NameCensus.

UK surname

Binnie

A surname of Scottish origin, derived from a place name or perhaps an occupational name.

In the 1881 census there were 1,260 people recorded with the Binnie surname, ranking it #3,233 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,753, ranked #3,579, down from #3,233 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Larbert, Ratho and Govan Combination. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Grangemouth - Kersiebank, Fankerton, Stoneywood and Denny Town and Grangemouth - Newlands.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Binnie is 1,787 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 39.1%.

1881 census count

1,260

Ranked #3,233

Modern count

1,753

2016, ranked #3,579

Peak year

2000

1,787 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Binnie had 1,260 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,233 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,753 in 2016, ranked #3,579.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,756 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Binnie surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Binnie surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Binnie 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 639 #4,063
1861 historical 730 #3,732
1881 historical 1,260 #3,233
1891 historical 1,503 #2,930
1901 historical 1,756 #2,956
1911 historical 268 #12,332
1997 modern 1,682 #3,543
1998 modern 1,752 #3,546
1999 modern 1,762 #3,542
2000 modern 1,787 #3,483
2001 modern 1,710 #3,560
2002 modern 1,715 #3,627
2003 modern 1,693 #3,592
2004 modern 1,689 #3,602
2005 modern 1,720 #3,503
2006 modern 1,712 #3,521
2007 modern 1,704 #3,565
2008 modern 1,713 #3,573
2009 modern 1,721 #3,628
2010 modern 1,774 #3,606
2011 modern 1,713 #3,671
2012 modern 1,686 #3,669
2013 modern 1,702 #3,703
2014 modern 1,736 #3,655
2015 modern 1,737 #3,613
2016 modern 1,753 #3,579

Geography

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Where Binnies are most common

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

The modern local-area list points to Grangemouth - Kersiebank, Fankerton, Stoneywood and Denny Town, Grangemouth - Newlands, Inverurie South and Grangemouth - Town Centre. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Larbert Stirling
2 Ratho Edinburgh
3 Govan Combination Lanark
4 Edinburgh Edinburgh
5 Muiravonside Stirling

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Grangemouth - Kersiebank Falkirk
2 Fankerton, Stoneywood and Denny Town Falkirk
3 Grangemouth - Newlands Falkirk
4 Inverurie South Aberdeenshire
5 Grangemouth - Town Centre Falkirk

Forenames

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First names often paired with Binnie

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Binnie

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Binnie, 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 Binnie surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Binnie 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

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Binnie is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Binnie 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

Binnie falls in decile 4 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Binnie

The surname Binnie is of Scottish origin, with its roots traced back to the 16th century. It is believed to be a diminutive form of the personal name Benny or Bennet, which itself derives from the Latin name Benedictus, meaning "blessed."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Binnie can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a historical document that contains the names of Scottish landowners who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England. In this record, the name appears as "Beny" or "Beny de Calentar."

The name Binnie is closely associated with the Aberdeenshire region of Scotland, particularly the areas around Banchory and Deeside. It is believed that the name may have originated from a place name or a descriptive nickname, such as "the one from the ben (inner) part of the house."

In the 17th century, the name Binnie gained prominence with the birth of Robert Binnie (1604-1676), a Scottish minister and theologian who served as Professor of Philosophy at the University of Glasgow. He was known for his writings on metaphysics and natural philosophy.

Another notable figure bearing the surname Binnie was Sir Alexander Richardson Binnie (1839-1917), a Scottish civil engineer who played a significant role in the construction of several notable projects, including the Aswan Low Dam in Egypt and the Hong Kong Harbor Works.

In the literary world, the name Binnie is associated with Robert Binnie (1812-1887), a Scottish author and poet who wrote under the pen name "Hugh Haliburton." His works, such as "Ochil Idylls" and "Thoughts for Thinkers," reflect the rural life and landscapes of Scotland.

Another notable individual with the surname Binnie was William Binnie (1847-1916), a Scottish-born Australian explorer and surveyor. He was instrumental in the exploration and mapping of Western Australia, particularly the Kimberley region.

The surname Binnie has also been associated with notable figures in the field of education, such as William Binnie (1902-1988), a Scottish mathematician and academic who served as the Principal of the University of St. Andrews from 1953 to 1968.

While the surname Binnie may have originated in Scotland, it has since spread to other parts of the world, including England, Ireland, and various Commonwealth countries, reflecting the Scottish diaspora and migration patterns throughout history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Binnie families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Binnie 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. Stirlingshire leads with 340 Binnies recorded in 1881 and an index of 75.72x.

County Total Index
Stirlingshire 340 75.72x
Midlothian 209 12.82x
Lanarkshire 170 4.32x
West Lothian 88 48.00x
Renfrewshire 52 5.51x
Angus 46 4.08x
Ayrshire 27 2.96x
Fife 25 3.47x
Dunbartonshire 24 7.34x
Middlesex 23 0.19x
Yorkshire 23 0.19x
Roxburghshire 21 9.52x
Northumberland 19 1.05x
Perthshire 19 3.48x
Aberdeenshire 18 1.60x
Clackmannanshire 18 17.90x
East Lothian 18 11.16x
Durham 13 0.36x
Kent 13 0.31x
Lancashire 12 0.08x
Berkshire 9 0.98x
Cheshire 8 0.30x
Peeblesshire 8 13.97x
Selkirkshire 8 7.26x
Buteshire 7 9.49x
Dorset 4 0.50x
Surrey 4 0.07x
Dumfriesshire 3 1.12x
Morayshire 3 1.59x
Argyllshire 2 0.59x
Berwickshire 2 1.36x
Warwickshire 2 0.07x
Devon 1 0.04x
Flintshire 1 0.31x
Hampshire 1 0.04x
Inverness-shire 1 0.28x
Norfolk 1 0.05x
Northamptonshire 1 0.09x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.06x
Somerset 1 0.05x
Staffordshire 1 0.02x
Sussex 1 0.05x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Falkirk in Stirlingshire leads with 111 Binnies recorded in 1881 and an index of 105.60x.

Place Total Index
Falkirk 111 105.60x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 78 11.89x
Larbert 74 275.71x
Muiravonside 56 490.80x
Govan 53 5.44x
Barony 35 3.51x
Linlithgow 31 131.86x
Ratho 30 394.22x
Polmont 25 150.78x
Slamannan 24 97.60x
Cambusnethan 21 24.02x
New Monkland 19 16.33x
South Leith 19 10.35x
Alloa 18 36.92x
Glasgow 18 2.57x
Aberdeen Old Machar 15 6.37x
Currie 13 130.26x
Edinburgh St Georges 13 38.40x
St Vigeans 13 21.35x
West Greenock 13 7.68x
Campsie 11 44.64x
Kirkliston 11 102.90x
Abercorn 10 275.48x
Arbirlot 10 291.55x
Bathgate 10 25.13x
East Greenock 10 11.22x
Edinburgh Buccleuch 10 25.92x
Ramsgate 10 14.75x
Row 10 23.63x
Airth 9 157.89x
Colinton 9 49.48x
Dunipace 9 114.50x
Kelso 9 40.97x
Monkton Prestwick 9 101.47x
Uphall 9 44.64x
Abbotshall 8 29.71x
Birkenhead 8 3.73x
Dumbarton 8 17.57x
Hawick 8 16.21x
Innerleithen 8 52.63x
Middleham 8 234.60x
Alva 7 32.68x
Athelstaneford 7 220.13x
Cathcart 7 13.71x
Dalserf 7 17.82x
Dundee 7 1.66x
Hurst 7 58.53x
Kensington London 7 1.03x
Kilmalcolm 7 61.89x
Kilwinning 7 23.79x
Logie 7 35.71x
Panbride 7 119.05x
Torphichen 7 109.72x
Wallsend 7 12.19x
Carriden 6 72.20x
Eastwood 6 10.33x
Kirkdale 6 2.47x
Largs 6 27.95x
Oldhamstocks 6 253.16x
Rothesay 6 16.80x
Selkirk 6 19.34x
York St Mary 6 12.01x
Abbey 5 3.47x
Bishop Middleham 5 256.41x
Bothkennar 5 37.31x
Cranston 5 120.19x
Edinburgh Canongate 5 12.05x
Elswick 5 3.46x
Framwellgate 5 23.30x
Gorbals 5 21.40x
Heaton 5 38.58x
Islington London 5 0.42x
Kinnoull 5 34.82x
Old Monkland 5 3.20x
Stirling 5 8.83x
Edinburgh St Stephens 4 12.46x
Edmonton 4 4.08x
Kinnel 4 136.99x
Lyme Regis 4 41.80x
Toxteth Park 4 0.82x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 10
John 8
George 6
Thomas 6
Henry 5
James 5
Alexander 4
Robert 4
David 3
Albert 1
Albt.Ed. 1
Alexr. 1
Alexr.A. 1
Alfred 1
Benjamin 1
Daniel 1
Frank 1
Mark 1
Richard 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Binnie surname: questions and answers

How common was the Binnie surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,260 people were recorded with the Binnie surname. That placed it at #3,233 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Binnie surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,753 in 2016. That gives Binnie a modern rank of #3,579.

What does the Binnie surname mean?

A surname of Scottish origin, derived from a place name or perhaps an occupational name.

What does the Binnie map show?

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