NameCensus.

UK surname

Byres

A surname derived from a place name referring to a farm or grange.

In the 1881 census there were 202 people recorded with the Byres surname, ranking it #12,753 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 207, ranked #19,118, down from #12,753 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Forfar, Edinburgh and Brechin. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Stockethill, Stockton-on-Tees and George Street.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Byres is 237 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 2.5%.

1881 census count

202

Ranked #12,753

Modern count

207

2016, ranked #19,118

Peak year

1891

237 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Byres had 202 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,753 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 207 in 2016, ranked #19,118.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 237 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Student Living and Professional Footholds.

Byres surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Byres surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Byres 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 223 #9,562
1861 historical 220 #11,076
1881 historical 202 #12,753
1891 historical 237 #13,242
1901 historical 235 #13,662
1911 historical 31 #29,952
1997 modern 190 #18,199
1998 modern 194 #18,451
1999 modern 197 #18,400
2000 modern 194 #18,554
2001 modern 185 #18,840
2002 modern 191 #18,817
2003 modern 188 #18,810
2004 modern 190 #18,792
2005 modern 193 #18,572
2006 modern 190 #18,898
2007 modern 189 #19,146
2008 modern 189 #19,315
2009 modern 203 #18,840
2010 modern 212 #18,726
2011 modern 204 #19,040
2012 modern 191 #19,802
2013 modern 202 #19,389
2014 modern 199 #19,775
2015 modern 201 #19,494
2016 modern 207 #19,118

Geography

Back to top

Where Byres' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Forfar, Edinburgh, Brechin, Glasgow and Cruden. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Stockethill, Stockton-on-Tees, George Street, Winchester and Northfield. 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 Forfar Forfar
2 Edinburgh Edinburgh
3 Brechin Forfar
4 Glasgow Lanark
5 Cruden Aberdeen

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Stockethill Aberdeen City
2 Stockton-on-Tees 005 Stockton-on-Tees
3 George Street Aberdeen City
4 Winchester 005 Winchester
5 Northfield Aberdeen City

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Byres

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Byres

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Student Living and Professional Footholds

Nationally, the Byres surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Student Living and Professional Footholds, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Byres household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

The Group includes many students, some of whom reside in communal residences. Single-person households are the most prevalent and the modal age band is 25 to 44. There are few families with dependent children. A significant number of White residents were born in EU countries (although UK-born residents are more common than in the rest of the Group), and households reflect a diversity of ethnic groups. Residential turnover is exceptionally high and, communal properties aside, flats are the norm. Some properties, including those in the private rental sector, are over-crowded. Many residents are professionals and technicians educated to degree level, and the Group is particularly common near the campuses of established university towns and cities.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Byres 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

Byres 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

Byres falls in decile 8 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.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Byres

The surname Byres is believed to have originated in Scotland, with the earliest known records dating back to the 14th century. It is likely derived from the Old English word "byre," which refers to a cow shed or barn. This suggests that the name may have initially been an occupational surname, used to identify people who worked in or owned a byre.

The name Byres can be found in various historical records from Scotland, including the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland from the late 13th century. One notable early reference is John de Byre, who was mentioned in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a record of Scottish landowners who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England during the Wars of Scottish Independence.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name was William de Byre, a Scottish landowner who lived in the late 13th century. He held lands in Angus, a county in eastern Scotland, and his name appears in several charters and legal documents from that time period.

In the 16th century, the name Byres was associated with the village of Byres, located in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. This suggests that some individuals may have adopted the surname based on their place of origin or residence.

Notable individuals with the surname Byres include:

1. James Byres (1733-1817), a Scottish architect and art dealer who spent much of his life in Italy and was instrumental in shaping the revival of classical architecture in Britain.

2. Sir John Byres (1589-1654), a Scottish landowner and soldier who fought for the Royalist cause during the English Civil War.

3. Alexander Byres (1767-1847), a Scottish minister and writer who served as the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 1824.

4. Robert Byres (1706-1760), a Scottish mathematician and author who wrote several influential works on algebra and geometry.

5. John Byres (1765-1831), a Scottish merchant and trader who established a successful business in the West Indies and became a prominent figure in Glasgow's mercantile community.

While the surname Byres is not as common as some other Scottish names, it has a rich history and can be traced back to the medieval period in Scotland, where it likely originated as an occupational or locational surname.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Byres families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Byres 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. Aberdeenshire leads with 59 Byres' recorded in 1881 and an index of 32.33x.

County Total Index
Aberdeenshire 59 32.33x
Angus 24 13.15x
Durham 21 3.58x
Dumfriesshire 19 43.65x
Cumberland 15 8.84x
Yorkshire 11 0.56x
Midlothian 9 3.41x
Dorset 7 5.41x
Kirkcudbrightshire 7 24.54x
Wigtownshire 6 22.94x
Lanarkshire 5 0.78x
Roxburghshire 3 8.41x
Ayrshire 2 1.36x
Kincardineshire 2 8.33x
Westmorland 2 4.62x
Berwickshire 1 4.19x
Hampshire 1 0.25x
Kent 1 0.15x
Kinross-shire 1 20.08x
Lancashire 1 0.04x
Morayshire 1 3.27x
Nairnshire 1 16.64x
Northumberland 1 0.34x
Surrey 1 0.10x
Worcestershire 1 0.39x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Aberdeen St Nicholas in Aberdeenshire leads with 14 Byres' recorded in 1881 and an index of 41.01x.

Place Total Index
Aberdeen St Nicholas 14 41.01x
Aberdeen Old Machar 12 31.50x
Forfar 8 80.97x
Logie Buchan 8 1538.46x
Brechin 7 97.63x
Dundee 7 10.27x
King Edward 7 333.33x
Peterhead 7 72.54x
Wimborne Minster 7 334.93x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 6 5.65x
Kirkconnell 6 869.57x
Whitworth 6 139.86x
Barony 5 3.10x
Bridekirk 5 367.65x
Halifax 5 17.44x
Linthrope 5 1351.35x
Stranraer 5 209.21x
West Rainton 5 276.24x
Applegarth 4 606.06x
Middlebie 4 305.34x
Monkwearmouth Shore 4 34.97x
Scaleby 4 1290.32x
Udny 4 360.36x
Balmaghie 3 476.19x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 3 11.82x
Methlick 3 205.48x
Oxnam 3 652.17x
Stockton On Tees 3 10.62x
Cruden 2 85.11x
Dalkeith 2 38.39x
Kirkgunzeon 2 454.55x
Kirriemuir 2 44.44x
Low Holme 2 208.33x
Temple Sowerby 2 714.29x
Aldershot 1 7.39x
Annan 1 26.74x
Banchory Devenick 1 44.64x
Bothel Threapland 1 370.37x
Castlerigg St John 1 909.09x
Croft 1 277.78x
Dornock 1 181.82x
Durrisdeer 1 133.33x
Edinburgh St Stephens 1 19.23x
Elgin 1 16.78x
Farnham 1 13.39x
Galston 1 24.81x
Hethersgill 1 250.00x
Inch 1 39.22x
Kinross 1 58.48x
Kirkbean 1 181.82x
Langholm 1 31.95x
Lochmaben 1 52.36x
Maryculter 1 138.89x
Monquhitter 1 52.91x
Nairn 1 27.40x
Newcastle On Tyne St 1 6.58x
Pendleton In Salford 1 3.59x
Preston Quarter 1 21.05x
Riccarton 1 45.05x
St James Isle Of Grain 1 526.32x
Tongland 1 178.57x
Tough 1 217.39x
Tredington 1 142.86x
Westruther 1 222.22x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 5
James 4
John 4
Henry 3
Edward 2
Robert 2
Alfred 1
David 1
Drury 1
Edgar 1
Edwin 1
Frank 1
George 1
Isaac 1
Joseph 1
Thomas 1
Walter 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Byres households.

FAQ

Byres surname: questions and answers

How common was the Byres surname in 1881?

In 1881, 202 people were recorded with the Byres surname. That placed it at #12,753 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Byres surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 207 in 2016. That gives Byres a modern rank of #19,118.

What does the Byres surname mean?

A surname derived from a place name referring to a farm or grange.

What does the Byres map show?

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