UK surname
A surname derived from an Old English word meaning a barn or storehouse.
In the 1881 census there were 63 people recorded with the Byrn surname, ranking it #24,711 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 24, ranked #36,392, down from #24,711 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Toxteth Park and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Byrn is 186 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 61.9%.
1881 census count
63
Ranked #24,711
Modern count
24
2016, ranked #36,392
Peak year
1851
186 bearers
Map years
2
1851 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Byrn surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Byrn surname density by area, 1861 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 186 | #11,024 |
| 1861 | historical | 113 | #19,151 |
| 1881 | historical | 63 | #24,711 |
| 1891 | historical | 88 | #25,677 |
| 1901 | historical | 50 | #28,590 |
| 1911 | historical | 22 | #31,030 |
| 1997 | modern | 28 | #34,904 |
| 1998 | modern | 20 | #35,885 |
| 1999 | modern | 20 | #35,923 |
| 2000 | modern | 15 | #36,425 |
| 2001 | modern | 13 | #36,483 |
| 2002 | modern | 16 | #36,267 |
| 2003 | modern | 21 | #35,825 |
| 2004 | modern | 25 | #35,610 |
| 2005 | modern | 22 | #35,993 |
| 2006 | modern | 18 | #36,412 |
| 2007 | modern | 17 | #36,628 |
| 2008 | modern | 19 | #36,534 |
| 2009 | modern | 19 | #36,603 |
| 2010 | modern | 20 | #36,599 |
| 2011 | modern | 24 | #36,306 |
| 2012 | modern | 23 | #36,366 |
| 2013 | modern | 28 | #36,096 |
| 2014 | modern | 24 | #36,358 |
| 2015 | modern | 23 | #36,424 |
| 2016 | modern | 24 | #36,392 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Toxteth Park, St Pancras, Edinburgh and Manchester. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 2 | Toxteth Park | Lancashire |
| 3 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| 4 | Edinburgh | Edinburgh |
| 5 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Byrn surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Byrn, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Byrn surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Byrn household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Byrn is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Byrn is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Byrn, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname BYRN originated in the British Isles, specifically in England and Ireland. It is derived from the Old English word "byrne," meaning a stream or a brook. The name likely referred to someone who lived near a stream or a brook, or came from a place with that name.
The name BYRN can be traced back to the 11th century, and is recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a survey of landowners in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The spelling variations found in the Domesday Book include Byrne, Birne, and Byrna.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name BYRN is William Byrn, who was born in Warwickshire, England, in the late 13th century. Another early example is John Byrn, a merchant from Bristol, England, born in 1420.
The BYRN surname is also associated with several place names in England and Ireland, such as Byrne Hill in Northamptonshire, England, and Byrne's Glen in County Wicklow, Ireland. These place names likely contributed to the spread and adoption of the surname in those regions.
Notable individuals with the surname BYRN throughout history include:
1. Sir John Byrn (1563-1629), an English politician and landowner from Buckinghamshire. 2. William Byrn (1670-1744), an Irish writer and poet from County Kilkenny. 3. Mary Byrn (1795-1880), an Irish novelist and playwright from County Mayo. 4. John Byrn (1820-1890), an English architect and engineer who designed several notable buildings in London. 5. Thomas Byrn (1868-1935), an American politician and lawyer who served as a U.S. Senator from South Carolina.
Overall, the surname BYRN has a rich history spanning several centuries and multiple regions, with its origins rooted in the British Isles and its association with natural features such as streams and brooks.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Byrn surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Midlothian leads with 19 Byrns recorded in 1881 and an index of 23.09x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Midlothian | 19 | 23.09x |
| Staffordshire | 8 | 3.86x |
| Middlesex | 7 | 1.14x |
| Lancashire | 6 | 0.82x |
| Sussex | 4 | 3.86x |
| Yorkshire | 3 | 0.49x |
| Bedfordshire | 2 | 6.29x |
| Cumberland | 2 | 3.78x |
| Durham | 2 | 1.09x |
| East Lothian | 2 | 24.57x |
| Gloucestershire | 2 | 1.66x |
| Cheshire | 1 | 0.74x |
| Cornwall | 1 | 1.44x |
| Flintshire | 1 | 6.06x |
| Hampshire | 1 | 0.79x |
| Nottinghamshire | 1 | 1.21x |
| Somerset | 1 | 1.01x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Crichton in Midlothian leads with 7 Byrns recorded in 1881 and an index of 3043.48x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Crichton | 7 | 3043.48x |
| Edinburgh St Cuthberts | 7 | 21.14x |
| Burslem | 5 | 84.18x |
| Broadwater | 4 | 168.07x |
| Liberton | 4 | 314.96x |
| Holy Trinity | 3 | 20.49x |
| St Marylebone London | 3 | 9.15x |
| St Pancras London | 3 | 6.07x |
| Wolstanton | 3 | 47.62x |
| Bedford St Paul | 2 | 91.74x |
| Cheltenham | 2 | 21.51x |
| Great Bolton | 2 | 20.70x |
| Rickergate | 2 | 178.57x |
| Salton | 2 | 1666.67x |
| Birkenhead | 1 | 9.25x |
| Cheetham | 1 | 18.38x |
| Flint | 1 | 106.38x |
| Fulham London | 1 | 11.22x |
| Gulval | 1 | 222.22x |
| Harwood | 1 | 263.16x |
| Hulme | 1 | 6.57x |
| Nottingham St Mary | 1 | 4.67x |
| South Leith | 1 | 10.80x |
| Southampton All Sts | 1 | 46.30x |
| Stockton On Tees | 1 | 11.35x |
| Thornley | 1 | 151.52x |
| Toxteth Park | 1 | 4.05x |
| Weston Super Mare | 1 | 40.00x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Byrn surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Byrn surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Byrn households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Indian Pension | 2 |
| Laborer (Oilworks | 2 |
| No Occupation | 2 |
| Teacher Of Dancing | 2 |
| A B Seaman | 1 |
| Blast Furnaceman | 1 |
| Butcher | 1 |
| Charwoman | 1 |
| Charwomen | 1 |
| Cotton Spinner | 1 |
| Cotton Weaver | 1 |
| Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Domestic Svant Serving Maid | 1 |
| Farm Servant | 1 |
| Gen Labourer | 1 |
| Genl Laborer | 1 |
| Home Duties | 1 |
| Income From Dividends | 1 |
| Kitchen Porter Dom | 1 |
| Laundress | 1 |
| Matron Of Hospital | 1 |
| Miner (Coal | 1 |
| Potters Assis | 1 |
| Private | 1 |
| Provision Dealer | 1 |
| Roman Catholic Priest | 1 |
| Scholar | 1 |
| Teacher Of Music | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 63 people were recorded with the Byrn surname. That placed it at #24,711 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 24 in 2016. That gives Byrn a modern rank of #36,392.
A surname derived from an Old English word meaning a barn or storehouse.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Byrn bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.