NameCensus.

UK surname

Archibald

Derived from the Germanic elements ercan, meaning "genuine" or "precious," and bald, meaning "bold" or "brave."

In the 1881 census there were 2,623 people recorded with the Archibald surname, ranking it #1,693 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 3,707, ranked #1,835, down from #1,693 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Inveresk, Alloa and Govan Combination. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Loanhead, IZ09 and Winchburgh, Bridgend and Philpstoun.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Archibald is 3,764 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 41.3%.

1881 census count

2,623

Ranked #1,693

Modern count

3,707

2016, ranked #1,835

Peak year

2010

3,764 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Archibald had 2,623 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,693 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 3,707 in 2016, ranked #1,835.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 3,234 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Archibald surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Archibald surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Archibald 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 1,741 #1,657
1861 historical 1,914 #1,519
1881 historical 2,623 #1,693
1891 historical 2,935 #1,602
1901 historical 3,234 #1,729
1911 historical 794 #5,500
1997 modern 3,579 #1,811
1998 modern 3,672 #1,834
1999 modern 3,705 #1,836
2000 modern 3,734 #1,803
2001 modern 3,602 #1,830
2002 modern 3,680 #1,838
2003 modern 3,615 #1,830
2004 modern 3,615 #1,829
2005 modern 3,613 #1,808
2006 modern 3,614 #1,804
2007 modern 3,605 #1,827
2008 modern 3,639 #1,821
2009 modern 3,676 #1,847
2010 modern 3,764 #1,849
2011 modern 3,677 #1,868
2012 modern 3,644 #1,851
2013 modern 3,689 #1,858
2014 modern 3,738 #1,851
2015 modern 3,713 #1,839
2016 modern 3,707 #1,835

Geography

Back to top

Where Archibalds are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Inveresk, Alloa, Govan Combination, 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 Loanhead, IZ09, Winchburgh, Bridgend and Philpstoun, Penicuik North and IZ05. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Inveresk Edinburgh
2 Alloa Clackmannan
3 Govan Combination Lanark
4 Edinburgh Edinburgh
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Loanhead Midlothian
2 IZ09 East Lothian
3 Winchburgh, Bridgend and Philpstoun West Lothian
4 Penicuik North Midlothian
5 IZ05 East Lothian

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Archibald

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Archibald

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

Legacy Communities

Group

Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities

Nationally, the Archibald surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Archibald household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Households in these areas often include divorced or separated parents and commonly include children and young adults. The age structure is heavily skewed towards the most advanced age groups. Individuals identifying as members of ethnic minorities are not present in large numbers. Flats predominate, with some terraced, semi-detached, and detached units. Multiple car ownership is low, and housing is predominantly in the private and social rented sectors. Employment is less skewed towards traditional routine industrial occupations. Levels of educational attainment are generally low. The Group occurs principally in the Central Lowlands of Scotland and other Scottish towns.

Wider pattern

These neighbourhoods characteristically comprise pockets of flats that are scattered across the UK, particularly in towns that retain or have legacies of heavy industry or are in more remote seaside locations. Employed residents of these neighbourhoods work mainly in low-skilled occupations. Residents typically have limited educational qualifications. Unemployment is above average. Some residents live in overcrowded housing within the social rented sector and experience long-term disability. All adult age groups are represented, although there is an overall age bias towards elderly people in general and the very old in particular. Individuals identifying as belonging to ethnic minorities or Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups are uncommon.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Archibald 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

Archibald 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

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

Meaning and origin of Archibald

The surname Archibald is of Scottish origin, derived from the Gaelic personal name Gilleasbaig, which means "true leader of men." The name is believed to have originated in the 12th century in the Highlands of Scotland.

Archibald is a combination of the Gaelic elements "ard," meaning "high" or "elevated," and "bald," meaning "prince" or "leader." This suggests that the name was likely borne by someone of high rank or authority in the early days of Scottish clans.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Archibald is found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which was a record of Scottish nobles who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England. The name appears as "Archibaldus de Duglas," referring to a member of the powerful Douglas family.

In the 14th century, Archibald Douglas, Lord of Galloway, was a prominent Scottish noble and a supporter of Robert the Bruce in the Scottish Wars of Independence. He played a crucial role in the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314, where the Scots defeated the English army.

Another notable figure bearing the name Archibald was Archibald Campbell, 9th Earl of Argyll (1629-1685), a Scottish nobleman and soldier who played a significant role in the Glorious Revolution of 1688, which led to the overthrow of King James II of England and the establishment of the constitutional monarchy.

In the 16th century, the name Archibald was also associated with the powerful Clan Macnab, who were based in the Loch Tay area of Perthshire. The clan's ancestral lands included the lands of Bovain and Innis-abhric, which may have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the name Archibald.

Other notable individuals with the surname Archibald throughout history include Archibald Primrose, 5th Earl of Rosebery (1847-1929), a British statesman who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1894 to 1895, and Archibald Peyton Carr (1909-1987), an American military officer and diplomat who served as the United States Ambassador to Panama from 1964 to 1967.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Archibald families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Archibald 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. Midlothian leads with 580 Archibalds recorded in 1881 and an index of 17.17x.

County Total Index
Midlothian 580 17.17x
Lanarkshire 315 3.86x
Aberdeenshire 181 7.75x
Fife 146 9.78x
Clackmannanshire 127 60.98x
Stirlingshire 121 13.01x
Ayrshire 102 5.40x
Middlesex 90 0.36x
East Lothian 83 24.85x
Renfrewshire 83 4.25x
Lancashire 70 0.23x
Angus 58 2.48x
Perthshire 56 4.95x
Morayshire 54 13.78x
Dunbartonshire 49 7.23x
Kincardineshire 45 14.65x
Surrey 43 0.35x
Peeblesshire 36 30.35x
Banffshire 34 6.50x
Roxburghshire 33 7.22x
Yorkshire 29 0.12x
Cumberland 28 1.29x
Hampshire 23 0.45x
Northumberland 22 0.59x
Berwickshire 21 6.88x
Durham 20 0.27x
West Lothian 17 4.48x
Cheshire 16 0.29x
Kinross-shire 14 21.96x
Inverness-shire 11 1.46x
Selkirkshire 10 4.38x
Kent 9 0.10x
Staffordshire 9 0.11x
Dumfriesshire 8 1.44x
Essex 8 0.16x
Argyllshire 7 1.00x
Devon 6 0.11x
Gloucestershire 5 0.10x
Orkney 3 1.08x
Suffolk 2 0.07x
Warwickshire 2 0.03x
Anglesey 1 0.22x
Denbighshire 1 0.11x
Glamorgan 1 0.02x
Herefordshire 1 0.10x
Hertfordshire 1 0.06x
Radnorshire 1 0.49x
Ross-shire 1 0.14x
Royal Navy 1 0.33x
Sussex 1 0.02x

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 199 Archibalds recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.64x.

Place Total Index
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 199 14.64x
Barony 97 4.70x
Alloa 89 88.13x
Inveresk 89 97.31x
South Leith 56 14.73x
Govan 45 2.23x
Glasgow 41 2.83x
Lasswade 41 53.08x
Dalry 38 42.79x
Innerleithen 33 104.83x
Tranent 33 73.12x
Falkirk 30 13.78x
Leslie 29 76.72x
Edinburgh Buccleuch 26 32.54x
Bothwell 25 11.30x
Duddingston 23 33.92x
Hamilton 23 10.11x
Abbotshall 22 39.44x
Bonhill 22 20.22x
Edinburgh Canongate 20 23.26x
Elgin 20 26.24x
Blackburn 19 2.39x
Camberwell 19 1.18x
Clackmannan 19 48.27x
Dunfermline 19 8.28x
Glass 19 213.00x
Shettleston 19 26.02x
Slamannan 19 37.31x
Huntly 18 47.37x
Loudoun 18 39.66x
Stirling 18 15.35x
Islington London 17 0.70x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 16 3.66x
Aberdour 15 99.73x
Leochel Cushnie 15 142.59x
Old Monkland 15 4.63x
St Ninians 15 16.27x
Aberdeen Old Machar 14 2.87x
Kilbarchan 14 23.58x
Monifieth 14 16.97x
Muirkirk 14 31.59x
Newton 14 123.24x
Rothiemay 14 118.04x
St Pancras London 14 0.69x
West Greenock 14 3.99x
Cockpen 13 32.93x
Dalkeith 13 19.50x
Dalserf 13 15.97x
Kensington London 13 0.93x
Paddington London 13 1.40x
Pencaitland 13 136.55x
Brechin 12 13.07x
Dundee 12 1.38x
Edinburgh St Georges 12 17.12x
Edinburgh St Marys 12 18.27x
Orwell 12 68.30x
Tillicoultry 12 25.90x
Urquhart 12 64.83x
Alva 11 24.80x
Avondale 11 23.07x
East Greenock 11 5.96x
Eckford 11 139.06x
Fettercairn 11 84.23x
Gateshead 11 1.96x
Middlesbrough 11 3.38x
Old Kilpatrick 11 13.74x
St Andrews 11 16.20x
Westgate 11 4.73x
Flimby 10 54.53x
Kingussie Insh 10 57.90x
Millbrook 10 7.68x
Perth East Church 10 9.37x
Tough 10 169.49x
Colinton 9 23.89x
Dalziel 9 10.26x
Dysart 9 8.95x
Lambeth 9 0.41x
Liff Benvie 9 2.54x
New Spynie 9 63.83x
Penicuik 9 19.61x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 29
Jane 12
Elizabeth 11
Ann 9
Catherine 8
Sarah 8
Alice 7
Eliza 7
Margaret 7
Annie 6
Agnes 5
Edith 4
Clara 3
Ellen 3
Emma 3
Frances 3
Hannah 3
Amelia 2
Anne 2
Emily 2
Fanny 2
Florence 2
Grace 2
Harriet 2
Helen 2
Isabella 2
Livinia 2
Louisa 2
Maria 2
Marian 2
Martha 2
Matilda 2
Rose 2
Roseann 2
Sar. 2
Blanche 1
Catharihe 1
Catharine 1
Cecelia 1
E.M. 1
Ethel 1
Evelyn 1
Fannie 1
Janet 1
Jessie 1
June 1
Kate 1
Kathleen 1
Laura 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 27
William 24
James 22
George 15
Thomas 10
Robert 9
Alfred 6
David 6
Charles 5
Alexander 4
Henry 4
Joseph 4
Richard 4
Nicholas 3
Arthur 2
Daniel 2
Edward 2
Geo. 2
Peter 2
Walter 2
Abraham 1
Adam 1
Albert 1
Alexder. 1
Clarence 1
Douglas 1
Edmund 1
Elexander 1
Firth 1
Fred 1
Frederick 1
Geo 1
Harris 1
Hugh 1
Jas. 1
Lewis 1
Malcolm 1
Meredith 1
Nicolas 1
Patrick 1
Roderic 1
Samuel 1
Spencer 1
Tom 1
Willer 1
Willie 1
Wilson 1
Wilton 1
Wm.Hodgson 1

FAQ

Archibald surname: questions and answers

How common was the Archibald surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,623 people were recorded with the Archibald surname. That placed it at #1,693 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Archibald surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 3,707 in 2016. That gives Archibald a modern rank of #1,835.

What does the Archibald surname mean?

Derived from the Germanic elements ercan, meaning "genuine" or "precious," and bald, meaning "bold" or "brave."

What does the Archibald map show?

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