NameCensus.

UK surname

Cleland

From a place name meaning "clay land," referring to an area with heavy clay soil.

In the 1881 census there were 793 people recorded with the Cleland surname, ranking it #4,693 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,201, ranked #4,954, down from #4,693 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to New Monkland, Bothwell and Govan Combination. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wakefield, King's Lynn and West Norfolk and Carluke West.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cleland is 1,231 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 51.5%.

1881 census count

793

Ranked #4,693

Modern count

1,201

2016, ranked #4,954

Peak year

1999

1,231 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Cleland had 793 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,693 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,201 in 2016, ranked #4,954.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,020 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Cleland surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Cleland surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Cleland 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 834 #3,247
1861 historical 767 #3,583
1881 historical 793 #4,693
1891 historical 966 #4,279
1901 historical 1,020 #4,679
1911 historical 257 #12,658
1997 modern 1,138 #4,931
1998 modern 1,196 #4,896
1999 modern 1,231 #4,811
2000 modern 1,225 #4,808
2001 modern 1,169 #4,930
2002 modern 1,188 #4,941
2003 modern 1,155 #4,966
2004 modern 1,161 #4,956
2005 modern 1,179 #4,835
2006 modern 1,187 #4,820
2007 modern 1,199 #4,817
2008 modern 1,203 #4,829
2009 modern 1,218 #4,881
2010 modern 1,222 #4,960
2011 modern 1,209 #4,938
2012 modern 1,173 #5,002
2013 modern 1,190 #5,023
2014 modern 1,201 #5,018
2015 modern 1,198 #4,980
2016 modern 1,201 #4,954

Geography

Back to top

Where Clelands are most common

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

The modern local-area list points to Wakefield, King's Lynn and West Norfolk, Carluke West, Newmains and Harthill and Salsburgh. 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 New Monkland Lanark
2 Bothwell Lanark
3 Govan Combination Lanark
4 Edinburgh Edinburgh
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wakefield 034 Wakefield
2 King's Lynn and West Norfolk 003 King's Lynn and West Norfolk
3 Carluke West South Lanarkshire
4 Newmains North Lanarkshire
5 Harthill and Salsburgh North Lanarkshire

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Cleland

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Cleland

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

Cleland 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

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

Meaning and origin of Cleland

The surname Cleland has its origins in Scotland, originating from the lands of Cleland in Lanarkshire. The name is derived from the Gaelic words 'clach' meaning stone and 'leamhan' meaning elm tree, suggesting the name may have been a descriptive one referring to the location of an elm tree near a stone or rocky area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a record of Scottish nobles and landowners who swore fealty to King Edward I of England. The name appears as 'de Clelande', referring to William de Clelande, a landowner from the area.

In the 15th century, the Cleland family held lands in Monkland, near Glasgow, and the name is recorded in various charters and records from that time. A notable member of the family was John Cleland, who lived from around 1400 to 1480 and was a Scottish clergyman and scholar.

The name appears in the 16th century in the records of the Scottish Exchequer Rolls, which document tax payments and other financial transactions. In 1531, John Cleland of Monkland is mentioned as paying a fine for non-appearance at court.

One of the most famous individuals with the surname Cleland was William Cleland, a Scottish writer and soldier who lived from 1661 to 1689. He is best known for his erotic novel 'Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure', published under the pseudonym Fanny Hill in 1748.

In the 18th century, the name is associated with James Cleland, a Scottish merchant and plantation owner who lived from 1728 to 1784. He was involved in the tobacco trade and owned plantations in Virginia and Maryland.

Another notable figure was John Cleland, a Scottish artist and engraver who lived from 1770 to 1837. He is known for his detailed engravings of landscapes and architectural subjects, particularly in Edinburgh and the surrounding areas.

The 19th century saw the rise of Sir James Cleland, a Scottish businessman and industrialist who lived from 1832 to 1917. He was involved in the iron and steel industry and played a significant role in the development of Glasgow's industrial sector.

Overall, the surname Cleland has a rich history rooted in the lands of Scotland, with various branches and individuals making their mark in various fields throughout the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Cleland families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Cleland 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. Lanarkshire leads with 326 Clelands recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.05x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 326 13.05x
Stirlingshire 88 30.88x
Ayrshire 73 12.63x
Midlothian 65 6.28x
Middlesex 33 0.43x
Dunbartonshire 29 13.97x
Renfrewshire 23 3.84x
Surrey 18 0.48x
West Lothian 14 12.03x
Lancashire 13 0.14x
Northumberland 11 0.96x
Angus 9 1.26x
Perthshire 9 2.60x
Yorkshire 8 0.10x
Kirkcudbrightshire 7 6.26x
Staffordshire 7 0.27x
Essex 6 0.39x
Royal Navy 5 5.43x
Derbyshire 4 0.33x
Gloucestershire 4 0.26x
Kent 4 0.15x
Wigtownshire 4 3.90x
Worcestershire 4 0.40x
Devon 3 0.19x
East Lothian 3 2.93x
Fife 3 0.66x
Selkirkshire 3 4.29x
Aberdeenshire 2 0.28x
Berwickshire 2 2.14x
Hampshire 2 0.13x
Nottinghamshire 2 0.19x
Roxburghshire 2 1.43x
Cheshire 1 0.06x
Durham 1 0.04x
Herefordshire 1 0.32x
Hertfordshire 1 0.19x
Lincolnshire 1 0.08x
Peeblesshire 1 2.75x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kilsyth in Stirlingshire leads with 87 Clelands recorded in 1881 and an index of 478.81x.

Place Total Index
Kilsyth 87 478.81x
Govan 64 10.36x
Glasgow 56 12.62x
Barony 55 8.70x
Loudoun 55 395.40x
Bothwell 35 51.65x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 30 7.20x
Kirkintilloch 21 74.47x
Cambusnethan 16 28.83x
Old Monkland 16 16.14x
Lesmahagow 14 52.99x
New Monkland 10 13.54x
Aberfoyle 9 725.81x
Dalziel 9 33.48x
Bow London 8 8.13x
Dalserf 8 32.09x
Kirknewton 8 268.46x
Bootle Cum Linacre 7 9.62x
Dundee 7 2.62x
Edinburgh St Stephens 7 34.36x
Gorbals 7 47.20x
Lambeth 7 1.04x
Torphichen 7 172.84x
Walsall Foreign 7 5.20x
Whitburn 7 41.64x
Battersea 6 2.11x
Blantyre 6 23.07x
Kilbirnie 6 43.23x
Kilmarnock 6 8.72x
Kirkcudbright 6 64.79x
Shotts 6 20.07x
West Greenock 6 5.58x
Acton 5 11.04x
Ayr 5 18.32x
Cadder 5 27.10x
Eastwood 5 13.56x
Maryhill 5 10.22x
North Leith 5 10.44x
Row 5 18.62x
West Ham 5 1.49x
Westgate 5 7.02x
Carluke 4 17.63x
Dudley 4 3.26x
Huddersfield 4 3.59x
Neilston 4 13.31x
Paisley Low Church 4 21.11x
Royal Navy 4 5.08x
Walston 4 444.44x
Whithorn 4 51.15x
Almondbury 3 8.10x
Croydon 3 1.44x
Edinburgh Buccleuch 3 12.25x
Edinburgh St Johns 3 45.94x
Edinburgh St Marys 3 14.91x
Failsworth 3 14.31x
Hackney London 3 0.69x
Hamilton 3 4.30x
Longbenton 3 6.16x
New Kilpatrick 3 15.19x
Prestonpans 3 43.73x
Shoreditch London 3 0.90x
South Leith 3 2.58x
Stokefleming 3 148.51x
Stow 3 297.03x
Wallsend 3 8.23x
Wirksworth 3 27.27x
Aberdeen Old Machar 2 1.34x
Basford 2 4.17x
Bristol St James St Paul 2 3.96x
Coldstream 2 29.54x
Halton 2 103.09x
Inveresk 2 7.14x
Kelso 2 14.35x
Kensington London 2 0.47x
Lee 2 5.23x
Poplar London 2 1.37x
Renfrew 2 10.12x
St Pancras London 2 0.32x
Strathmartine 2 63.09x
Westminster St John 2 2.13x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 8
Ann 5
Elizabeth 4
Sarah 4
Charlotte 3
Agnes 2
Annie 2
Caroline 2
Edith 2
Eliza 2
Jane 2
Margaret 2
Rosa 2
... 1
Ada 1
Amny 1
Ellen 1
Florence 1
Helen 1
Helena 1
Hetty 1
Isabella 1
M.King 1
Margt. 1
Maria 1
Marth 1
Mima 1
Nellie 1
Priscilla 1
Rebecca 1
Rose 1
S.Lang 1
Sophie 1
Thomasina 1
Winifred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 8
John 7
William 6
Henry 4
Alexander 3
Andrew 3
Samuel 3
Arthur 2
George 2
Joseph 2
R.B. 2
Robert 2
Thomas 2
Alfred 1
Allan 1
Charles 1
Cleland 1
David 1
Douglas 1
Edward 1
Edwd.J.C. 1
Ernest 1
Frederick 1
Hance 1
Henery 1
Herbert 1
Jas. 1
Jas.T. 1
Jno.Hen. 1
Peter 1
Ramsey 1
Sydney 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Cleland surname: questions and answers

How common was the Cleland surname in 1881?

In 1881, 793 people were recorded with the Cleland surname. That placed it at #4,693 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Cleland surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,201 in 2016. That gives Cleland a modern rank of #4,954.

What does the Cleland surname mean?

From a place name meaning "clay land," referring to an area with heavy clay soil.

What does the Cleland map show?

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