NameCensus.

UK surname

Candlish

An anglicized form of the Scottish Gaelic surname Cainndalach, meaning descendant of the candle maker or chandler.

In the 1881 census there were 351 people recorded with the Candlish surname, ranking it #8,742 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 680, ranked #7,884, up from #8,742 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Gateshead, Edinburgh and Lytham. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Valleyfield Culross and Torryburn, Gateshead and Dunfermline Headwell.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Candlish is 715 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 93.7%.

1881 census count

351

Ranked #8,742

Modern count

680

2016, ranked #7,884

Peak year

2010

715 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Candlish had 351 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,742 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 680 in 2016, ranked #7,884.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 505 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Candlish surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Candlish surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Candlish 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 244 #8,950
1861 historical 264 #9,385
1881 historical 351 #8,742
1891 historical 427 #8,391
1901 historical 505 #7,988
1911 historical 297 #11,524
1997 modern 633 #7,827
1998 modern 659 #7,830
1999 modern 663 #7,825
2000 modern 659 #7,852
2001 modern 664 #7,668
2002 modern 664 #7,819
2003 modern 637 #7,940
2004 modern 647 #7,867
2005 modern 639 #7,879
2006 modern 642 #7,881
2007 modern 657 #7,798
2008 modern 656 #7,860
2009 modern 686 #7,759
2010 modern 715 #7,656
2011 modern 703 #7,676
2012 modern 675 #7,838
2013 modern 665 #8,068
2014 modern 678 #7,979
2015 modern 679 #7,904
2016 modern 680 #7,884

Geography

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Where Candlishs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Gateshead, Edinburgh, Lytham, Kirkcudbright and Bishop Wearmouth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Valleyfield Culross and Torryburn, Gateshead and Dunfermline Headwell. 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 Gateshead Durham
2 Edinburgh Edinburgh
3 Lytham Lancashire
4 Kirkcudbright Kirkcudbright
5 Bishop Wearmouth Durham

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Valleyfield Culross and Torryburn Fife
2 Gateshead 021 Gateshead
3 Gateshead 023 Gateshead
4 Gateshead 018 Gateshead
5 Dunfermline Headwell Fife

Forenames

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First names often paired with Candlish

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Candlish

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

Candlish 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

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

Meaning and origin of Candlish

The surname Candlish originates from Scotland, with roots dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Gaelic word "canndolach," which translates to "thorny" or "prickly." This suggests that the name may have been initially given as a nickname to someone with a thorny or prickly personality or appearance.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland from 1296, where a "Gilbertus Candolych" is mentioned. This document provides evidence of the surname's existence during the late 13th century in Scotland.

The earliest known bearer of the name was William Candlish, who was born in Lanarkshire, Scotland, in the late 15th century. He was a prominent landowner and is mentioned in several historical records from the time.

Another notable figure was John Candlish, a Scottish clergyman born in 1786 and died in 1857. He was a prominent figure in the Church of Scotland and played a significant role in the Disruption of 1843, leading to the formation of the Free Church of Scotland.

In the 19th century, Robert Candlish (1806-1873) was a Scottish theologian and minister who became a leader of the Free Church of Scotland after the Disruption. He was a respected figure in the church and played a crucial role in shaping its doctrine and policies.

James Candlish (1809-1891) was a Scottish architect known for his work in the Gothic Revival style. He designed numerous churches, schools, and other buildings throughout Scotland in the mid-19th century.

William Candlish (1834-1918) was a Scottish businessman and philanthropist who made his fortune in the textile industry. He donated significant sums of money to educational institutions and charitable causes in his later years.

Over time, the surname Candlish has undergone various spelling variations, including Candolych, Candolish, and Candlesh, reflecting its evolution throughout history. While the name is predominantly found in Scotland, it has also spread to other parts of the United Kingdom and beyond through migration and immigration.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Candlish families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Candlish 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. Durham leads with 64 Candlishs recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.30x.

County Total Index
Durham 64 6.30x
Kirkcudbrightshire 53 107.24x
Lancashire 51 1.26x
Ayrshire 43 16.83x
Lanarkshire 28 2.54x
Northumberland 23 4.53x
Midlothian 19 4.15x
Renfrewshire 11 4.16x
Dumfriesshire 9 11.93x
Wigtownshire 8 17.64x
Leicestershire 6 1.59x
Perthshire 6 3.92x
Yorkshire 6 0.18x
Cumberland 4 1.36x
Argyllshire 3 3.16x
Surrey 3 0.18x
Dunbartonshire 2 2.18x
Roxburghshire 2 3.23x
Shropshire 2 0.68x
Cheshire 1 0.13x
Fife 1 0.49x
Gloucestershire 1 0.15x
Hampshire 1 0.14x
Kent 1 0.09x
Staffordshire 1 0.09x
Stirlingshire 1 0.79x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Gateshead in Durham leads with 28 Candlishs recorded in 1881 and an index of 36.82x.

Place Total Index
Gateshead 28 36.82x
Bishopwearmouth 20 22.94x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 19 10.33x
Lytham 19 307.44x
Govan 18 6.59x
Kirkcudbright 17 415.65x
Tarbolton 17 404.76x
Kilmaurs 13 298.85x
Kirkdale 13 19.08x
Byker 11 43.81x
Kilbarchan 10 124.38x
Alnwick 9 103.09x
Ayr 7 58.04x
Colvend 7 466.67x
Mouswald 7 1076.92x
Barony 6 2.15x
Borgue 6 451.13x
Kirkmabreck 6 277.78x
Leicester St Margaret 6 6.50x
Toxteth Park 6 4.37x
Troqueer 6 92.59x
Culross 5 375.94x
Dawdon 5 40.03x
East Murton 5 263.16x
Kirkinner 5 267.38x
Liverpool 5 2.03x
Glasgow 4 2.04x
Kirkham 4 74.63x
Whitehaven 4 25.53x
Buittle 3 258.62x
Ecclesall Bierlow 3 4.36x
Kilmore Kilbride 3 49.75x
Newington 3 2.38x
Sheffield 3 2.79x
Barrow In Furness 2 3.63x
Dalry 2 173.91x
Drayton In Hales 2 32.89x
Elsdon 2 833.33x
Girthon 2 120.48x
Hawick 2 14.45x
Kilmarnock 2 6.58x
Minnigaff 2 107.53x
Seaton With Slingley 2 869.57x
Alva 1 16.64x
Burdon 1 833.33x
Cardross 1 9.07x
Carisbrooke 1 10.29x
Carsphairn 1 175.44x
Cheadle 1 18.08x
Dundonald 1 10.62x
Foots Cray 1 44.84x
Glencairn 1 49.26x
Inch 1 22.62x
Irvine 1 14.08x
Kelton 1 24.63x
Kilwinning 1 12.12x
Lochmaben 1 30.21x
Paisley High Church 1 4.75x
Penninghame 1 21.65x
Prestwich 1 9.89x
Row 1 8.42x
Southwick 1 10.40x
Stewarton 1 19.76x
Stroud 1 7.67x
Torryburn 1 114.94x
Tranmere 1 3.61x
Tulliallan 1 38.46x
Tynemouth 1 3.68x
Washington 1 23.47x
West Derby 1 0.84x
Westoe 1 1.74x
Whithorn 1 28.99x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 17
Margaret 7
Sarah 6
Hannah 5
Agnes 4
Ann 4
Elizabeth 4
Ellen 4
Isabella 3
Anna 2
Catherine 2
Jane 2
Maria 2
Annie 1
Eliza 1
Elizth. 1
Emily 1
Ethel 1
Harriet 1
Jan 1
Levinia 1
Maggie 1
Margret 1
May 1
Rebecca 1
Rose 1
Violet 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 20
William 13
James 10
George 5
Robert 5
Henry 4
Thomas 4
Alexander 3
Hugh 3
Richard 3
Ralph 2
Afred 1
Albert 1
Alfred 1
Anthony 1
Archibald 1
Ben 1
Brownrigg 1
Edward 1
Gabriel 1
Isaac 1
Levi 1
Luke 1
Nicholas 1
Oliver 1
Ritchard 1
Wiliam 1

FAQ

Candlish surname: questions and answers

How common was the Candlish surname in 1881?

In 1881, 351 people were recorded with the Candlish surname. That placed it at #8,742 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Candlish surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 680 in 2016. That gives Candlish a modern rank of #7,884.

What does the Candlish surname mean?

An anglicized form of the Scottish Gaelic surname Cainndalach, meaning descendant of the candle maker or chandler.

What does the Candlish map show?

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