NameCensus.

UK surname

Clunie

A Scottish surname referring to a person from Cluny in Aberdeenshire.

In the 1881 census there were 441 people recorded with the Clunie surname, ranking it #7,422 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 520, ranked #9,720, down from #7,422 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Kirkcaldy Dysart and Abbotshall, Markinch and Govan Combination. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Windygates and Coaltown, Cardenden and Kinross.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Clunie is 548 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 17.9%.

1881 census count

441

Ranked #7,422

Modern count

520

2016, ranked #9,720

Peak year

1998

548 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Clunie had 441 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,422 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 520 in 2016, ranked #9,720.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 521 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Clunie surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Clunie surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Clunie 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 260 #8,512
1861 historical 280 #8,953
1881 historical 441 #7,422
1891 historical 490 #7,550
1901 historical 521 #7,811
1911 historical 132 #19,313
1997 modern 545 #8,727
1998 modern 548 #8,960
1999 modern 544 #9,055
2000 modern 515 #9,408
2001 modern 496 #9,526
2002 modern 493 #9,728
2003 modern 488 #9,657
2004 modern 483 #9,743
2005 modern 505 #9,379
2006 modern 488 #9,648
2007 modern 481 #9,844
2008 modern 496 #9,694
2009 modern 513 #9,654
2010 modern 532 #9,604
2011 modern 515 #9,745
2012 modern 511 #9,708
2013 modern 515 #9,804
2014 modern 520 #9,803
2015 modern 513 #9,836
2016 modern 520 #9,720

Geography

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Where Clunies are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Kirkcaldy Dysart and Abbotshall, Markinch, Govan Combination, Edinburgh and Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Windygates and Coaltown, Cardenden, Kinross, Markinch and Star and Craigmillar. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Kirkcaldy Dysart and Abbotshall Fife
2 Markinch Fife
3 Govan Combination Lanark
4 Edinburgh Edinburgh
5 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Windygates and Coaltown Fife
2 Cardenden Fife
3 Kinross Perth and Kinross
4 Markinch and Star Fife
5 Craigmillar City of Edinburgh

Forenames

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First names often paired with Clunie

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Clunie

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

Clunie 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

Clunie falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Clunie 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 Clunie, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Clunie

The surname Clunie is of Scottish origin, deriving from the Gaelic term "cluain," meaning "meadow" or "pasture." It is believed to have originated in the Perthshire region of Scotland, particularly around the village of Clunie.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Clunie name can be found in the Scottish Ragman Rolls of 1296, which listed individuals who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England during his invasion of Scotland. Among those listed was Thome de Clony, a probable early spelling variation of the surname.

The Clunie family held lands in the parish of Clunie, situated near the town of Blairgowrie in Perthshire. This area was once part of the ancient Kingdom of Fortrenn, and the name Clunie likely derived from the description of the local landscape.

In the 16th century, records show a John Clunie who was a prominent landowner and burgess (a member of the medieval town guild) in the nearby town of Perth. His son, also named John Clunie, became a respected clergyman and served as the minister of the parish of Borthwick in Midlothian.

Another notable figure bearing the Clunie surname was Sir Alexander Clunie, a Scottish merchant and diplomat who lived in the 17th century. He served as a representative of the Scottish Crown in various European courts and played a crucial role in negotiating trade agreements.

In the literary realm, John Clunie, born in 1743, was a Scottish poet and songwriter who penned several works celebrating the beauty of the Scottish Highlands and the traditional way of life.

During the 18th and 19th centuries, many individuals with the Clunie surname migrated from Scotland to other parts of the British Empire, including North America and Australia, contributing to the spread and diversification of the name worldwide.

It is worth noting that the Clunie surname has also been associated with several place names in Scotland, such as Clunie Castle, a ruined 16th-century castle located near the village of Clunie, and Clunie Loch, a small loch in the same area.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Clunie families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Clunie 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. Fife leads with 187 Clunies recorded in 1881 and an index of 73.60x.

County Total Index
Fife 187 73.60x
Angus 51 12.83x
Lancashire 36 0.71x
Perthshire 31 16.09x
Lanarkshire 27 1.95x
Renfrewshire 21 6.31x
Warwickshire 12 1.11x
Midlothian 10 1.74x
Northamptonshire 10 2.48x
Dunbartonshire 7 6.07x
Kinross-shire 7 64.52x
Hampshire 6 0.68x
Kent 6 0.41x
Essex 5 0.59x
Kirkcudbrightshire 4 6.44x
Middlesex 4 0.09x
West Lothian 4 6.19x
Ayrshire 2 0.62x
Peeblesshire 2 9.91x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.25x
Cheshire 1 0.11x
Northumberland 1 0.16x
Royal Navy 1 1.96x
Shropshire 1 0.27x
Somerset 1 0.14x
Surrey 1 0.05x
Sussex 1 0.14x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Abdie in Fife leads with 34 Clunies recorded in 1881 and an index of 2344.83x.

Place Total Index
Abdie 34 2344.83x
Dundee 25 16.84x
Dysart 18 105.20x
Newburgh 18 557.28x
Largo 17 515.15x
Wemyss 17 158.14x
Kinnoull 14 276.68x
Govan 12 3.50x
Markinch 11 127.46x
Aston 10 3.36x
Barrow In Furness 10 14.44x
Liff Benvie 10 16.57x
Northampton St Giles 10 65.02x
Barony 8 2.28x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 8 3.46x
Forfar 8 37.16x
Kinghorn 8 148.42x
Abbotshall 7 73.76x
Everton 7 4.31x
Glasgow 7 2.84x
Kinross 7 188.17x
Leslie 7 108.86x
Paisley Middle Church 7 36.14x
Scoonie 7 127.27x
Brixton 6 821.92x
Forgan 6 123.20x
Middle Greenock 6 66.08x
Newton 6 15.29x
Old Kilpatrick 6 44.02x
Salford 6 4.01x
St Vigeans 6 27.96x
Auchterderran 5 78.25x
Gravesend 5 40.32x
Port Glasgow 5 31.09x
Saline 5 354.61x
West Ham 5 2.67x
Balmaghie 4 294.12x
Boness 4 44.89x
Dunfermline 4 10.24x
Kettle 4 131.15x
Kirkcaldy 4 31.75x
Auchtermuchty 3 87.98x
Falkland 3 75.00x
Kinglassie 3 155.44x
St Madoes 3 652.17x
Toxteth Park 3 1.74x
Widnes 3 8.17x
Abernethy 2 79.37x
Bendochy 2 190.48x
Birmingham 2 0.55x
Ceres 2 65.57x
Chelsea London 2 1.55x
Kinfauns 2 229.89x
Muthill 2 79.68x
Riccarton Hurlford 2 35.52x
Strathmiglo 2 65.79x
West Greenock 2 3.35x
Acton 1 3.97x
Auchterarder 1 18.59x
Auchtergaven 1 30.96x
Berwick Upon Tweed 1 7.39x
Burnham 1 18.98x
Camberwell 1 0.36x
Cargill 1 49.75x
Charlton Next Woolwich 1 6.55x
Cupar 1 9.05x
Edinburgh St Georges 1 8.38x
Errol 1 28.01x
Greenock Newor Middle 1 333.33x
Inveresk 1 6.42x
Kilmany 1 107.53x
Little Bolton 1 1.53x
Little Meolse 1 74.07x
Montford 1 136.99x
Poplar London 1 1.23x
Row 1 6.70x
Royal Navy 1 2.29x
Stobo 1 142.86x
Tealing 1 90.09x
Tibbermore 1 36.23x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 7
James 6
Thomas 4
William 4
Joseph 3
Peter 3
Robert 3
Alfred 2
Charles 2
Andrew 1
Arthur 1
Douglas 1
Elias 1
Fredric 1
Harold 1
Henry 1
R.A. 1
R.B 1
Richard 1

FAQ

Clunie surname: questions and answers

How common was the Clunie surname in 1881?

In 1881, 441 people were recorded with the Clunie surname. That placed it at #7,422 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Clunie surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 520 in 2016. That gives Clunie a modern rank of #9,720.

What does the Clunie surname mean?

A Scottish surname referring to a person from Cluny in Aberdeenshire.

What does the Clunie map show?

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