NameCensus.

UK surname

Birkby

A locational surname derived from a place name meaning "birch tree settlement" or "birch tree village".

In the 1881 census there were 336 people recorded with the Birkby surname, ranking it #8,996 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 499, ranked #9,997, down from #8,996 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Birstall, Bradford and Halifax. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Rhondda Cynon Taf, Doncaster and Calderdale.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Birkby is 553 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 48.5%.

1881 census count

336

Ranked #8,996

Modern count

499

2016, ranked #9,997

Peak year

2010

553 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Birkby had 336 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,996 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 499 in 2016, ranked #9,997.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 496 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Birkby surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Birkby surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Birkby 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 191 #10,808
1861 historical 230 #10,611
1881 historical 336 #8,996
1891 historical 379 #9,254
1901 historical 496 #8,098
1911 historical 396 #9,354
1997 modern 527 #8,948
1998 modern 546 #8,983
1999 modern 540 #9,107
2000 modern 544 #9,031
2001 modern 542 #8,904
2002 modern 552 #8,961
2003 modern 522 #9,204
2004 modern 508 #9,404
2005 modern 516 #9,236
2006 modern 517 #9,246
2007 modern 530 #9,144
2008 modern 531 #9,211
2009 modern 541 #9,279
2010 modern 553 #9,324
2011 modern 552 #9,243
2012 modern 516 #9,654
2013 modern 527 #9,652
2014 modern 522 #9,778
2015 modern 512 #9,853
2016 modern 499 #9,997

Geography

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Where Birkbys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Birstall, Bradford, Halifax and Leeds. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Rhondda Cynon Taf, Doncaster, Calderdale, Cheshire East and Barrow-in-Furness. 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 Birstall Yorkshire, West Riding
2 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Halifax Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Leeds Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Rhondda Cynon Taf 019 Rhondda Cynon Taf
2 Doncaster 010 Doncaster
3 Calderdale 017 Calderdale
4 Cheshire East 037 Cheshire East
5 Barrow-in-Furness 002 Barrow-in-Furness

Forenames

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First names often paired with Birkby

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Birkby

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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

Nationally, the Birkby surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Birkby household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Birkby is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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 concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Birkby is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Birkby falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Birkby

The surname Birkby is of English origin, originating in the Yorkshire region of northern England. The name derives from the Old English words "byrig" meaning a fortified town or manor, and "by" meaning a farmstead or village. It is believed to have been a locational surname, given to someone who lived near a fortified settlement or manor.

The earliest recorded instance of the name Birkby dates back to the 12th century, appearing in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1176. This historical record suggests the name was already well-established in the region at that time. The name is also found in the Domesday Book of 1086, listed as "Birchebei" and "Birchebi," referring to settlements in Yorkshire.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various forms such as "Birkeby," "Byrkeby," and "Birkby" in various Yorkshire records and charters. This variation in spelling was common during that period, as surnames were still evolving and had not yet been standardized.

One notable historical figure with the surname Birkby was Sir Ralph de Birkby, a Yorkshire knight who lived during the reign of King Edward III in the 14th century. He was involved in the Battle of Crecy during the Hundred Years' War and was recognized for his bravery on the battlefield.

In the 16th century, a branch of the Birkby family settled in the town of Birkby, near Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. This area became closely associated with the surname and is likely the source of the modern spelling.

Another prominent individual bearing the Birkby name was Robert Birkby, born in 1520 in Yorkshire. He was a celebrated scholar and educator who served as the headmaster of Beverley Grammar School in the late 16th century.

John Birkby, born in 1615 in Yorkshire, was a notable Puritan minister and writer. He authored several religious works and was a prominent figure during the English Civil War.

In the 18th century, Samuel Birkby (1712-1789) was a respected architect and surveyor from Yorkshire. He designed several notable buildings in the region, including Sledmere House and Kirkleatham Hospital.

Throughout history, the Birkby surname has remained concentrated in the Yorkshire region of England, with many individuals bearing the name contributing to the local communities and industries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Birkby families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Birkby 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. Yorkshire leads with 274 Birkbys recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.41x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 274 8.41x
Lancashire 36 0.92x
Durham 8 0.82x
Cheshire 6 0.83x
Surrey 5 0.31x
Kent 3 0.27x
Devon 1 0.15x
Kirkcudbrightshire 1 2.10x
Middlesex 1 0.03x
Northumberland 1 0.20x
Wiltshire 1 0.34x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Wyke In Bradford in Yorkshire leads with 38 Birkbys recorded in 1881 and an index of 651.80x.

Place Total Index
Wyke In Bradford 38 651.80x
North Bierley 36 204.66x
Wortley In Bramley 24 93.02x
Liversedge 23 158.62x
Bowling 20 62.00x
Cleckheaton 17 141.67x
Horton In Bradford 14 27.52x
Farnley In Bramley 10 245.70x
Manningham 10 24.92x
Pontefract 9 128.21x
Bradford 7 38.34x
Hipperholme Cum 7 48.92x
Norton 7 194.44x
Soothill 7 59.47x
Bradford 6 7.61x
Dewsbury 6 17.96x
Dukinfield 6 17.89x
Northowram 6 26.27x
Selby 6 88.11x
Denton 5 57.87x
Lambeth 5 1.74x
Tottington Lower End 5 26.97x
Billingley 4 1818.18x
Penistone 4 157.48x
Temple Hirst 4 3333.33x
Holbeck 3 13.90x
Hunslet 3 5.91x
Leeds 3 1.63x
Openshaw 3 16.42x
Parr 3 21.51x
Poulton Barre 3 67.57x
Salford 3 2.62x
Altofts 2 55.56x
Ashton Under Lyne 2 2.35x
Clayton 2 25.09x
Litherland 2 24.51x
Billingham 1 59.52x
Bradford On Avon 1 10.74x
Canterbury Holy Cross 1 92.59x
Canterbury St Mary 1 13.28x
Catterick 1 136.99x
Chelsea London 1 1.01x
Chorlton On Medlock 1 1.61x
East Stonehouse 1 7.42x
Headingley Cum Burley 1 4.77x
Hirst Courtney 1 769.23x
Kelton 1 25.58x
Kirkleatham 1 22.73x
Linthorpe 1 5.14x
Margate St John Baptist 1 4.87x
Middlesbrough 1 2.36x
Nafferton 1 71.94x
Newcastle On Tyne St John 1 15.55x
Ormesby 1 11.43x
Pudsey 1 5.74x
Rastrick 1 11.05x
Urmston 1 39.53x
West Derby 1 0.88x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 23
Elizabeth 12
Sarah 11
Ann 9
Jane 9
Annie 8
Alice 7
Eliza 6
Hannah 6
Martha 6
Harriet 5
Lucy 5
Emily 4
Sophia 4
Caroline 3
Ellen 3
Annis 2
Betty 2
Edith 2
Emma 2
Florence 2
Isabella 2
Lydia 2
Minnie 2
Nancy 2
Selina 2
Anna 1
Anne 1
Beatrice 1
Carihj 1
Dora 1
Edna 1
Elizebeth 1
Eunice 1
Fanny 1
Frances 1
Jessie 1
Leah 1
Lizzie 1
Louisa 1
Margaret 1
Maria 1
Matilda 1
Memelia 1
Pherena 1
Rachael 1
Rebecca 1
Rhoda 1
Susannah 1
Winifred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 16
William 12
Joseph 11
Samuel 9
Henry 7
James 7
Robert 7
George 6
Edward 5
Harry 5
Richard 5
Alfred 3
Arthur 3
Fred 3
Jonathan 3
Squire 3
Willie 3
Albert 2
Charles 2
Dan 2
Daniel 2
Frank 2
Godfrey 2
Leonard 2
Nathaniel 2
Sam 2
Thomas 2
Allan 1
Andrew 1
Bernard 1
Crowther 1
Eddy 1
Edmund 1
Ernest 1
Evelyn 1
Franklin 1
Fredk. 1
Friend 1
Harker 1
Harold 1
Herbert 1
Hodgson 1
Jesse 1
Joe 1
Jonth. 1
Levi 1
Percy 1
Peter 1
Renard 1
Saml. 1

FAQ

Birkby surname: questions and answers

How common was the Birkby surname in 1881?

In 1881, 336 people were recorded with the Birkby surname. That placed it at #8,996 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Birkby surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 499 in 2016. That gives Birkby a modern rank of #9,997.

What does the Birkby surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place name meaning "birch tree settlement" or "birch tree village".

What does the Birkby map show?

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