NameCensus.

UK surname

Girvan

A Scottish surname derived from a place name, referring to someone from Girvan in Ayrshire.

In the 1881 census there were 473 people recorded with the Girvan surname, ranking it #7,057 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,258, ranked #4,754, up from #7,057 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Girvan, Govan Combination and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Loch Ness, Campbeltown and Port Glasgow Upper, West and Central.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Girvan is 1,271 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 166.0%.

1881 census count

473

Ranked #7,057

Modern count

1,258

2016, ranked #4,754

Peak year

2014

1,271 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Girvan had 473 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,057 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,258 in 2016, ranked #4,754.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 706 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Girvan surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Girvan surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Girvan 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 233 #9,272
1861 historical 296 #8,532
1881 historical 473 #7,057
1891 historical 533 #7,045
1901 historical 706 #6,243
1911 historical 106 #21,948
1997 modern 1,125 #4,976
1998 modern 1,153 #5,041
1999 modern 1,179 #5,006
2000 modern 1,200 #4,904
2001 modern 1,163 #4,949
2002 modern 1,195 #4,920
2003 modern 1,164 #4,934
2004 modern 1,155 #4,982
2005 modern 1,134 #5,003
2006 modern 1,127 #5,032
2007 modern 1,138 #5,030
2008 modern 1,170 #4,938
2009 modern 1,213 #4,896
2010 modern 1,266 #4,823
2011 modern 1,238 #4,860
2012 modern 1,222 #4,841
2013 modern 1,236 #4,869
2014 modern 1,271 #4,781
2015 modern 1,260 #4,764
2016 modern 1,258 #4,754

Geography

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Where Girvans are most common

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

The modern local-area list points to Loch Ness, Campbeltown, Port Glasgow Upper, West and Central, Muirhead and Braeside, Branchton, Lower Larkfield and Ravenscraig. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Girvan Ayr
2 Govan Combination Lanark
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 Glasgow Lanark
5 Loudoun Ayr

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Loch Ness Highland
2 Campbeltown Argyll and Bute
3 Port Glasgow Upper, West and Central Inverclyde
4 Muirhead South Ayrshire
5 Braeside, Branchton, Lower Larkfield and Ravenscraig Inverclyde

Forenames

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First names often paired with Girvan

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Girvan

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

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Girvan is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, 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

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

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

Girvan 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

Girvan falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Girvan

The surname Girvan has its origins in Scotland, where it first emerged during the medieval period. It is believed to be a locational name derived from the town of Girvan, located in Ayrshire, Scotland. The name itself is thought to stem from the Gaelic words "gearr" meaning "short" and "abhainn" meaning "river."

The earliest recorded instance of the surname Girvan can be traced back to the 13th century. In 1296, a person named Robert de Gyrvan was mentioned in the Ragman Rolls, which documented individuals who swore fealty to King Edward I of England during his campaign against Scotland.

In the 15th century, the name appeared in the records of the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland, where a certain William Gyrvan was documented as owning land near the town of Girvan in Ayrshire.

One notable figure bearing the Girvan surname was Robert Girvan, a Scottish merchant and burgess of Glasgow, who lived in the late 16th century. He is mentioned in various legal documents and records from the time.

Another individual of note was John Girvan, a Scottish Presbyterian minister who lived in the 17th century. He served as the minister of the parish of Dailly in Ayrshire and was known for his efforts in promoting education and literacy in the region.

In the 18th century, a prominent bearer of the Girvan surname was Alexander Girvan, a successful businessman and landowner in Ayrshire. He was involved in the local administration and served as a magistrate in the town of Girvan.

During the 19th century, a notable figure was James Girvan, a Scottish poet and writer who was born in Girvan in 1822. He published several volumes of poetry and prose works, many of which focused on the landscapes and people of his native Ayrshire.

It is worth noting that the Girvan surname has also been associated with the place name Girvan Water, a river that flows through the town of Girvan in Ayrshire. This further reinforces the locational origins of the surname.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Girvan families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Girvan 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. Ayrshire leads with 178 Girvans recorded in 1881 and an index of 51.77x.

County Total Index
Ayrshire 178 51.77x
Lanarkshire 107 7.20x
Argyllshire 47 36.75x
Stirlingshire 30 17.70x
Lancashire 20 0.37x
Renfrewshire 16 4.49x
Kirkcudbrightshire 15 22.55x
Midlothian 15 2.44x
Wigtownshire 13 21.31x
Staffordshire 4 0.26x
Dumfriesshire 3 2.96x
Dunbartonshire 3 2.43x
Cumberland 2 0.51x
Hampshire 2 0.21x
Perthshire 2 0.97x
West Lothian 2 2.89x
Yorkshire 2 0.04x
Cheshire 1 0.10x
Isle of Man 1 1.17x
Kent 1 0.06x
Middlesex 1 0.02x
Norfolk 1 0.14x
Oxfordshire 1 0.35x
Roxburghshire 1 1.20x
Royal Navy 1 1.83x
Surrey 1 0.04x
Sussex 1 0.13x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Campbeltown in Argyllshire leads with 47 Girvans recorded in 1881 and an index of 304.60x.

Place Total Index
Campbeltown 47 304.60x
Kirkoswald 37 1316.73x
Barony 35 9.31x
Glasgow 33 12.51x
Auckinleck 32 300.75x
Sorn 26 385.19x
Govan 19 5.17x
Loudoun 19 229.75x
Dunipace 14 471.38x
Maybole 12 114.61x
Kilmarnock 10 24.44x
Kirkcudbright 8 145.45x
Liverpool 8 2.42x
Penninghame 8 128.62x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 7 2.83x
Girvan 7 81.11x
Kilbarchan 7 64.70x
Kilbirnie 7 84.75x
New Monkland 7 15.94x
Polmont 7 111.82x
Kelton 6 109.89x
Old Cumnock 6 78.33x
St Ninians 6 35.71x
Irvine 5 52.36x
Lesmahagow 5 31.83x
Newton On Ayr 5 48.54x
Rutherglen 5 22.94x
Huyton With Roby 4 62.60x
Mochrum 4 109.89x
Port Glasgow 4 23.24x
Dalmellington 3 29.67x
Sanquhar 3 84.03x
St Quivox 3 25.80x
West Derby 3 1.88x
Wolstanton 3 6.37x
Chorlton On Medlock 2 2.31x
Dailly 2 56.98x
Heriot 2 294.12x
Inveresk 2 12.00x
Leeds 2 0.78x
North Leith 2 7.02x
Uphall 2 26.28x
Aldershot 1 3.17x
Ardwick 1 2.03x
Ayr 1 6.16x
Barrow In Furness 1 1.35x
Borgue 1 55.87x
Cadder 1 9.12x
Cambusnethan 1 3.03x
Cathcart 1 5.19x
Checkendon 1 166.67x
Dumbarton 1 5.82x
Ealing 1 2.44x
East Greenock 1 2.97x
Edinburgh Canongate 1 6.39x
German 1 21.51x
Grangemouth 1 476.19x
Greenwich 1 1.37x
Hastings St Mary In The 1 6.05x
Holdenhurst 1 4.05x
Holkham 1 117.65x
Hulme 1 0.88x
Kelso 1 12.06x
Killearn 1 56.18x
Kilmadock 1 21.10x
Kilwinning 1 9.01x
Kirkintilloch 1 5.96x
Kirkmichael 1 31.95x
Lichfield St Michael 1 20.53x
Lochwinnoch 1 18.83x
Old Monkland 1 1.70x
Paisley Middle Church 1 4.82x
Row 1 6.26x
Slamannan 1 10.78x
Tranmere 1 2.68x
Warlingham 1 54.95x
West Calder 1 8.24x
West Greenock 1 1.56x
Whitehaven 1 4.74x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 4
Agnes 2
Emma 2
Jane 2
Alice 1
Ann 1
Christina 1
Emily 1
Irene 1
Sarah 1
Selina 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Hugh 3
James 3
Frederick 2
John 2
Thomas 2
Charles 1
David 1
Douglas 1
Edward 1
Edwd. 1
Peter 1
Samuel 1
William 1
Wm.Moore 1

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 Girvan households.

FAQ

Girvan surname: questions and answers

How common was the Girvan surname in 1881?

In 1881, 473 people were recorded with the Girvan surname. That placed it at #7,057 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Girvan surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,258 in 2016. That gives Girvan a modern rank of #4,754.

What does the Girvan surname mean?

A Scottish surname derived from a place name, referring to someone from Girvan in Ayrshire.

What does the Girvan map show?

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