UK surname
A Scottish surname derived from "Erchebald" meaning "genuine prince" or "true prince".
In the 1881 census there were 83 people recorded with the Archbald surname, ranking it #21,808 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 9, ranked #37,705, down from #21,808 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Kelso, Borrowstounness and Carriden and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Archbald is 133 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 89.2%.
1881 census count
83
Ranked #21,808
Modern count
9
2016, ranked #37,705
Peak year
1861
133 bearers
Map years
2
1851 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Archbald surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Archbald surname density by area, 1861 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 132 | #14,174 |
| 1861 | historical | 133 | #16,835 |
| 1881 | historical | 83 | #21,808 |
| 1891 | historical | 58 | #29,439 |
| 1901 | historical | 39 | #29,799 |
| 1911 | historical | 33 | #29,703 |
| 1997 | modern | 11 | #36,912 |
| 1998 | modern | 14 | #36,565 |
| 1999 | modern | 12 | #36,806 |
| 2000 | modern | 12 | #36,749 |
| 2001 | modern | 10 | #36,852 |
| 2002 | modern | 8 | #37,206 |
| 2003 | modern | 10 | #36,964 |
| 2004 | modern | 9 | #37,213 |
| 2005 | modern | 7 | #37,581 |
| 2006 | modern | 8 | #37,481 |
| 2007 | modern | 9 | #37,435 |
| 2008 | modern | 10 | #37,371 |
| 2009 | modern | 10 | #37,446 |
| 2010 | modern | 11 | #37,411 |
| 2011 | modern | 11 | #37,397 |
| 2012 | modern | 12 | #37,292 |
| 2013 | modern | 10 | #37,539 |
| 2014 | modern | 9 | #37,679 |
| 2015 | modern | 8 | #37,797 |
| 2016 | modern | 9 | #37,705 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Kelso, Borrowstounness and Carriden, St Pancras, 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 No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kelso | Roxburgh |
| 2 | Borrowstounness and Carriden | Linlithgow |
| 3 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| 4 | Edinburgh | Edinburgh |
| 5 | Glasgow | Lanark |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Archbald surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Archbald, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Archbald surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Archbald household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Archbald is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Archbald is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Archbald, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname ARCHBALD is believed to have originated in Scotland during the medieval period, possibly as early as the 12th century. It is thought to be derived from the Old English words "arcebald" or "arcebolde," which can be translated to mean "bold archer" or "brave archer."
One of the earliest known references to the ARCHBALD surname can be found in the records of the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland from the year 1264, where a person named Archibald de Dunfermeline is mentioned. This suggests that the name may have been associated with the town of Dunfermline in Fife, Scotland.
In the 14th century, the ARCHBALD surname appears in the Ragman Rolls, a collection of homage rolls and treaties from the reigns of King John and King Edward I of England. This document includes the names of Scottish landowners who swore allegiance to the English crown during the Scottish Wars of Independence.
One of the most notable historical figures bearing the ARCHBALD surname was Archibald Douglas, Earl of Angus (c. 1609-1655), a Scottish nobleman and military commander who played a significant role in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. He was known for his loyalty to the Scottish Covenanter cause and his opposition to the policies of King Charles I.
Another prominent individual with the ARCHBALD surname was Sir Archibald Alison (1792-1867), a Scottish historian and lawyer who wrote extensively on the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. His most famous work, "History of Europe during the French Revolution," was widely read and influential in its time.
In the 19th century, Archibald Campbell Tait (1811-1882) served as the Archbishop of Canterbury from 1868 until his death. He was an important figure in the Church of England and played a significant role in the debate over the reform of the ecclesiastical courts.
Sir Archibald Geikie (1835-1924) was a renowned Scottish geologist and writer who made significant contributions to the study of geology and the understanding of the Earth's history. He served as the Director-General of the Geological Survey of Great Britain and Ireland from 1882 to 1901.
Archibald Henry Sayce (1845-1933) was an English Assyriologist and philologist who made important contributions to the decipherment and translation of ancient Mesopotamian cuneiform inscriptions. He was a pioneer in the field of Assyriology and helped establish it as an academic discipline.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Archbald surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Durham leads with 13 Archbalds recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.40x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Durham | 13 | 5.40x |
| Middlesex | 13 | 1.61x |
| Aberdeenshire | 12 | 16.01x |
| Northumberland | 11 | 9.13x |
| Angus | 7 | 9.33x |
| Renfrewshire | 6 | 9.56x |
| Yorkshire | 6 | 0.75x |
| Devon | 5 | 2.97x |
| Selkirkshire | 4 | 54.64x |
| Roxburghshire | 2 | 13.64x |
| Fife | 1 | 2.09x |
| Kincardineshire | 1 | 10.14x |
| Lancashire | 1 | 0.10x |
| Suffolk | 1 | 1.01x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Auchindoir Kearn in Aberdeenshire leads with 7 Archbalds recorded in 1881 and an index of 1666.67x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Auchindoir Kearn | 7 | 1666.67x |
| Hedworth Monkton Jarrow | 7 | 67.11x |
| Islington London | 7 | 8.92x |
| Paisley High Church | 6 | 120.24x |
| Elford | 5 | 25000.00x |
| Menmuir | 5 | 2380.95x |
| Stoke Damerel | 5 | 42.41x |
| Thornaby | 5 | 166.67x |
| Berwick Upon Tweed | 4 | 156.86x |
| Galashiels | 4 | 147.60x |
| Houghton Le Spring | 4 | 240.96x |
| Spitalfields London | 4 | 65.68x |
| Cluny | 2 | 555.56x |
| Dundee | 2 | 7.14x |
| Kelso | 2 | 136.99x |
| Monkwearmouth Shore | 2 | 42.55x |
| Aberdeen Old Machar | 1 | 6.39x |
| Banchory Devenick | 1 | 108.70x |
| Cupar | 1 | 48.08x |
| Drumblade | 1 | 370.37x |
| Featherstone | 1 | 111.11x |
| Gorleston | 1 | 40.00x |
| Kensington London | 1 | 2.22x |
| Newcastle On Tyne St | 1 | 16.03x |
| Premnay | 1 | 384.62x |
| St Pancras London | 1 | 1.53x |
| Tweedmouth | 1 | 66.67x |
| Warrington | 1 | 8.78x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Archbald surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Archbald surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Archbald households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 10 |
| Accountant | 1 |
| Auctioneer | 1 |
| Bill Poster | 1 |
| Carpenter & Joiner | 1 |
| Carpenter Ship | 1 |
| Coal Miner | 1 |
| Compositor | 1 |
| Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Dressmaker | 1 |
| Engine Man At Works (Dr) | 1 |
| Engineers Wife R N | 1 |
| French Polisher | 1 |
| Housekeeper | 1 |
| Lab | 1 |
| Laundress | 1 |
| Lodging Housekeeper | 1 |
| Pastry Cook | 1 |
| Retired Miller | 1 |
| Salmon Fisherman | 1 |
| Servant (Domestic) | 1 |
| Stationers Asst | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 83 people were recorded with the Archbald surname. That placed it at #21,808 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 9 in 2016. That gives Archbald a modern rank of #37,705.
A Scottish surname derived from "Erchebald" meaning "genuine prince" or "true prince".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Archbald bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.