UK surname
Of Celtic origin referring to a person from Carron, Scotland.
In the 1881 census there were 96 people recorded with the Cearns surname, ranking it #20,248 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 62, ranked #34,227, down from #20,248 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Liverpool, West Derby and Bidstone. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cearns is 113 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 35.4%.
1881 census count
96
Ranked #20,248
Modern count
62
2016, ranked #34,227
Peak year
1891
113 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Cearns surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Cearns surname density by area, 1891 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 | 68 | #21,302 |
| 1861 | historical | 107 | #20,008 |
| 1881 | historical | 96 | #20,248 |
| 1891 | historical | 113 | #22,162 |
| 1901 | historical | 48 | #28,808 |
| 1911 | historical | 60 | #26,808 |
| 1997 | modern | 67 | #30,915 |
| 1998 | modern | 66 | #31,387 |
| 1999 | modern | 66 | #31,509 |
| 2000 | modern | 68 | #31,380 |
| 2001 | modern | 65 | #31,501 |
| 2002 | modern | 70 | #31,432 |
| 2003 | modern | 69 | #31,587 |
| 2004 | modern | 68 | #31,880 |
| 2005 | modern | 72 | #31,730 |
| 2006 | modern | 73 | #31,954 |
| 2007 | modern | 71 | #32,484 |
| 2008 | modern | 72 | #32,656 |
| 2009 | modern | 70 | #33,182 |
| 2010 | modern | 68 | #33,632 |
| 2011 | modern | 68 | #33,613 |
| 2012 | modern | 69 | #33,695 |
| 2013 | modern | 67 | #33,939 |
| 2014 | modern | 67 | #33,959 |
| 2015 | modern | 65 | #34,036 |
| 2016 | modern | 62 | #34,227 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Liverpool, West Derby, Bidstone, West Ham,Wanstead and Walton-on-the-Hill. 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 | Liverpool | Lancashire |
| 2 | West Derby | Lancashire |
| 3 | Bidstone | Cheshire |
| 4 | West Ham,Wanstead | Essex |
| 5 | Walton-on-the-Hill | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Cearns 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 Cearns, 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 Cearns surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Cearns 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, Cearns 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 Cearns is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Cearns, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Cearns is of Celtic origin, specifically deriving from the Scottish Gaelic language. It is believed to have originated in the medieval period, around the 12th or 13th century, in the Scottish Highlands and Hebrides islands. Cearns is thought to be a variant spelling of the name Cairns, which itself is derived from the Gaelic word "carn," meaning "rocky hill" or "cairn."
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Cearns can be found in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland from the year 1263, where a person named Thomas de Carnis is mentioned. This early spelling variation suggests that the name was already in use and established in Scotland by the 13th century.
In the 16th century, the name Cearns appeared in the Register of the Privy Seal of Scotland in the year 1549, where a certain Duncan Carn is recorded. This further solidifies the connection between the surnames Cearns and Cairns, as well as their Scottish origins.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname Cearns. One such person was John Cearns (c. 1749 - 1809), a British naval officer who served during the American Revolutionary War and the French Revolutionary Wars. Another was William Cearns (1823 - 1896), a Scottish-born journalist and author who emigrated to Australia and became a prominent figure in the literary circles of Melbourne.
In the 19th century, the name Cearns was also found in Ireland, likely due to Scottish migration and influence. One notable Irish bearer of the name was Patrick Cearns (1842 - 1913), a Catholic priest and author from County Mayo who wrote extensively on Irish history and folklore.
Another significant figure was James Cearns (1862 - 1939), a Scottish-American businessman and philanthropist who made his fortune in the steel industry in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He later donated a substantial sum to establish the Cearns Chair of Ophthalmology at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.
While the surname Cearns may have originated as a variant spelling of the more common Cairns, it has developed its own distinct identity and lineage over the centuries, with bearers of the name making significant contributions in various fields across multiple countries.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Cearns 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. Lancashire leads with 77 Cearns' recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.79x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 77 | 6.79x |
| Essex | 8 | 4.24x |
| Cheshire | 6 | 2.84x |
| Sussex | 5 | 3.10x |
| Leicestershire | 1 | 0.94x |
| Royal Navy | 1 | 8.78x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Liverpool in Lancashire leads with 32 Cearns' recorded in 1881 and an index of 46.45x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Liverpool | 32 | 46.45x |
| Everton | 13 | 35.96x |
| Widnes | 10 | 122.25x |
| West Ham | 8 | 19.20x |
| Kirkdale | 7 | 36.69x |
| West Derby | 7 | 21.10x |
| Birkenhead | 5 | 29.73x |
| Hove | 5 | 70.72x |
| Walton On Hill | 3 | 48.86x |
| Bootle Cum Linacre | 1 | 11.10x |
| Farnworth | 1 | 14.71x |
| Fulwood | 1 | 81.30x |
| Hinckley | 1 | 39.84x |
| Huyton With Roby | 1 | 75.19x |
| Oxton | 1 | 84.03x |
| Warrington | 1 | 7.43x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Cearns 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 Cearns 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 Cearns households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 19 |
| Independant | 5 |
| Carter | 2 |
| Genl Laborer | 2 |
| Hawker | 2 |
| Labourer | 2 |
| Laundress | 2 |
| No Occupation | 2 |
| Printer | 2 |
| ((Housekeeper)) | 1 |
| Book Folder | 1 |
| Cab Driver | 1 |
| Clerk (Passenger) | 1 |
| Dk Lab | 1 |
| Dock Lab | 1 |
| Dock Labourer | 1 |
| Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Dressmaker | 1 |
| Engine Driver Stoker In Manufactory | 1 |
| Farm Pupil | 1 |
| Fish Hawker | 1 |
| General Laborer | 1 |
| General Serv | 1 |
| Grocer Etc | 1 |
| Hair Dresser & Tripe Dealer | 1 |
| Ho | 1 |
| Housekeeper | 1 |
| Iron Dresser | 1 |
| Keeper Of St Margarets Church | 1 |
| Locomotive Engine ... | 1 |
| Mariner | 1 |
| Master Printer | 1 |
| Merchant | 1 |
| Painter | 1 |
| Printer Compositor | 1 |
| Private 4 Lanc Mil | 1 |
| Retired Farm Labourer | 1 |
| Servant | 1 |
| Servant Cook | 1 |
| Stock Taker Iron Wks | 1 |
| Unemployed | 1 |
| Upholsterer | 1 |
| Vest Maker | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 96 people were recorded with the Cearns surname. That placed it at #20,248 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 62 in 2016. That gives Cearns a modern rank of #34,227.
Of Celtic origin referring to a person from Carron, Scotland.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Cearns 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.