NameCensus.

UK surname

Eglinton

A locational surname derived from Eglinton, Scotland.

In the 1881 census there were 231 people recorded with the Eglinton surname, ranking it #11,722 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 329, ranked #13,798, down from #11,722 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bothwell, Dalziel and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall, Swale and Leicester.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Eglinton is 365 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 42.4%.

1881 census count

231

Ranked #11,722

Modern count

329

2016, ranked #13,798

Peak year

2002

365 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Eglinton had 231 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,722 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 329 in 2016, ranked #13,798.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 294 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Eglinton surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Eglinton surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Eglinton 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 138 #13,745
1861 historical 201 #11,949
1881 historical 231 #11,722
1891 historical 288 #11,450
1901 historical 294 #11,805
1911 historical 237 #13,406
1997 modern 318 #13,024
1998 modern 337 #12,859
1999 modern 352 #12,552
2000 modern 364 #12,223
2001 modern 358 #12,181
2002 modern 365 #12,246
2003 modern 347 #12,479
2004 modern 327 #13,094
2005 modern 329 #12,966
2006 modern 344 #12,600
2007 modern 341 #12,840
2008 modern 341 #12,958
2009 modern 341 #13,214
2010 modern 345 #13,370
2011 modern 339 #13,404
2012 modern 325 #13,720
2013 modern 343 #13,372
2014 modern 342 #13,498
2015 modern 338 #13,527
2016 modern 329 #13,798

Geography

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Where Eglintons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bothwell, Dalziel, London parishes, Govan Combination and Birmingham Town: Birmingham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall, Swale, Leicester and Braintree. 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 Bothwell Lanark
2 Dalziel Lanark
3 London parishes London 3
4 Govan Combination Lanark
5 Birmingham Town: Birmingham Warwickshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 026 Cornwall
2 Swale 012 Swale
3 Leicester 032 Leicester
4 Cornwall 021 Cornwall
5 Braintree 016 Braintree

Forenames

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First names often paired with Eglinton

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Eglinton

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Eglinton, 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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Eglinton surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Eglinton household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Eglinton is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Eglinton is most concentrated in decile 5 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Eglinton falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Eglinton

The surname Eglinton has its origins in Scotland, tracing back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Old English words "Ægels" meaning "of the Angles" and "dun" meaning a hill or fortified place, combined to form the name of the town of Eaglesham in East Renfrewshire.

The name is closely associated with the ancient parish and village of Eaglesham, which was recorded as "Eglisham" in the 13th century and "Eglesholm" in the 16th century. The Eglinton family was one of the most prominent noble families in Scotland, with roots in the area dating back to the 12th century.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name is Sir Hugh de Eglinton, who was a witness to a charter granted by King Alexander II of Scotland in 1239. The family's ancestral seat was Eglinton Castle, located near the village of Kilwinning in North Ayrshire.

In the 14th century, Sir John de Eglinton was a Scottish knight who fought alongside King Robert the Bruce during the Wars of Scottish Independence. He was rewarded with lands and titles for his loyalty and bravery.

Another notable figure was Alexander Montgomerie, 9th Earl of Eglinton (1660-1729), who was a Scottish soldier and peer. He served as a Privy Counsellor and Lord Lieutenant of Ayrshire.

Hugh Montgomerie, 12th Earl of Eglinton (1739-1819), was a prominent Scottish nobleman and Freemason. He played a significant role in the development of the town of Ardrossan and the construction of the Eglinton Castle.

Archibald William Montgomerie, 13th Earl of Eglinton (1812-1892), was a Scottish politician and landowner. He was an influential figure in the Conservative Party and served as Lord Lieutenant of Ayrshire.

George Arnulph Montgomerie, 15th Earl of Eglinton (1848-1919), was a British Army officer and peer. He served as Lord Lieutenant of Ayrshire and was a prominent figure in the local community.

These are just a few examples of the historical significance and prominence of the surname Eglinton, which has its roots firmly planted in the Scottish nobility and landowners of the medieval and early modern periods.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Eglinton families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Eglinton 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 89 Eglintons recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.21x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 89 12.21x
Staffordshire 22 2.89x
Lancashire 15 0.56x
Renfrewshire 15 8.59x
Surrey 15 1.37x
Middlesex 13 0.58x
Yorkshire 13 0.58x
Norfolk 8 2.31x
Somerset 8 2.21x
Durham 6 0.90x
Northumberland 5 1.49x
Dunbartonshire 4 6.61x
Gloucestershire 4 0.91x
Kent 4 0.52x
Derbyshire 3 0.85x
Northamptonshire 2 0.94x
Sussex 2 0.53x
Fife 1 0.75x
Lincolnshire 1 0.28x
Midlothian 1 0.33x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bothwell in Lanarkshire leads with 25 Eglintons recorded in 1881 and an index of 126.52x.

Place Total Index
Bothwell 25 126.52x
Barony 16 8.68x
Dalziel 12 153.06x
Harborne 12 49.22x
Kirkdale 11 24.46x
New Monkland 10 46.43x
Southwark St George Martyr 9 19.85x
Almondbury 8 74.07x
Clevedon 8 212.20x
Govan 8 4.44x
Heigham 8 43.01x
Abbey 7 26.28x
Glasgow 7 5.41x
Camberwell 6 4.17x
Stockton On Tees 6 18.57x
Walsall Foreign 6 15.27x
Clerkenwell London 5 9.40x
North Shields 5 74.74x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 4 9.61x
Dartford 4 50.89x
Hamilton 4 19.69x
Islington London 4 1.83x
Shettleston 4 61.35x
Derby St Alkmund 3 28.38x
Holy Trinity 3 5.59x
Bow London 2 6.97x
Brighton 2 2.61x
Cathcart 2 21.16x
Fulwood 2 69.20x
Inverkip 2 48.54x
Mearns 2 65.36x
New Kilpatrick 2 34.72x
Old Monkland 2 6.92x
Walsall Borough 2 33.90x
Warkworth 2 104.71x
Bilston 1 6.78x
Blantyre 1 13.18x
Boston 1 9.15x
Didsbury 1 28.17x
Edinburgh St Stephens 1 16.84x
Kemback 1 151.52x
Kingstonupon Hull 1 55.87x
Mile End Old Town London 1 2.09x
Old Kilpatrick 1 13.97x
Paisley High Church 1 7.19x
Row 1 12.77x
Sculcoates 1 2.82x
St Martin In Fields 1 7.41x
Toxteth Park 1 1.10x
West Greenock 1 3.19x
Wolverhampton 1 1.71x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Ellen 5
Mary 5
Sarah 4
Alice 3
Annie 3
Clara 3
Louisa 3
Minnie 3
Agnes 2
Ann 2
Elizabeth 2
Emily 2
Florence 2
Hannah 2
Miriam 2
Amelia 1
Biller 1
Blanch 1
Bridget 1
Caroline 1
Charlotte 1
Eliza 1
Emma 1
Ethel 1
Flora 1
Frances 1
Grace 1
Jane 1
Janet 1
Jessie 1
Laura 1
Louise 1
Lydia 1
Margret 1
Marian 1
Martha 1
Olive 1
Rosa 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 7
John 6
George 5
Thomas 4
Henry 3
Benjamin 2
Charles 2
Edward 2
Frederick 2
James 2
Joseph 2
Robert 2
Soloman 2
Andrw 1
Arthur 1
Ed. 1
Fredk.G. 1
Harry 1
Patrick 1
Richard 1
Robt. 1
Saml. 1
Samuel 1
Thos. 1
Tom 1
W. 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Eglinton surname: questions and answers

How common was the Eglinton surname in 1881?

In 1881, 231 people were recorded with the Eglinton surname. That placed it at #11,722 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Eglinton surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 329 in 2016. That gives Eglinton a modern rank of #13,798.

What does the Eglinton surname mean?

A locational surname derived from Eglinton, Scotland.

What does the Eglinton map show?

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