NameCensus.

UK surname

Callander

A locational surname referring to someone from Callander in Scotland.

In the 1881 census there were 609 people recorded with the Callander surname, ranking it #5,757 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 976, ranked #5,916, down from #5,757 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Forfar, Govan Combination and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Kirkcudbright, Pathhead and Rural East Midlothian and Georgetown.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Callander is 982 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 60.3%.

1881 census count

609

Ranked #5,757

Modern count

976

2016, ranked #5,916

Peak year

2014

982 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Callander had 609 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,757 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 976 in 2016, ranked #5,916.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 783 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Callander surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Callander surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Callander 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 450 #5,485
1861 historical 466 #5,573
1881 historical 609 #5,757
1891 historical 783 #5,126
1901 historical 767 #5,836
1911 historical 202 #14,871
1997 modern 803 #6,522
1998 modern 823 #6,609
1999 modern 851 #6,479
2000 modern 856 #6,419
2001 modern 837 #6,419
2002 modern 863 #6,398
2003 modern 868 #6,239
2004 modern 857 #6,310
2005 modern 854 #6,293
2006 modern 877 #6,157
2007 modern 877 #6,216
2008 modern 883 #6,225
2009 modern 908 #6,216
2010 modern 928 #6,230
2011 modern 916 #6,244
2012 modern 923 #6,128
2013 modern 955 #6,050
2014 modern 982 #5,944
2015 modern 979 #5,911
2016 modern 976 #5,916

Geography

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Where Callanders are most common

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

The modern local-area list points to Kirkcudbright, Pathhead and Rural East Midlothian, Georgetown, Lochmaben and Lockerbie. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Forfar Forfar
2 Govan Combination Lanark
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 Dumfries Dumfries
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Kirkcudbright Dumfries and Galloway
2 Pathhead and Rural East Midlothian Midlothian
3 Georgetown Dumfries and Galloway
4 Lochmaben Dumfries and Galloway
5 Lockerbie Dumfries and Galloway

Forenames

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First names often paired with Callander

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Callander

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

Legacy Communities

Group

Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities

Nationally, the Callander surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Callander household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Households in these areas often include divorced or separated parents and commonly include children and young adults. The age structure is heavily skewed towards the most advanced age groups. Individuals identifying as members of ethnic minorities are not present in large numbers. Flats predominate, with some terraced, semi-detached, and detached units. Multiple car ownership is low, and housing is predominantly in the private and social rented sectors. Employment is less skewed towards traditional routine industrial occupations. Levels of educational attainment are generally low. The Group occurs principally in the Central Lowlands of Scotland and other Scottish towns.

Wider pattern

These neighbourhoods characteristically comprise pockets of flats that are scattered across the UK, particularly in towns that retain or have legacies of heavy industry or are in more remote seaside locations. Employed residents of these neighbourhoods work mainly in low-skilled occupations. Residents typically have limited educational qualifications. Unemployment is above average. Some residents live in overcrowded housing within the social rented sector and experience long-term disability. All adult age groups are represented, although there is an overall age bias towards elderly people in general and the very old in particular. Individuals identifying as belonging to ethnic minorities or Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups are uncommon.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Challenged Inner London Communities

Within London, Callander is most associated with areas classed as Challenged Inner London Communities, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Resident in some of Inner London’s most over-crowded communities, many families have children and marriage/civil partnership rates are above the Supergroup average. Other adults such as students live in communal establishments. Few residents have Level 4 educational qualifications, levels of unemployment are above the Supergroup average, and employment is concentrated in service occupations such as distribution, hotels and restaurants. Relative to the Supergroup average, fewer residents identify as being of mixed/multiple ethnicities, Black or Other Asian.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Callander 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

Callander falls in decile 7 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Callander

The surname Callander is of Scottish origin, originating from the town of Callander in Perthshire, Scotland. The name is derived from the Gaelic words 'Cala' meaning 'meadow' and 'an doire' meaning 'at the grove', referring to the town's location.

One of the earliest recorded references to the name Callander can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which contain a list of landowners and nobles who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England. The name appears as 'de Calentyr', indicating that it was likely derived from the place name Callander.

In the 16th century, the spelling of the name evolved to its current form, Callander. During this time, the Callanders were a prominent family in the Perthshire area, with several members holding positions of influence and land ownership.

One notable figure with the surname Callander was Sir John Callander (1566-1638), a Scottish landowner and politician who served as a member of the Privy Council of Scotland. Another notable Callander was James Callander (1712-1789), a Scottish historian and writer who published several works on the history and antiquities of Scotland.

In the 18th century, the surname Callander spread beyond Scotland as members of the family emigrated to other parts of the British Empire. One such individual was John Callander (1722-1789), a Scottish-born merchant and landowner who settled in Virginia, United States.

Another prominent figure with the surname Callander was Sir Francis Callander (1780-1853), a British military officer who served in the Napoleonic Wars and later became a member of Parliament.

Throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries, the surname Callander continued to be found in various parts of the United Kingdom, as well as in countries with significant Scottish diaspora populations, such as Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Callander families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Callander 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. Stirlingshire leads with 104 Callanders recorded in 1881 and an index of 47.39x.

County Total Index
Stirlingshire 104 47.39x
Lanarkshire 92 4.78x
Kirkcudbrightshire 75 87.07x
Angus 66 11.97x
Dumfriesshire 63 47.93x
Midlothian 59 7.40x
Surrey 18 0.62x
Durham 16 0.90x
Middlesex 16 0.27x
Renfrewshire 13 2.82x
Lancashire 12 0.17x
West Lothian 10 11.16x
Fife 8 2.27x
Cheshire 7 0.53x
Devon 7 0.57x
East Lothian 7 8.88x
Aberdeenshire 6 1.09x
Wigtownshire 6 7.59x
Dunbartonshire 5 3.13x
Sussex 4 0.40x
Kent 3 0.15x
Gloucestershire 2 0.17x
Hampshire 2 0.16x
Perthshire 2 0.75x
Somerset 2 0.21x
Argyllshire 1 0.60x
Ayrshire 1 0.22x
Cumberland 1 0.20x
Royal Navy 1 1.41x
Wiltshire 1 0.19x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Falkirk in Stirlingshire leads with 65 Callanders recorded in 1881 and an index of 126.53x.

Place Total Index
Falkirk 65 126.53x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 33 10.29x
Forfar 29 97.15x
Barony 26 5.34x
Troqueer 26 230.09x
Airth 21 752.69x
Glencairn 21 594.90x
Minnigaff 20 617.28x
Govan 18 3.78x
Lesmahagow 14 68.80x
Brechin 13 60.02x
Dundee 10 4.86x
Cambuslang 8 41.24x
Cambusnethan 8 18.72x
Dumfries 8 61.68x
Dunfermline 8 14.77x
Medomsley 8 96.85x
Tynron 8 930.23x
Bathgate 7 35.99x
Cookbury 7 1891.89x
Crossmichael 7 257.35x
East Greenock 7 16.08x
Kinnettles 7 886.08x
Kirkmahoe 7 274.51x
Penpont 7 289.26x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 6 5.82x
Edinburgh New North 6 86.46x
Irongray 6 375.00x
Prestonpans 6 113.42x
Richmond 6 14.77x
Sorbie 6 173.91x
St Andrew By Wardrobe 6 1666.67x
Strathblane 6 218.98x
Tranmere 6 12.43x
Avondale 5 44.44x
Bermondsey 5 2.82x
Bromley London 5 3.82x
Edinburgh Lady Yesters 5 90.58x
Edinburgh New 5 80.78x
Gorbals 5 43.78x
Kirkintilloch 5 23.02x
Balmaclellan 4 208.33x
Edinburgh Buccleuch 4 21.21x
Maryhill 4 10.62x
Parton 4 273.97x
Polmont 4 49.38x
Wandsworth 4 6.98x
West Derby 4 1.94x
Westoe 4 3.99x
Dryfesdale 3 49.51x
Fintry 3 357.14x
Glasgow 3 0.88x
Hove 3 6.82x
Kirkmabreck 3 79.58x
Liff Benvie 3 3.59x
Morton 3 68.81x
Pendleton In Salford 3 3.57x
Charlton 2 14.84x
Clifton 2 3.39x
Crichton 2 90.09x
Darlington 2 2.93x
Dunipace 2 52.08x
Hackney London 2 0.60x
Ilminster 2 29.90x
Lochrutton 2 160.00x
Montrose 2 5.99x
Paisley High Church 2 5.45x
Parr 2 7.92x
Petersfield 2 59.70x
Sanquhar 2 43.29x
St Ninians 2 9.20x
West Greenock 2 2.42x
Whitburn 2 15.44x
Widnes 2 3.93x
Bothwell 1 1.92x
Dalry 1 49.75x
Dunoon Kilmun 1 7.74x
Kilsyth 1 7.15x
St Cuthbert W O 1 4.00x
Weybridge 1 16.08x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 7
William 5
Charles 4
George 4
Henry 4
Thomas 4
James 3
Alexander 2
Alex 1
Alexanda 1
Colin 1
Daniel 1
Frank 1
Gilbert 1
Harry 1
Jessie 1
Milton 1
Nickles 1
Richard 1
Robert 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Callander surname: questions and answers

How common was the Callander surname in 1881?

In 1881, 609 people were recorded with the Callander surname. That placed it at #5,757 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Callander surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 976 in 2016. That gives Callander a modern rank of #5,916.

What does the Callander surname mean?

A locational surname referring to someone from Callander in Scotland.

What does the Callander map show?

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