NameCensus.

UK surname

Clyne

An English surname derived from a geographical location in Wales.

In the 1881 census there were 405 people recorded with the Clyne surname, ranking it #7,903 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 761, ranked #7,203, up from #7,903 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wick, Watten and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bury, South Tyneside and Rhondda Cynon Taf.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Clyne is 765 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 87.9%.

1881 census count

405

Ranked #7,903

Modern count

761

2016, ranked #7,203

Peak year

2010

765 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Clyne had 405 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,903 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 761 in 2016, ranked #7,203.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 570 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Clyne surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Clyne surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Clyne 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 278 #8,089
1861 historical 327 #7,788
1881 historical 405 #7,903
1891 historical 446 #8,123
1901 historical 570 #7,353
1911 historical 154 #17,553
1997 modern 707 #7,191
1998 modern 738 #7,191
1999 modern 736 #7,249
2000 modern 743 #7,154
2001 modern 715 #7,242
2002 modern 734 #7,228
2003 modern 712 #7,279
2004 modern 723 #7,205
2005 modern 715 #7,202
2006 modern 710 #7,273
2007 modern 710 #7,342
2008 modern 713 #7,373
2009 modern 750 #7,248
2010 modern 765 #7,279
2011 modern 743 #7,365
2012 modern 731 #7,372
2013 modern 735 #7,460
2014 modern 756 #7,326
2015 modern 757 #7,247
2016 modern 761 #7,203

Geography

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Where Clynes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wick, Watten, Edinburgh, Latheron and Thurso. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bury, South Tyneside, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wirral and Longside and Rattray. 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 Wick Caithness
2 Watten Caithness
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 Latheron Caithness
5 Thurso Caithness

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bury 024 Bury
2 South Tyneside 013 South Tyneside
3 Rhondda Cynon Taf 012 Rhondda Cynon Taf
4 Wirral 042 Wirral
5 Longside and Rattray Aberdeenshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Clyne

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Clyne

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Clyne is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Clyne is most concentrated in decile 3 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Clyne falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Clyne is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Clyne

The surname Clyne has its origins in Scotland, specifically in the Scottish Highlands. It is believed to have derived from the Gaelic word "cluain," which means "meadow" or "pasture." The name likely originated as a topographic surname, referring to someone who lived near or worked in a meadow or pastureland.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Clyne can be traced back to the 13th century. One of the earliest documented bearers of the name was Donald Clyne, who was mentioned in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland in 1264. The name was also found in various Scottish charters and records throughout the Middle Ages, often appearing with slight variations in spelling, such as "Clune" or "Cluny."

In the 16th century, the name Clyne was particularly prevalent in the counties of Inverness and Nairn in the Scottish Highlands. Records from this time period show that the Clynes were a prominent family in the region, with some members holding influential positions within the local communities.

One notable figure from history bearing the surname Clyne was Sir Alexander Clyne (1570-1638), a Scottish landowner and politician who served as a member of the Scottish Parliament. He was a prominent figure in the affairs of the Scottish Kirk and played a significant role in the tumultuous events leading up to the Wars of the Three Kingdoms.

Another notable individual was John Clyne (1714-1789), a Scottish minister and author who served as the minister of the Tron Kirk in Edinburgh. He was known for his writings on theology and his involvement in the religious debates of his time.

In the 19th century, the surname Clyne gained some prominence in the literary world with the Scottish author and poet, William Clyne (1803-1865). He was renowned for his works celebrating Scottish culture and landscapes, such as "The Norlan' Muir" and "The Braes o' Gleniff."

Other notable bearers of the surname Clyne include Sir David Clyne (1850-1924), a Scottish industrialist and philanthropist who made significant contributions to the development of the iron and steel industry in Glasgow, and Sir James Clyne (1856-1944), a Scottish lawyer and judge who served as Lord President of the Court of Session, Scotland's highest civil court.

While the surname Clyne has its roots in Scotland, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly through Scottish emigration and diaspora. However, its origins and historical significance remain firmly rooted in the Scottish Highlands, where it has been a part of the cultural tapestry for centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Clyne families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Clyne 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. Caithness leads with 171 Clynes recorded in 1881 and an index of 316.14x.

County Total Index
Caithness 171 316.14x
Aberdeenshire 81 22.14x
Angus 37 10.11x
Lancashire 21 0.45x
Midlothian 14 2.65x
Yorkshire 9 0.23x
Orkney 8 18.41x
Fife 7 2.99x
Gloucestershire 7 0.90x
Perthshire 7 3.95x
East Lothian 6 11.47x
Banffshire 5 6.10x
Middlesex 5 0.13x
Stirlingshire 5 3.43x
Kent 4 0.30x
Northumberland 4 0.68x
Cornwall 2 0.45x
Essex 2 0.26x
Norfolk 2 0.33x
Surrey 2 0.10x
Cumberland 1 0.29x
Derbyshire 1 0.16x
Inverness-shire 1 0.85x
Lincolnshire 1 0.16x
Royal Navy 1 2.12x
Staffordshire 1 0.08x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Wick in Caithness leads with 77 Clynes recorded in 1881 and an index of 440.76x.

Place Total Index
Wick 77 440.76x
Latheron 21 232.04x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 19 27.76x
Aberdeen Old Machar 18 23.56x
Bower 17 779.82x
Thurso 17 201.42x
Olrig 14 518.52x
Peterhead 14 72.35x
Watten 14 736.84x
New Machar 9 436.89x
Forfar 8 40.36x
Old Deer 8 115.44x
Stronsay Eday 8 281.69x
Bristol St James St Paul 7 27.09x
Brechin 6 41.72x
Craig 6 169.97x
Halkirk 6 163.93x
Hulme 6 6.13x
Pencaitland 6 402.68x
Perth West Church 6 71.34x
West Derby 6 4.37x
Bothkennar 5 114.94x
Dundee 5 3.66x
Dunnet 5 230.41x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 5 2.35x
Menmuir 5 490.20x
Barton Upon Irwell 4 11.33x
Deptford St Paul 4 3.85x
Richmond 4 65.36x
St Andrews 4 37.59x
Arbroath 3 24.73x
Berwick Upon Tweed 3 24.10x
Cullen 3 98.68x
Edinburgh Lady Yesters 3 81.74x
Everton 3 2.01x
Mile End Old Town London 3 3.57x
Northowram 3 10.93x
Anstruther West 2 20000.00x
Crimond 2 176.99x
Kemnay 2 90.09x
Little Ilford 2 148.15x
Liverpool 2 0.70x
New Deer 2 30.21x
Newington 2 1.37x
Norwich St Stephen 2 35.84x
St Michael Penkievel 2 952.38x
Aismunderby Cum 1 90.09x
Ardersier 1 35.34x
Auchterhouse 1 111.11x
Belhelvie 1 40.00x
Bromley London 1 1.15x
Buckhaven 1 10000.00x
Cairney 1 46.95x
Chesterfield 1 4.31x
Edinburgh Buccleuch 1 7.99x
Edinburgh St Georges 1 9.11x
Edinburgh St Stephens 1 9.60x
Edzell 1 89.29x
Fawdon 1 204.08x
Fraserburgh 1 9.71x
Gedney Hill 1 227.27x
Glass 1 71.43x
Grange 1 41.67x
Islington London 1 0.26x
King Edward 1 23.70x
Lasswade 1 8.26x
Marnoch 1 22.73x
Methven 1 38.46x
Middleham 1 90.09x
Montrose 1 4.51x
Newhills 1 13.35x
North Leith 1 4.08x
Peterculter 1 38.76x
Royal Navy 1 2.49x
South Leith 1 1.68x
St Vigeans 1 5.06x
Stanwix 1 36.36x
Wolverhampton 1 0.98x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Clyne 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 Clyne 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 Clyne households.

FAQ

Clyne surname: questions and answers

How common was the Clyne surname in 1881?

In 1881, 405 people were recorded with the Clyne surname. That placed it at #7,903 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Clyne surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 761 in 2016. That gives Clyne a modern rank of #7,203.

What does the Clyne surname mean?

An English surname derived from a geographical location in Wales.

What does the Clyne map show?

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