NameCensus.

UK surname

Canny

A surname derived from the Scottish word "canny," meaning wise, prudent, or shrewd.

In the 1881 census there were 60 people recorded with the Canny surname, ranking it #25,133 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 241, ranked #17,233, up from #25,133 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Luton, Welwyn Hatfield and North West Leicestershire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Canny is 253 in 2011. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 301.7%.

1881 census count

60

Ranked #25,133

Modern count

241

2016, ranked #17,233

Peak year

2011

253 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Canny had 60 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #25,133 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 241 in 2016, ranked #17,233.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 74 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Canny surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Canny surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Canny 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 34 #27,194
1861 historical 51 #27,498
1881 historical 60 #25,133
1891 historical 63 #28,881
1901 historical 74 #25,958
1911 historical 43 #28,581
1997 modern 202 #17,514
1998 modern 214 #17,366
1999 modern 216 #17,364
2000 modern 216 #17,340
2001 modern 220 #16,914
2002 modern 221 #17,206
2003 modern 231 #16,504
2004 modern 240 #16,144
2005 modern 245 #15,857
2006 modern 238 #16,288
2007 modern 238 #16,505
2008 modern 234 #16,827
2009 modern 234 #17,194
2010 modern 236 #17,427
2011 modern 253 #16,493
2012 modern 239 #17,027
2013 modern 243 #17,114
2014 modern 237 #17,528
2015 modern 244 #17,090
2016 modern 241 #17,233

Geography

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Where Cannys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Luton, Welwyn Hatfield, North West Leicestershire, Pembrokeshire and Manchester. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Luton 021 Luton
2 Welwyn Hatfield 007 Welwyn Hatfield
3 North West Leicestershire 001 North West Leicestershire
4 Pembrokeshire 012 Pembrokeshire
5 Manchester 029 Manchester

Forenames

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First names often paired with Canny

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Canny

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Canny surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Canny household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Canny 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

Canny is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Canny falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Canny is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Irish

This describes the area pattern most associated with Canny, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Canny

The surname CANNY has its origins in the northern English county of Northumberland. It is derived from the Old English word "canny", which means wise, prudent or cautious. The name may have originally been a nickname for someone who was considered a particularly shrewd or clever individual.

The earliest recorded instance of the CANNY surname dates back to the late 12th century. A Roger Canny was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Northumberland in 1195. This suggests the name was already well-established in the region by the late 12th century.

In the 13th century, the CANNY surname started appearing in various records and charters across northern England. A William Canny was noted in the Assize Rolls of Northumberland in 1279. Around the same time, a John Canny was recorded in the Hundred Rolls of Yorkshire in 1273.

The CANNY name has historical ties to several place names in Northumberland. The village of Cannygate likely took its name from the surname, with records showing it was spelled as "Canygat" in 1279. There is also a Canny Burn river in the county.

One of the earliest notable individuals with the CANNY surname was Richard Canny, a merchant and burgess of Newcastle upon Tyne in the late 14th century. He is recorded as having served as the town's mayor in 1390.

During the 16th century, the CANNY name spread further across northern England and into southern Scotland. George Canny (1512-1573) was a Protestant reformer from Northumberland who faced persecution for his religious beliefs.

In the 17th century, Edward Canny (1619-1674) was an English clergyman who served as the Archdeacon of Norfolk. He was known for his strong Puritan leanings.

The 18th century saw the birth of Thomas Canny (1730-1810), a prosperous London merchant and philanthropist. He donated large sums to establish schools and almshouses in his native Northumberland.

A more recent notable bearer of the CANNY surname was Sir Francis Gerard Canny (1882-1952), a British colonial administrator who served as Governor of the Bahamas from 1934 to 1940.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Canny families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Canny 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. Middlesex leads with 17 Cannys recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.17x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 17 3.17x
Cheshire 6 5.07x
Midlothian 6 8.35x
Angus 5 10.06x
Wiltshire 5 10.54x
Kent 4 2.19x
Lanarkshire 4 2.31x
Cumberland 2 4.33x
Durham 2 1.25x
Somerset 2 2.32x
Dunbartonshire 1 6.94x
Gloucestershire 1 0.95x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Islington London in Middlesex leads with 8 Cannys recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.39x.

Place Total Index
Islington London 8 15.39x
Currie 6 1363.64x
Dukinfield 6 109.69x
Box 5 1250.00x
Hammersmith London 5 37.85x
Liff Benvie 5 66.31x
Bromley 4 143.37x
Glasgow 4 12.99x
Fulham London 3 38.56x
Sunderland 2 70.92x
Wigton 2 289.86x
Bathwick 1 104.17x
Bonhill 1 43.29x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 1 10.10x
Spitalfields London 1 24.81x
Weston 1 151.52x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Martha 3
Anne 2
Sarah 2
Ada 1
Ann 1
Bridget 1
Cath. 1
Eliza 1
Ella 1
Frances 1
Francis 1
Grace 1
Honor 1
Kate 1
Lydia 1
Maria 1
Mary 1

Top male names

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

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 Canny households.

FAQ

Canny surname: questions and answers

How common was the Canny surname in 1881?

In 1881, 60 people were recorded with the Canny surname. That placed it at #25,133 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Canny surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 241 in 2016. That gives Canny a modern rank of #17,233.

What does the Canny surname mean?

A surname derived from the Scottish word "canny," meaning wise, prudent, or shrewd.

What does the Canny map show?

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