NameCensus.

UK surname

Flockhart

A locational surname derived from a place called Flockhart in Scotland.

In the 1881 census there were 567 people recorded with the Flockhart surname, ranking it #6,120 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 843, ranked #6,627, down from #6,120 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Kinross, Tranent and Govan Combination. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include IZ09, Niddrie and Old Town, Princes Street and Leith Street.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Flockhart is 905 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 48.7%.

1881 census count

567

Ranked #6,120

Modern count

843

2016, ranked #6,627

Peak year

1999

905 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Flockhart had 567 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,120 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 843 in 2016, ranked #6,627.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 743 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Flockhart surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Flockhart surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Flockhart 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 332 #7,031
1861 historical 381 #6,712
1881 historical 567 #6,120
1891 historical 654 #5,939
1901 historical 743 #5,985
1911 historical 152 #17,712
1997 modern 861 #6,177
1998 modern 866 #6,341
1999 modern 905 #6,174
2000 modern 892 #6,215
2001 modern 872 #6,208
2002 modern 896 #6,215
2003 modern 846 #6,369
2004 modern 824 #6,507
2005 modern 827 #6,432
2006 modern 827 #6,448
2007 modern 841 #6,428
2008 modern 855 #6,393
2009 modern 861 #6,508
2010 modern 861 #6,625
2011 modern 829 #6,743
2012 modern 834 #6,628
2013 modern 851 #6,624
2014 modern 860 #6,608
2015 modern 832 #6,710
2016 modern 843 #6,627

Geography

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Where Flockharts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Kinross, Tranent, 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 IZ09, Niddrie, Old Town, Princes Street and Leith Street, IZ17 and Inverness East Rural. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Kinross Kinross
2 Tranent Haddington
3 Govan Combination Lanark
4 Edinburgh Edinburgh
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 IZ09 East Lothian
2 Niddrie City of Edinburgh
3 Old Town, Princes Street and Leith Street City of Edinburgh
4 IZ17 East Lothian
5 Inverness East Rural Highland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Flockhart

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Flockhart

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

Flockhart 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

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

Meaning and origin of Flockhart

The surname Flockhart is of Scottish origin, with its roots traced back to the Lowlands region of Scotland in the medieval period. The name is believed to be derived from the Old English words "flocc," meaning "flock" or "herd of animals," and "hyrde," which translates to "herdsman" or "shepherd." This suggests that the earliest bearers of this surname were involved in tending flocks of sheep or other livestock.

During the 12th and 13th centuries, the name appeared in various forms, such as Flokhart, Flokehert, and Flokkehird, reflecting the linguistic evolution and regional variations in spelling. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name is found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, where a John Flokkart from Roxburghshire is listed as swearing fealty to King Edward I of England.

In the 14th century, the Flockhart name is mentioned in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland, which were financial records maintained by the Scottish government. A notable figure from this era is William Flockhart, a landowner from Perthshire, who was granted a charter for his lands in 1372.

As the centuries progressed, the Flockharts continued to establish themselves as prominent figures in various parts of Scotland. In the 16th century, a branch of the family settled in Stirlingshire, where they acquired the lands of Balnacreich. One of the most celebrated members of this line was Sir Robert Flockhart (1588-1664), a renowned military commander who served in the Swedish army during the Thirty Years' War.

Another prominent individual bearing the Flockhart name was John Flockhart (1767-1845), a successful merchant and philanthropist from Edinburgh. He amassed a considerable fortune through his trading ventures and donated generously to various charitable causes, including the establishment of the Flockhart Dispensary, which provided medical care to the poor.

In the literary realm, the Flockhart surname is associated with the Scottish poet and novelist Ronald Flockhart (1923-1962), whose works explored themes of social injustice and working-class life in Scotland. His most notable works include "The Restless Image" and "The Butterfly Man."

Other notable individuals with the surname Flockhart include Sir Robert Flockhart (1892-1976), a highly decorated British Army officer who served in both World Wars, and Calista Flockhart (born 1964), an American actress best known for her role in the television series "Ally McBeal."

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Flockhart families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Flockhart 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. Midlothian leads with 178 Flockharts recorded in 1881 and an index of 24.02x.

County Total Index
Midlothian 178 24.02x
Lanarkshire 81 4.53x
Fife 61 18.63x
Renfrewshire 37 8.63x
Lancashire 34 0.52x
Angus 31 6.05x
Middlesex 25 0.45x
East Lothian 22 30.03x
Perthshire 17 6.85x
Kinross-shire 15 107.30x
Northumberland 13 1.58x
Clackmannanshire 12 26.27x
Surrey 12 0.45x
Roxburghshire 10 9.98x
Aberdeenshire 9 1.76x
Shetland 3 5.31x
Essex 2 0.18x
Argyllshire 1 0.65x
Berwickshire 1 1.49x
Dunbartonshire 1 0.67x
Durham 1 0.06x
Kent 1 0.05x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Govan in Lanarkshire leads with 43 Flockharts recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.72x.

Place Total Index
Govan 43 9.72x
Dunfermline 34 67.53x
Dalkeith 28 191.52x
Duddingston 26 174.85x
Glasgow 25 7.87x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 22 7.38x
Tranent 22 222.22x
Cockpen 20 230.95x
Lasswade 20 118.06x
West Greenock 18 23.39x
Alloa 12 54.18x
Dundee 12 6.27x
Kirkdale 12 10.87x
Camberwell 11 3.11x
Liff Benvie 11 14.14x
Newbattle 11 173.78x
Dunning 10 322.58x
Inveresk 10 49.85x
Little Bolton 10 11.85x
Temple 10 338.98x
Tottenham 10 11.35x
Abbey 9 13.76x
Barony 9 1.99x
Chelsea London 9 5.40x
Hawick 9 40.14x
Liberton 9 78.67x
Aberdeen Old Machar 7 6.55x
Monifieth 7 38.67x
Kinross 6 125.26x
Auchtertool 5 367.65x
Cowpen 5 26.39x
Edinburgh St Andrews 5 81.70x
Everton 5 2.39x
Liverpool 5 1.25x
Newton 5 200.80x
Paisley Low Church 5 36.85x
Bedlington 4 14.56x
Borthwick 4 120.85x
Dysart 4 18.14x
Fossoway 4 166.67x
Newcastle On Tyne St John 4 36.97x
Paisley Middle Church 4 16.03x
Aberdour 3 90.91x
Beath 3 28.99x
Burntisland 3 32.79x
Cleish 3 319.15x
Edinburgh New 3 52.08x
Lerwick 3 833.33x
Markinch 3 26.98x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 2 2.09x
Auchterarder 2 28.86x
Edinburgh Buccleuch 2 11.41x
Hamilton 2 4.01x
Hammersmith London 2 1.47x
Kirkcaldy 2 12.32x
Maryhill 2 5.71x
Toxteth Park 2 0.90x
West Ham 2 0.83x
Auchtermuchty 1 22.73x
Bexley 1 6.00x
Bromley London 1 0.82x
Comrie 1 28.17x
Cupar 1 7.02x
Dunoon Kilmun 1 8.33x
East Greenock 1 2.47x
Edinburgh Canongate 1 5.30x
Edinburgh St Georges 1 6.50x
Forgandenny 1 84.03x
Kensington London 1 0.33x
Kilconquhar 1 25.64x
Kilrenny 1 16.50x
Kirkintilloch 1 4.95x
Muckhart 1 86.96x
Paddington London 1 0.49x
Perth Middle Church 1 10.71x
Portmoak 1 50.25x
South Leith 1 1.20x
St Botolph Aldersgate 1 15.77x
Strathmartine 1 44.05x
Wilton 1 9.10x

Top female names

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

Name Count
James 9
John 6
William 4
Peter 3
Andrew 2
Charles 2
George 2
Henry 2
Isaac 2
Alexander 1
Edward 1
Frederick 1
Geo. 1
H. 1
Joseph 1
Ninian 1
Richard 1
Robert 1
Thomas 1
Will. 1

FAQ

Flockhart surname: questions and answers

How common was the Flockhart surname in 1881?

In 1881, 567 people were recorded with the Flockhart surname. That placed it at #6,120 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Flockhart surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 843 in 2016. That gives Flockhart a modern rank of #6,627.

What does the Flockhart surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place called Flockhart in Scotland.

What does the Flockhart map show?

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