NameCensus.

UK surname

Cairns

A Scottish topographic surname referring to someone who lived near a cairn or pile of stones.

In the 1881 census there were 6,545 people recorded with the Cairns surname, ranking it #649 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 12,749, ranked #507, up from #649 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Govan Combination, Gateshead and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Gallowgate North and Bellgrove, County Durham and Moodiesburn West.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cairns is 12,930 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 94.8%.

1881 census count

6,545

Ranked #649

Modern count

12,749

2016, ranked #507

Peak year

2010

12,930 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Cairns had 6,545 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #649 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 12,749 in 2016, ranked #507.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 8,541 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Cairns surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Cairns surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Cairns 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 3,227 #894
1861 historical 3,724 #759
1881 historical 6,545 #649
1891 historical 6,969 #644
1901 historical 8,541 #626
1911 historical 3,277 #1,594
1997 modern 11,632 #524
1998 modern 12,070 #524
1999 modern 12,259 #522
2000 modern 12,235 #522
2001 modern 11,943 #523
2002 modern 12,230 #522
2003 modern 11,874 #523
2004 modern 11,965 #526
2005 modern 11,977 #517
2006 modern 12,101 #513
2007 modern 12,283 #505
2008 modern 12,408 #503
2009 modern 12,728 #502
2010 modern 12,930 #507
2011 modern 12,625 #510
2012 modern 12,371 #514
2013 modern 12,647 #517
2014 modern 12,801 #513
2015 modern 12,735 #510
2016 modern 12,749 #507

Geography

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Where Cairns' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Govan Combination, Gateshead, Edinburgh, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Gallowgate North and Bellgrove, County Durham, Moodiesburn West, Dundyvan and Copeland. 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 Govan Combination Lanark
2 Gateshead Durham
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Gallowgate North and Bellgrove Glasgow City
2 County Durham 044 County Durham
3 Moodiesburn West North Lanarkshire
4 Dundyvan North Lanarkshire
5 Copeland 008 Copeland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Cairns

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Cairns

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Cairns, 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 Cairns surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Cairns 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

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Cairns is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Cairns is most concentrated in decile 1 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Cairns

The surname Cairns originated in Scotland and can be traced back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Gaelic word "carn," which means "a cairn" or a pile of stones used as a memorial or landmark.

The name is believed to have been initially adopted by people who lived near or were associated with a prominent cairn. The earliest recorded spelling of the name is "de Cairns," which appears in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a record of Scottish nobles who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England.

One of the earliest documented individuals with the surname Cairns was William de Cairns, a Scottish landowner who lived in the late 13th century. He was mentioned in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland in 1288.

In the 16th century, the name appeared in various spellings, such as "Cairne," "Cairnes," and "Kairns," reflecting the diverse regional pronunciations and orthographic conventions of the time.

One notable bearer of the surname was John Cairns (1818-1892), a Scottish philosopher and theologian who served as the Principal of the United Presbyterian Church's theological college in Edinburgh.

Another prominent figure was Sir Hugh Cairns (1896-1952), a renowned British neurosurgeon who made significant contributions to the treatment of head injuries during World War II. He was knighted in 1949 for his services to medicine.

The Cairns name also has a connection to a place in Scotland called Cairns, located in the council area of East Ayrshire. This place likely derived its name from a prominent cairn or stone structure in the area.

Other notable individuals with the surname Cairns include:

1. David Cairns (1779-1849), a Scottish minister and author who wrote extensively on the history of the Church of Scotland. 2. Andrew Cairns (1787-1863), a Scottish-born Canadian merchant and politician who served as a member of the Legislative Council of Upper Canada. 3. William Cairns (1842-1911), a Scottish-born Canadian businessman and politician who served as a member of the Canadian House of Commons. 4. Helen Cairns (1899-1995), a British theatre director and producer who played a significant role in the development of modern British theatre. 5. John Cairns (1930-2011), a Scottish professional golfer who won the British Masters tournament in 1971.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Cairns families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Cairns 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 1,241 Cairns' recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.07x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 1,241 6.07x
Midlothian 757 8.94x
Durham 635 3.38x
Northumberland 499 5.31x
Lancashire 328 0.44x
Ayrshire 279 5.90x
Fife 279 7.46x
Roxburghshire 263 22.98x
Yorkshire 226 0.36x
Renfrewshire 207 4.23x
Stirlingshire 184 7.90x
Perthshire 153 5.40x
Angus 143 2.44x
Cumberland 102 1.88x
Middlesex 99 0.16x
Berwickshire 98 12.81x
Dunbartonshire 87 5.12x
Clackmannanshire 79 15.14x
Dumfriesshire 65 4.66x
West Lothian 65 6.83x
Peeblesshire 63 21.20x
Selkirkshire 63 11.02x
Kirkcudbrightshire 62 6.78x
East Lothian 58 6.93x
Surrey 56 0.18x
Wigtownshire 55 6.56x
Kent 41 0.19x
Cheshire 36 0.26x
Argyllshire 35 1.99x
Warwickshire 24 0.15x
Kinross-shire 22 13.77x
Staffordshire 17 0.08x
Gloucestershire 15 0.12x
Essex 14 0.11x
Buteshire 13 3.40x
Morayshire 11 1.12x
Carmarthenshire 10 0.38x
Worcestershire 10 0.12x
Norfolk 9 0.09x
Ross-shire 9 0.52x
Derbyshire 8 0.08x
Aberdeenshire 7 0.12x
Hampshire 7 0.05x
Inverness-shire 5 0.27x
Isle of Man 5 0.43x
Sussex 5 0.05x
Hertfordshire 4 0.09x
Cornwall 3 0.04x
Kincardineshire 3 0.39x
Royal Navy 3 0.40x
Herefordshire 2 0.08x
Shropshire 2 0.04x
Berkshire 1 0.02x
Channel Islands 1 0.05x
Devon 1 0.01x
Glamorgan 1 0.01x
Leicestershire 1 0.01x
Monmouthshire 1 0.02x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.01x
Oxfordshire 1 0.03x
Somerset 1 0.01x
Sutherland 1 0.21x
Wiltshire 1 0.02x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Barony in Lanarkshire leads with 306 Cairns' recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.92x.

Place Total Index
Barony 306 5.92x
Govan 260 5.14x
Glasgow 205 5.65x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 200 5.87x
Bishopwearmouth 101 6.26x
Wemyss 83 52.45x
Old Monkland 78 9.62x
Alva 67 60.28x
South Leith 64 6.72x
Liff Benvie 63 7.09x
Cambusnethan 60 13.22x
Hawick 55 21.47x
Lasswade 55 28.42x
Gateshead 54 3.84x
Penicuik 53 46.08x
Kilmarnock 52 9.24x
West Greenock 49 5.58x
Dundee 47 2.15x
Hamilton 46 8.07x
Shotts 46 18.81x
Duddingston 44 25.90x
Heworth 40 10.80x
Auchterarder 38 48.00x
Inveresk 38 16.58x
Bothwell 37 6.68x
New Monkland 36 5.96x
Darlington 35 4.82x
Newcastle On Tyne St 35 7.18x
Stirling 35 11.91x
Berwick Upon Tweed 34 17.07x
Everton 34 1.42x
Abbotshall 33 23.61x
Byker 33 7.10x
Galashiels 33 15.62x
Kilwinning 33 21.61x
Liverpool 33 0.72x
Colinton 32 33.91x
Dysart 32 12.70x
Elswick 31 4.13x
Edinburgh St Georges 30 17.08x
West Calder 30 17.98x
Gordon 28 154.87x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 27 3.32x
Yetholm 27 119.47x
Abbey 26 3.48x
Leeds 26 0.74x
North Leith 26 6.64x
Auckinleck 25 17.08x
Middle Greenock 25 18.71x
Barrow In Furness 24 2.35x
Brandon Byshottles 24 10.19x
Langholm 24 23.93x
Westoe 24 2.25x
Edinburgh Buccleuch 23 11.49x
Innerleithen 23 29.16x
St Ninians 23 9.96x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 22 3.92x
Peebles 22 25.05x
Preston 22 1.10x
Tillicoultry 22 18.95x
Alloa 21 8.30x
Ardrossan 21 12.83x
Carriden 21 48.69x
Dalton In Furness 21 7.26x
Edinburgh New North 21 28.51x
Elvet 21 15.48x
Kirkintilloch 21 9.10x
Sprouston 21 94.55x
Dunfermline 20 3.48x
Melrose 20 13.90x
Neilston 20 8.14x
Westgate 20 3.44x
Caldewgate 19 6.37x
Clackmannan 19 19.27x
Dalmellington 19 13.67x
Dunblane 19 27.99x
Hackney London 19 0.54x
Linton 19 159.40x
Maryhill 19 4.75x
Shettleston 19 10.39x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 208
Margaret 88
Jane 86
Elizabeth 81
Sarah 57
Catherine 48
Ann 46
Isabella 40
Ellen 37
Annie 25
Agnes 19
Bridget 19
Alice 18
Hannah 16
Martha 12
Eliza 11
Jessie 10
Emily 9
Dorothy 7
Esther 7
Frances 7
Anne 6
Emma 6
Louisa 6
Maria 6
Clara 5
Edith 5
Eleanor 5
Elizth. 5
Fanny 5
Janet 5
Julia 5
Kate 5
Susannah 5
Thirza 5
Amelia 4
Cathrine 4
Eliz. 4
Margt. 4
Rose 4
Christina 3
Florence 3
Gertrude 3
Lucy 3
Maggie 3
Susan 3
Beatrice 2
Jemmima 2
Lydia 2
Winifred 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 214
James 119
William 109
Thomas 94
Robert 63
George 52
Patrick 36
Joseph 32
Henry 23
Michael 20
Edward 18
Peter 18
Alexander 16
David 13
Charles 12
Francis 11
Richard 10
Samuel 9
Andrew 8
Matthew 8
Thos. 8
Walter 8
Martin 7
Ralph 7
Anthony 6
Frank 6
Stephen 6
Wm. 6
Albert 5
Frederick 5
Geo. 5
Jas. 5
Adam 4
Arthur 4
Lawrence 4
Mark 4
Alfred 3
Bernard 3
Ernest 3
Harry 3
Hugh 3
Robt. 3
Barnard 2
Christopher 2
Collin 2
Daniel 2
Herbert 2
Jno. 2
Owen 2
Donald 1

FAQ

Cairns surname: questions and answers

How common was the Cairns surname in 1881?

In 1881, 6,545 people were recorded with the Cairns surname. That placed it at #649 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Cairns surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 12,749 in 2016. That gives Cairns a modern rank of #507.

What does the Cairns surname mean?

A Scottish topographic surname referring to someone who lived near a cairn or pile of stones.

What does the Cairns map show?

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