NameCensus.

UK surname

Arbuckle

A locality name derived from a place in Scotland, likely meaning "herby pasture" in Scots Gaelic.

In the 1881 census there were 638 people recorded with the Arbuckle surname, ranking it #5,573 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 776, ranked #7,097, down from #5,573 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bothwell, Rutherglen and Govan Combination. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Newburgh, South Angus and Airdrie North.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Arbuckle is 776 in 2013. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 21.6%.

1881 census count

638

Ranked #5,573

Modern count

776

2016, ranked #7,097

Peak year

2013

776 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Arbuckle had 638 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,573 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 776 in 2016, ranked #7,097.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 684 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Arbuckle surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Arbuckle surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Arbuckle 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 392 #6,129
1861 historical 453 #5,718
1881 historical 638 #5,573
1891 historical 644 #6,030
1901 historical 684 #6,394
1911 historical 131 #19,404
1997 modern 717 #7,115
1998 modern 749 #7,107
1999 modern 763 #7,047
2000 modern 771 #6,967
2001 modern 746 #7,017
2002 modern 751 #7,100
2003 modern 729 #7,154
2004 modern 733 #7,141
2005 modern 729 #7,107
2006 modern 710 #7,273
2007 modern 713 #7,328
2008 modern 722 #7,305
2009 modern 754 #7,217
2010 modern 774 #7,206
2011 modern 759 #7,232
2012 modern 768 #7,103
2013 modern 776 #7,148
2014 modern 769 #7,219
2015 modern 775 #7,119
2016 modern 776 #7,097

Geography

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Where Arbuckles are most common

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

The modern local-area list points to Newburgh, South Angus, Airdrie North, Whitlawburn and Greenlees and Westminster. 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 Bothwell Lanark
2 Rutherglen Lanark
3 Govan Combination Lanark
4 Edinburgh Edinburgh
5 Greenock Renfrew

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Newburgh Fife
2 South Angus Angus
3 Airdrie North North Lanarkshire
4 Whitlawburn and Greenlees South Lanarkshire
5 Westminster 023 Westminster

Forenames

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First names often paired with Arbuckle

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Arbuckle

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Arbuckle is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Arbuckle is most concentrated in decile 4 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Arbuckle falls in decile 10 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.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Arbuckle

The surname Arbuckle originated in Scotland, with roots tracing back to the 12th century. It is a locational name derived from the lands of Arbuthnott, located near Stonehaven in Kincardineshire. The name is believed to have evolved from the Gaelic term "ath-buthna," meaning "at the outer hut or dwelling."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which lists David de Arbuthnot as a landowner who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England. The Arbuckles were a prominent family in the region, with connections to the powerful Keith Earls Marischal.

In the 14th century, a branch of the family settled in the county of Ulster, Ireland, where they became established as landowners and played a significant role in the region's history. Notable individuals from this branch include John Arbuckle (1585-1655), a merchant and landowner in County Londonderry.

The Arbuckle name can be found in various historical records and manuscripts throughout the centuries. For instance, Sir Robert Arbuthnot (1552-1630) was a Scottish landowner and politician who served as a member of the Scottish Parliament. Another notable figure was Viscount Thomas Arbuthnot (1776-1868), a British naval officer and diplomat who played a crucial role in the Napoleonic Wars.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Arbuckle was William Arbuckle (c. 1300), a Scottish landowner and military leader who fought in the Wars of Scottish Independence. In the 16th century, James Arbuckle (1537-1605) was a Scottish clergyman and religious reformer who played a significant role in the establishment of Presbyterianism in Scotland.

The name also gained prominence in the United States, where several individuals made their mark in various fields. Amos Arbuckle (1778-1851) was an American businessman and politician who served as a member of the Ohio House of Representatives. Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle (1887-1933) was a famous American actor and comedian during the silent film era.

While the surname Arbuckle has evolved over time, with various spellings such as Arbuthnot and Arbutnott, its roots can be traced back to the Scottish lands of Arbuthnott, where the name originated and gained prominence throughout the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Arbuckle families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Arbuckle 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 307 Arbuckles recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.28x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 307 15.28x
Renfrewshire 68 14.12x
Midlothian 60 7.21x
Ayrshire 46 9.89x
Stirlingshire 30 13.09x
West Lothian 23 24.58x
Northumberland 18 1.95x
Dunbartonshire 10 5.99x
Hampshire 10 0.79x
Yorkshire 10 0.16x
Durham 9 0.49x
Kent 9 0.42x
Cumberland 8 1.50x
Lancashire 7 0.09x
Isle of Man 4 3.47x
Kirkcudbrightshire 4 4.45x
Gloucestershire 3 0.25x
Aberdeenshire 2 0.35x
Cheshire 2 0.15x
Clackmannanshire 2 3.90x
Inverness-shire 2 1.08x
Buteshire 1 2.66x
Middlesex 1 0.02x
Roxburghshire 1 0.89x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Barony in Lanarkshire leads with 69 Arbuckles recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.57x.

Place Total Index
Barony 69 13.57x
Glasgow 60 16.81x
Cambuslang 37 182.63x
Rutherglen 31 105.16x
Eastwood 30 101.15x
Govan 27 5.43x
Blantyre 23 109.94x
West Greenock 20 23.14x
Cambusnethan 15 33.61x
Falkirk 15 27.96x
Kilmarnock 14 25.29x
Bothwell 13 23.85x
Hamilton 12 21.41x
Irvine 12 92.88x
Kirknewton 11 460.25x
Newcastle On Tyne St 11 22.95x
Cathcart 10 38.39x
Kirkliston 10 183.15x
Old Monkland 10 12.54x
Stranton 9 14.46x
Cramond 8 126.78x
Currie 8 156.86x
Gorbals 8 67.06x
Kirkoswald 8 210.53x
West Calder 8 48.75x
Ayr 6 27.33x
Edinburgh Canongate 6 28.33x
Inveresk 6 26.62x
Torphichen 6 184.05x
Caldewgate 5 17.06x
Inverkip 5 44.05x
Linlithgow 5 41.67x
Loudoun 5 44.72x
Minster In Sheppey 5 14.24x
New Kilpatrick 5 31.49x
Ryde 5 18.27x
Strathblane 5 174.83x
Thorne 5 65.45x
Borgue 4 165.98x
Bothkennar 4 58.48x
Cheriton 4 46.30x
Denny 4 32.81x
Freshwater 4 68.73x
Lasswade 4 21.02x
Longbenton 4 10.21x
Onchan 4 12.03x
Bonhill 3 11.19x
Clifton 3 4.87x
Sebergham 3 254.24x
Shipley 3 9.39x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 2 1.86x
Airth 2 68.73x
Alloa 2 8.04x
Byker 2 4.38x
Duddingston 2 11.97x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 2 0.60x
Everton 2 0.85x
South Leith 2 2.14x
Uphall 2 19.44x
Wardleworth 2 4.75x
West Derby 2 0.93x
Abbey 1 1.36x
Barra 1 21.60x
Bradford 1 0.67x
Chelsea London 1 0.53x
Colinton 1 10.78x
Dumbarton 1 4.30x
Dundonald 1 5.83x
Glencorse 1 31.25x
Lower Bebington 1 12.27x
Mearns 1 11.85x
Melrose 1 10.28x
Mid Calder 1 27.70x
North Uist 1 13.81x
Rothesay 1 5.49x
Row 1 4.63x
South Blyth Newsham 1 54.95x
St Helens 1 10.80x
Stanley Cum Wrenthorpe 1 3.50x
Tranmere 1 1.98x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 6
Margaret 4
Elizabeth 3
Ann 2
Annie 2
Jemima 2
Jessie 2
Martha 2
Agnes 1
Edith 1
Effie 1
Elizth.A. 1
Ellen 1
Emma 1
Grace 1
Helen 1
Honora 1
Isabella 1
Jannet 1
Judith 1
Julia 1
Marion 1
Sibyl 1
Susan 1
Wilhelmina 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Hugh 4
James 4
John 4
Joseph 4
George 3
Andrew 2
Archibald 2
Charles 2
Francis 2
Robert 2
Alexander 1
Andren 1
Bertram 1
Edmund 1
Ernest 1
Harry 1
Henry 1
Robt. 1
Walter 1
William 1
Wm. 1
Wm.A. 1

FAQ

Arbuckle surname: questions and answers

How common was the Arbuckle surname in 1881?

In 1881, 638 people were recorded with the Arbuckle surname. That placed it at #5,573 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Arbuckle surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 776 in 2016. That gives Arbuckle a modern rank of #7,097.

What does the Arbuckle surname mean?

A locality name derived from a place in Scotland, likely meaning "herby pasture" in Scots Gaelic.

What does the Arbuckle map show?

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