NameCensus.

UK surname

Clarkin

A locational surname originating from a place in Ireland meaning "little bright plain".

In the 1881 census there were 93 people recorded with the Clarkin surname, ranking it #20,593 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 278, ranked #15,579, up from #20,593 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Prestbury, Blantyre and Halifax. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Oldham, East Mains and Calderwood West and Nerston.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Clarkin is 293 in 2011. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 198.9%.

1881 census count

93

Ranked #20,593

Modern count

278

2016, ranked #15,579

Peak year

2011

293 bearers

Map years

5

1891 to 2016

Key insights

  • Clarkin had 93 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #20,593 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 278 in 2016, ranked #15,579.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 116 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Clarkin surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Clarkin surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Clarkin 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 17 #30,267
1861 historical 58 #26,585
1881 historical 93 #20,593
1891 historical 101 #23,870
1901 historical 116 #20,933
1911 historical 55 #27,313
1997 modern 282 #14,072
1998 modern 280 #14,550
1999 modern 271 #14,954
2000 modern 269 #14,983
2001 modern 260 #15,113
2002 modern 268 #15,081
2003 modern 262 #15,150
2004 modern 261 #15,274
2005 modern 262 #15,182
2006 modern 262 #15,255
2007 modern 267 #15,225
2008 modern 267 #15,349
2009 modern 278 #15,230
2010 modern 292 #15,018
2011 modern 293 #14,834
2012 modern 291 #14,806
2013 modern 282 #15,441
2014 modern 278 #15,692
2015 modern 280 #15,485
2016 modern 278 #15,579

Geography

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Where Clarkins are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Prestbury, Blantyre, Halifax, St Werburgh and Manchester. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Oldham, East Mains, Calderwood West and Nerston, Worcester 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 Prestbury Cheshire
2 Blantyre Lanark
3 Halifax Yorkshire, West Riding
4 St Werburgh Derbyshire
5 Manchester Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Oldham 021 Oldham
2 East Mains South Lanarkshire
3 Calderwood West and Nerston South Lanarkshire
4 Worcester 012 Worcester
5 Manchester 002 Manchester

Forenames

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First names often paired with Clarkin

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Clarkin

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Clarkin, 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 Clarkin surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Clarkin 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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Clarkin 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

Clarkin is most concentrated in decile 2 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Clarkin 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 Clarkin 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 - British

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

Meaning and origin of Clarkin

The surname Clarkin is of Irish origin, tracing its roots back to the 16th century. It is believed to have originated from the Gaelic name "O'Cleirchín," which means "descendant of the little clerk or cleric." This suggests that the name may have been borne by individuals who had ties to the Church or worked as minor clergymen.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Clarkin surname can be found in the Fiants of the Tudor Sovereigns, a collection of official documents from the 16th and 17th centuries. These records mention a Donill O'Clercane from County Tipperary in 1585. The surname's spelling has evolved over time, with variations such as Clarken, Clarkeen, and Clerkeen appearing in historical documents.

During the 17th century, the Clarkin surname gained prominence in County Monaghan, where several families bearing the name were recorded in the Hearth Money Rolls of 1663-1665. These rolls were used to collect a tax based on the number of hearths (fireplaces) in a household, providing valuable insights into the distribution of surnames across Ireland.

Notable individuals with the Clarkin surname include Edmond Clarkin (1798-1879), an Irish-born prelate who served as the seventh Bishop of Kingston, Canada. Another prominent figure was Patrick Clarkin (1810-1871), a journalist and political activist who advocated for Irish independence and played a role in the Young Irelander Rebellion of 1848.

In the 19th century, the Clarkin surname was also found in the United States, with individuals like James Clarkin (1832-1911), a businessman and politician from New York, and Michael Clarkin (1854-1926), a labor organizer and socialist activist who championed workers' rights.

While the Clarkin surname may not be as widespread as some other Irish surnames, it has left its mark on history through the contributions of various individuals who bore this name. From clergymen to political activists and businessmen, the Clarkin legacy reflects the diverse experiences of those with Irish roots.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Clarkin families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Clarkin 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. Lancashire leads with 26 Clarkins recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.42x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 26 2.42x
Lanarkshire 21 7.16x
Cheshire 10 4.99x
Sussex 9 5.88x
Northumberland 8 5.93x
Aberdeenshire 6 7.14x
Yorkshire 6 0.67x
West Lothian 2 14.64x
Angus 1 1.19x
Dunbartonshire 1 4.10x
Hampshire 1 0.54x
Midlothian 1 0.82x
Renfrewshire 1 1.42x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Blantyre in Lanarkshire leads with 11 Clarkins recorded in 1881 and an index of 360.66x.

Place Total Index
Blantyre 11 360.66x
Brighton 9 29.17x
Cambusnethan 7 107.36x
Manchester 7 14.46x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 5 31.81x
Barrow In Furness 5 34.15x
Birkenhead 5 31.33x
Macclesfield 5 56.18x
Southowram 5 182.48x
Westgate 5 59.81x
Skelmersdale 3 167.60x
Barton Upon Irwell 2 24.69x
Boness 2 106.38x
East Kilbride 2 158.73x
Liverpool 2 3.06x
Salford 2 6.32x
Wallsend 2 46.73x
Aberdeen Old Machar 1 5.70x
Bootle Cum Linacre 1 11.70x
Cheetham 1 12.45x
Dumbarton 1 29.50x
Dundee 1 3.19x
Farnborough 1 51.28x
Govan 1 1.38x
Lasswade 1 35.97x
Leeds 1 1.97x
Longbenton 1 17.48x
Middle Greenock 1 52.08x
Tyldesley Cum Shakerley 1 32.26x
Upholland 1 72.46x
West Derby 1 3.18x

Top female names

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

Name Count
James 6
John 3
Thomas 3
Denis 2
Andrew 1
Arthur 1
Charles 1
Christopher 1
Donald 1
Edward 1
Francis 1
Frank 1
Henry 1
Herbert 1
Jas. 1
Michael 1
Owen 1
P. 1
Patk. 1
Percy 1
Peter 1
Richard 1
William 1

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 Clarkin households.

FAQ

Clarkin surname: questions and answers

How common was the Clarkin surname in 1881?

In 1881, 93 people were recorded with the Clarkin surname. That placed it at #20,593 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Clarkin surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 278 in 2016. That gives Clarkin a modern rank of #15,579.

What does the Clarkin surname mean?

A locational surname originating from a place in Ireland meaning "little bright plain".

What does the Clarkin map show?

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