NameCensus.

UK surname

Beirne

Of possible Irish origin, referring to someone from or associated with Beirne.

In the 1881 census there were 71 people recorded with the Beirne surname, ranking it #23,517 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 928, ranked #6,158, up from #23,517 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Tamworth, Wrexham and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include St. Helens, Bristol and Cheshire East.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Beirne is 947 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 1207.0%.

1881 census count

71

Ranked #23,517

Modern count

928

2016, ranked #6,158

Peak year

2014

947 bearers

Map years

5

1901 to 2016

Key insights

  • Beirne had 71 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #23,517 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 928 in 2016, ranked #6,158.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 184 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Beirne surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Beirne surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Beirne 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 19 #29,904
1861 historical 24 #30,922
1881 historical 71 #23,517
1891 historical 70 #28,073
1901 historical 149 #18,146
1911 historical 184 #15,742
1997 modern 879 #6,077
1998 modern 923 #6,033
1999 modern 921 #6,092
2000 modern 899 #6,182
2001 modern 883 #6,160
2002 modern 915 #6,129
2003 modern 892 #6,134
2004 modern 893 #6,132
2005 modern 888 #6,084
2006 modern 890 #6,095
2007 modern 879 #6,204
2008 modern 904 #6,110
2009 modern 927 #6,111
2010 modern 945 #6,145
2011 modern 940 #6,113
2012 modern 924 #6,125
2013 modern 936 #6,166
2014 modern 947 #6,143
2015 modern 920 #6,228
2016 modern 928 #6,158

Geography

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Where Beirnes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Tamworth, Wrexham, London parishes, Edinburgh and Manchester. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to St. Helens, Bristol, Cheshire East, Rossendale and East Northamptonshire. 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 Tamworth Staffordshire
2 Wrexham Denbighshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Edinburgh Edinburgh
5 Manchester Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 St. Helens 007 St. Helens
2 Bristol 019 Bristol, City of
3 Cheshire East 019 Cheshire East
4 Rossendale 002 Rossendale
5 East Northamptonshire 008 East Northamptonshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Beirne

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Beirne

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Established Multi-Ethnic Communities

Nationally, the Beirne surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established Multi-Ethnic Communities, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Beirne household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Parents and young children in this Group are drawn from diverse ethnic backgrounds in broadly similar proportions. Employment is typically in elementary occupations, though workers in professional, intermediate or skilled trades occupations are also present. The residential landscape is dominated by terraced housing, although semi-detached houses and flats are also present. This Group is found in London and in many provincial towns and cities throughout the U.K.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Beirne is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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 residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Beirne is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Beirne 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 Beirne is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Beirne

The surname Beirne is of Irish origin, originating from the Gaelic Ó Béirn or Ó Broin, meaning descendant of Bran or Bron. The name is derived from the Gaelic word "bran," which means raven, and was likely originally a nickname given to someone with dark hair or complexion.

The Beirne family was prominent in County Roscommon, Ireland, where they were a branch of the powerful Uí Briúin dynasty that ruled the area from the 5th to the 12th century. The name is first recorded in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history, in the entry for the year 1171, where a certain Gilla-na-naemh Ó Béirn is mentioned.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name is in the Pipe Rolls of Cloyne, a record of tax payments made to the Church in County Cork, Ireland, in 1291, where a William Berne is listed. The name also appears in the Annals of Ulster, another important chronicle of Irish history, in the entry for 1387, where a Muircheartach Ó Béirn is mentioned.

In the 16th century, the Beirne family was prominent in the area around Lough Gara in County Sligo, where they held the hereditary position of Chief of Tir Briuin. One notable member of the family was Tadhg Ó Beirne, who died in 1598, and was described as "a learned historian and a wealthy man."

Other notable individuals with the surname Beirne throughout history include:

1. Laurence Beirne (c. 1690-1778), an Irish-born soldier who served in the French and Spanish armies and became Governor of Campeche, Mexico.

2. Francis Beirne (1805-1868), an Irish-born prelate who served as Bishop of Clogher in Ireland.

3. David Beirne (1833-1905), an Irish-born lawyer and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for County Leitrim.

4. Alfred Beirne (1845-1918), an Irish-born industrialist and philanthropist who founded the Beirne Machine Works in Omaha, Nebraska.

5. Francis Beirne (1856-1924), an Irish-born soldier who served in the British Army and was awarded the Victoria Cross, the highest military honor in the British Empire.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Beirne families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Beirne 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. Denbighshire leads with 20 Beirnes recorded in 1881 and an index of 76.48x.

County Total Index
Denbighshire 20 76.48x
Lancashire 12 1.46x
Yorkshire 9 1.31x
Lanarkshire 8 3.57x
Midlothian 6 6.47x
Staffordshire 6 2.57x
Cheshire 4 2.62x
Shropshire 2 3.34x
Sussex 2 1.71x
Middlesex 1 0.14x
Worcestershire 1 1.11x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Wrexham Abbot in Denbighshire leads with 15 Beirnes recorded in 1881 and an index of 2272.73x.

Place Total Index
Wrexham Abbot 15 2272.73x
Widnes 9 151.77x
Govan 8 14.45x
Duddingston 5 268.82x
Esclusham Below 4 1666.67x
Tranmere 4 71.17x
Huddersfield 3 30.00x
Lytham 3 240.00x
Wigginton 3 1500.00x
Wooldale 3 258.62x
Brighton 2 8.49x
Shrewsbury St Julian 2 135.14x
Trentham 2 100.50x
Blithfield 1 1428.57x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 1 2.68x
Hackney London 1 2.58x
Kirkby Overblow 1 1666.67x
Leeds 1 2.58x
Worcester St Martin 1 81.97x
Wortley In Bramley 1 18.42x
Wrexham Regis 1 51.55x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 4
Charlotte 2
Jane 2
Margaret 2
A. 1
Ann 1
Anne 1
Catherine 1
Clara 1
Elizabeth 1
Florence 1
Franesina 1
Hannah 1
Kate 1
L. 1
L.M. 1
Winifred 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Beirne surname: questions and answers

How common was the Beirne surname in 1881?

In 1881, 71 people were recorded with the Beirne surname. That placed it at #23,517 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Beirne surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 928 in 2016. That gives Beirne a modern rank of #6,158.

What does the Beirne surname mean?

Of possible Irish origin, referring to someone from or associated with Beirne.

What does the Beirne map show?

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