NameCensus.

UK surname

Borland

A habitational surname derived from a place name meaning "land at the fort" in Old English.

In the 1881 census there were 1,295 people recorded with the Borland surname, ranking it #3,164 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,968, ranked #3,271, down from #3,164 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Govan Combination, Edinburgh and Glasgow. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Eaglesham and Waterfoot, Craigend and Ruchazie and The Glens.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Borland is 1,968 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 52.0%.

1881 census count

1,295

Ranked #3,164

Modern count

1,968

2016, ranked #3,271

Peak year

2016

1,968 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Borland had 1,295 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,164 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,968 in 2016, ranked #3,271.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,678 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Borland surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Borland surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Borland 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 781 #3,416
1861 historical 914 #3,030
1881 historical 1,295 #3,164
1891 historical 1,503 #2,930
1901 historical 1,678 #3,077
1911 historical 355 #10,172
1997 modern 1,829 #3,285
1998 modern 1,907 #3,282
1999 modern 1,921 #3,287
2000 modern 1,935 #3,249
2001 modern 1,875 #3,281
2002 modern 1,912 #3,296
2003 modern 1,827 #3,358
2004 modern 1,812 #3,374
2005 modern 1,807 #3,361
2006 modern 1,787 #3,395
2007 modern 1,819 #3,368
2008 modern 1,852 #3,345
2009 modern 1,895 #3,353
2010 modern 1,958 #3,331
2011 modern 1,937 #3,331
2012 modern 1,886 #3,347
2013 modern 1,920 #3,347
2014 modern 1,957 #3,316
2015 modern 1,953 #3,292
2016 modern 1,968 #3,271

Geography

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Where Borlands are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Govan Combination, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Kilmarnock and Paisley Abbey. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Eaglesham and Waterfoot, Craigend and Ruchazie, The Glens, Stewarton East and Kilbarchan. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Govan Combination Lanark
2 Edinburgh Edinburgh
3 Glasgow Lanark
4 Kilmarnock Ayr
5 Paisley Abbey Renfrew

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Eaglesham and Waterfoot East Renfrewshire
2 Craigend and Ruchazie Glasgow City
3 The Glens Dundee City
4 Stewarton East East Ayrshire
5 Kilbarchan Renfrewshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Borland

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Borland

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Borland surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Borland household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Borland 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

Borland is most concentrated in decile 2 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Borland

The surname Borland is of Scottish origin, derived from the Old English words "bor" meaning "boar" and "land" meaning "land" or "territory." It is believed to have originated in the Lowlands of Scotland, particularly in the regions of Ayrshire and Renfrewshire, where it was initially used as a descriptive name for someone who lived near a area where wild boars roamed.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Borland name can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a record of Scottish nobles who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England during the Wars of Scottish Independence. The name appears as "Boreland" in this document, suggesting that the spelling has evolved over time.

In the 16th century, the Borland family was prominent in the parish of Kilwinning, Ayrshire. John Borland, born around 1520, was a notable figure in the religious and political affairs of the region during the Scottish Reformation.

The Borland name is also associated with several place names in Scotland, such as Borland in Ayrshire and Borlandfield in Lanarkshire. These locations likely derived their names from the Borland family who had settled or owned land in those areas.

One of the most famous individuals with the Borland surname was Robert Borland (1808-1869), a Scottish-born American businessman and philanthropist. He founded the town of Borland, Pennsylvania, and contributed significantly to the development of the region's infrastructure and education system.

Other notable individuals with the Borland surname include:

1. John Borland (1680-1756), a Scottish merchant and landowner in Ayrshire. 2. David Borland (1770-1842), a Scottish-born American politician who served as a U.S. Representative from Connecticut. 3. James Borland (1822-1900), a Scottish-born American businessman and founder of Borland's Carriage Factory in St. Louis, Missouri. 4. Philippe Borland (1969-), a Belgian professional tennis player who achieved a career-high ranking of No. 28 in the world. 5. Andrew Borland (1981-), a Scottish professional golfer who has competed on the European Tour.

While the Borland name has been present in historical records for centuries, its origins can be traced back to the rugged landscapes of Scotland, where it likely originated as a descriptive name for those who lived in areas inhabited by wild boars.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Borland families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Borland 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. Lanarkshire leads with 463 Borlands recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.33x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 463 11.33x
Ayrshire 293 30.99x
Renfrewshire 159 16.24x
Lancashire 73 0.49x
Midlothian 63 3.72x
Angus 47 4.02x
Middlesex 22 0.17x
Surrey 22 0.36x
Stirlingshire 18 3.86x
Dunbartonshire 14 4.12x
Devon 13 0.49x
Dumfriesshire 13 4.66x
Argyllshire 11 3.13x
Perthshire 11 1.94x
Aberdeenshire 7 0.60x
Kent 7 0.16x
Staffordshire 7 0.16x
Cheshire 6 0.22x
Kirkcudbrightshire 6 3.28x
Northumberland 5 0.27x
East Lothian 4 2.39x
Inverness-shire 4 1.06x
Lincolnshire 4 0.20x
Cumberland 3 0.28x
Somerset 3 0.15x
Channel Islands 2 0.53x
Durham 2 0.05x
Fife 2 0.27x
West Lothian 2 1.05x
Yorkshire 2 0.02x
Bedfordshire 1 0.15x
Essex 1 0.04x
Hampshire 1 0.04x
Kinross-shire 1 3.13x
Peeblesshire 1 1.68x
Roxburghshire 1 0.44x
Royal Navy 1 0.66x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Govan in Lanarkshire leads with 158 Borlands recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.64x.

Place Total Index
Govan 158 15.64x
Barony 103 9.96x
Glasgow 81 11.17x
Kilmarnock 74 65.77x
Loudoun 41 180.30x
Galston 40 154.74x
Dundee 35 8.01x
Abbey 29 19.41x
Kilbarchan 26 87.42x
Stonehouse 25 180.38x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 23 3.38x
Stewarton 22 117.58x
Ardrossan 19 58.05x
West Greenock 18 10.24x
Shettleston 17 46.47x
St Quivox 17 53.19x
Hulme 16 5.11x
Paisley High Church 16 20.53x
Paisley Low Church 15 48.40x
Rutherglen 15 25.03x
Eastwood 13 21.56x
Camberwell 11 1.36x
Cathcart 11 20.77x
Moss Side 11 13.95x
Bowmore 10 123.61x
Closeburn 10 153.61x
Maryhill 10 12.50x
Dalry 9 20.23x
Hamilton 9 7.90x
Mauchline 9 82.80x
Stoke Newington London 9 9.15x
Toxteth Park 9 1.77x
Cambuslang 8 19.42x
Dumbarton 8 16.93x
Edinburgh Trinity 8 146.79x
Falkirk 8 7.34x
Fowlis Wester 8 165.63x
Gorton 8 5.68x
Middle Greenock 8 29.95x
Port Glasgow 8 16.90x
Tarbolton 8 51.41x
Arbroath 7 18.05x
Ayr 7 15.69x
East Stonehouse 7 13.51x
Edinburgh Canongate 7 16.25x
Folkestone 7 8.37x
Formby 7 41.25x
Lesmahagow 7 16.20x
New Cumnock 7 42.71x
St Ninians 7 15.16x
Aberdeen Old Machar 6 2.46x
Avondale 6 25.12x
Broughton In Salford 6 4.38x
Craigie 6 230.77x
Dundonald 6 17.21x
Great Bolton 6 3.02x
Lasswade 6 15.51x
Chorlton On Medlock 5 2.10x
Glassford 5 79.37x
Kirkintilloch 5 10.84x
North Leith 5 6.38x
Plymouth St Andrew 5 2.47x
Stockport 5 3.48x
Wolverhampton 5 1.53x
Boston 4 6.53x
Bothwell 4 3.61x
Carmunnock 4 127.39x
Cockpen 4 20.22x
Elswick 4 2.67x
Inverness 4 4.22x
Irvine 4 15.23x
Islington London 4 0.33x
Kelton 4 26.63x
Newington 4 0.86x
Old Monkland 4 2.47x
Paisley Middle Church 4 7.02x
St Marylebone London 4 0.59x
Tranent 4 17.69x
Chorlton Cum Hardy 3 30.18x
St Vigeans 3 4.75x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 13
Jane 6
Elizabeth 5
Emma 3
Isabella 3
Margaret 3
Maria 3
Agnes 2
Ann 2
Annie 2
Eliza 2
Emily 2
Florence 2
Helen 2
Susanah 2
Alice 1
Beatrice 1
Betsy 1
Caroline 1
Catherine 1
Eliz.J. 1
Elizh. 1
Ellen 1
Grace 1
Isabel 1
Jeanie 1
Julia 1
Katherine 1
Lizzy 1
Lucy 1
Margt. 1
May 1
Rebecca 1
Victoria 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 18
James 16
Robert 10
William 9
Hugh 6
Alexander 4
Thomas 4
Arthur 3
Richard 3
Alfred 2
George 2
Julius 2
Albert 1
Andrew 1
Archd. 1
August 1
Charles 1
Chas.W. 1
David 1
Edmund 1
Edward 1
Francis 1
Frederick 1
Fredk. 1
Harry 1
Jame 1
Jas. 1
Mathew 1
Oswald 1
Ralph 1
Robt. 1
Stewart 1
Thos. 1
Victor 1
Wallace 1

FAQ

Borland surname: questions and answers

How common was the Borland surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,295 people were recorded with the Borland surname. That placed it at #3,164 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Borland surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,968 in 2016. That gives Borland a modern rank of #3,271.

What does the Borland surname mean?

A habitational surname derived from a place name meaning "land at the fort" in Old English.

What does the Borland map show?

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