NameCensus.

UK surname

Birkinshaw

A locational surname originating from a place in West Yorkshire, England.

In the 1881 census there were 564 people recorded with the Birkinshaw surname, ranking it #6,143 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 898, ranked #6,312, down from #6,143 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St Alkmund, Silkstone and Doncaster. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Hambleton, Barnsley and Doncaster.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Birkinshaw is 942 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 59.2%.

1881 census count

564

Ranked #6,143

Modern count

898

2016, ranked #6,312

Peak year

1999

942 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Birkinshaw had 564 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,143 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 898 in 2016, ranked #6,312.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 711 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Birkinshaw surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Birkinshaw surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Birkinshaw 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 331 #7,044
1861 historical 394 #6,504
1881 historical 564 #6,143
1891 historical 534 #7,037
1901 historical 620 #6,886
1911 historical 711 #5,998
1997 modern 882 #6,061
1998 modern 922 #6,039
1999 modern 942 #5,985
2000 modern 927 #6,045
2001 modern 886 #6,143
2002 modern 909 #6,154
2003 modern 895 #6,112
2004 modern 914 #6,014
2005 modern 887 #6,088
2006 modern 871 #6,204
2007 modern 886 #6,157
2008 modern 904 #6,110
2009 modern 912 #6,194
2010 modern 930 #6,219
2011 modern 928 #6,180
2012 modern 897 #6,261
2013 modern 909 #6,302
2014 modern 917 #6,288
2015 modern 911 #6,277
2016 modern 898 #6,312

Geography

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Where Birkinshaws are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St Alkmund, Silkstone, Doncaster, Hatfield, Fishlake, Thorne, Crowle (Eastoft) and St Werburgh. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Hambleton, Barnsley, Doncaster and South Derbyshire. 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 St Alkmund Derbyshire
2 Silkstone Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Doncaster Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Hatfield, Fishlake, Thorne, Crowle (Eastoft) Yorkshire, West Riding
5 St Werburgh Derbyshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Hambleton 010 Hambleton
2 Barnsley 004 Barnsley
3 Doncaster 039 Doncaster
4 Barnsley 005 Barnsley
5 South Derbyshire 001 South Derbyshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Birkinshaw

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Birkinshaw

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Birkinshaw, 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 Birkinshaw surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Birkinshaw 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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Birkinshaw 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

Birkinshaw is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Birkinshaw falls in decile 9 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.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Birkinshaw

The surname Birkinshaw originates from England, specifically from the Yorkshire region. It dates back to the 11th century and is believed to be derived from the Old English words "bircen" meaning birch tree, and "sceaga" meaning a small wood or grove. This suggests that the name was likely borne by someone who lived near a birch wood or grove.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a great survey of landowners and properties commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appears as "Birchenshae," which is believed to be a variant spelling of the modern Birkinshaw.

In the 13th century, the name was also recorded as "Birkenschawe" in the Yorkshire Feet of Fines, which were legal documents related to land transfers and property disputes. This spelling further reinforces the connection to the Old English roots of the name.

One notable individual with this surname was John Birkinshaw, a Yorkshire-born politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Pontefract from 1708 to 1710. He was born in 1671 and passed away in 1727.

Another significant figure was William Birkinshaw, an English engineer and inventor who lived from 1809 to 1892. He is best known for his contributions to the development of steam engines and his work on improving the efficiency of boilers.

In the literary world, William Birkinshaw (1862-1940) was a notable English poet and writer who published several volumes of poetry and prose works during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

The name Birkinshaw has also been associated with several place names in Yorkshire, such as Birkinshaw in the City of Bradford and Birkinshaw in the village of Wooldale. These place names likely derived from the surname itself, reflecting the historical presence of families bearing this name in these locations.

Throughout its history, the surname Birkinshaw has maintained its connection to its English roots and the Yorkshire region, with many notable individuals contributing to various fields, including politics, engineering, and literature.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Birkinshaw families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Birkinshaw 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 421 Birkinshaws recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.76x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 421 7.76x
Derbyshire 62 7.24x
Nottinghamshire 34 4.61x
Middlesex 9 0.16x
Lancashire 8 0.12x
Northumberland 8 0.98x
Dorset 6 1.67x
Lincolnshire 4 0.46x
Surrey 4 0.15x
Cheshire 2 0.17x
Durham 2 0.12x
Bedfordshire 1 0.35x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Darton in Yorkshire leads with 56 Birkinshaws recorded in 1881 and an index of 1009.01x.

Place Total Index
Darton 56 1009.01x
Barugh 36 786.03x
Little Eaton 25 1412.43x
Sheffield 23 13.32x
Doncaster 21 53.00x
Stanley Cum Wrenthorpe 20 79.40x
Leeds 19 6.20x
Bradford 16 12.19x
Nether Hallam 14 19.08x
Barnby On Don 12 1165.05x
Hatfield In Thorne 12 355.03x
Newbold Dunston 11 135.14x
Wombwell 11 69.58x
Ecclesfield 10 25.15x
Huddersfield 9 11.39x
Wellow 9 1304.35x
Barnsley 8 14.30x
Kimberworth 8 26.58x
Ledstone 8 1951.22x
York Marygate St Olave 8 384.62x
Radford 7 18.68x
Thorne 7 104.01x
Wetherby 7 198.30x
Wheatley 7 374.33x
Wortley In Bramley 7 16.30x
Batley 6 11.64x
Billingley 6 1621.62x
Cantley 6 571.43x
Chadderton 6 18.90x
Horton In Bradford 6 7.09x
Rothwell 6 54.79x
Sprotborough 6 1395.35x
Westgate 6 11.90x
Bilton Cum Harrogate 5 26.95x
Derby St Alkmund 5 19.47x
Derby St Peter 5 18.32x
Elmton 5 515.46x
Fenwick 5 1351.35x
Hampton London 5 55.56x
Little Houghton 5 1388.89x
Littlebredy 5 1388.89x
Rawmarsh 5 26.10x
Snenton 5 17.25x
Sutton In Ashfield 5 31.23x
Alverthorpe Cum Thornes 4 20.31x
Bentley Cum Arksey 4 141.34x
East Ardsley 4 85.11x
Eckington 4 19.22x
Legbourne 4 449.44x
Ockbrook 4 109.89x
Sutton 4 20.74x
Thorpe In Balne 4 1176.47x
Clipstone 3 535.71x
Hooton Pagnell 3 545.45x
Mirfield 3 10.08x
St Pancras London 3 0.68x
Balby Cum Hexthorpe 2 30.91x
Braithwell 2 294.12x
Brightside Bierlow 2 1.88x
Durham St Nicholas 2 50.00x
Ecclesall Bierlow 2 1.81x
Monks Coppenhall 2 4.39x
Nottingham St Mary 2 1.05x
West Retford 2 130.72x
York St Crux 2 129.87x
Brinsworth 1 39.84x
Burghwallis 1 238.10x
Featherstone 1 16.42x
Gomersal 1 3.95x
Hunshelf 1 37.59x
Hunslet 1 1.18x
Kensington London 1 0.33x
Kexborough 1 86.21x
Litchurch 1 2.90x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 1 2.06x
Penistone 1 23.64x
Portland 1 5.18x
Rawcliffe In Goole 1 32.36x
Toxteth Park 1 0.45x
Wakefield 1 2.40x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 38
John 31
George 26
Thomas 26
Joseph 14
Charles 9
Harry 9
James 8
Henry 7
Arthur 5
Herbert 5
Richard 5
Walter 5
Francis 4
Frank 4
Edward 3
Edwin 3
Fred 3
Robert 3
Samuel 3
Tom 3
Aaron 2
Alfred 2
Fred. 2
Frederick 2
Fredk. 2
Jesse 2
Jno. 2
Jno.Wm. 2
Matthew 2
Thos. 2
Wm. 2
Alexander 1
Amos 1
Bertie 1
Bill 1
Chas. 1
Chas.Andrew 1
Cornelius 1
Ernest 1
Ezra 1
Geo. 1
Geo.Ed. 1
Geo.Wm. 1
Jno.W. 1
Joel 1
Luke 1
Moses 1
Percy 1
Wm.Hy 1

FAQ

Birkinshaw surname: questions and answers

How common was the Birkinshaw surname in 1881?

In 1881, 564 people were recorded with the Birkinshaw surname. That placed it at #6,143 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Birkinshaw surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 898 in 2016. That gives Birkinshaw a modern rank of #6,312.

What does the Birkinshaw surname mean?

A locational surname originating from a place in West Yorkshire, England.

What does the Birkinshaw map show?

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