas 1
Thos. 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Alcorn surname: questions and answers

How common was the Alcorn surname in 1881?

In 1881, 239 people were recorded with the Alcorn surname. That placed it at #11,446 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Alcorn surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 516 in 2016. That gives Alcorn a modern rank of #9,778.

What does the Alcorn surname mean?

A Scottish and northern English habitational surname derived from a place name meaning "rocky hill" or "at the horn-shaped hill."

What does the Alcorn map show?

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