NameCensus.

UK surname

Given

Derived from a nickname for a generous person or from the medieval personal name Given.

In the 1881 census there were 251 people recorded with the Given surname, ranking it #11,041 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 678, ranked #7,909, up from #11,041 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Markinch, Kilconquhar and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Keppochhill, Cumnock South and Craigens and Leith (Albert Street).

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Given is 688 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 170.1%.

1881 census count

251

Ranked #11,041

Modern count

678

2016, ranked #7,909

Peak year

2010

688 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Given had 251 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,041 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 678 in 2016, ranked #7,909.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 317 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Given surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Given surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Given 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 155 #12,604
1861 historical 219 #11,124
1881 historical 251 #11,041
1891 historical 304 #11,005
1901 historical 317 #11,213
1911 historical 106 #21,948
1997 modern 586 #8,283
1998 modern 611 #8,288
1999 modern 612 #8,336
2000 modern 626 #8,179
2001 modern 581 #8,469
2002 modern 614 #8,316
2003 modern 600 #8,340
2004 modern 612 #8,229
2005 modern 581 #8,461
2006 modern 619 #8,089
2007 modern 620 #8,149
2008 modern 635 #8,054
2009 modern 659 #7,989
2010 modern 688 #7,881
2011 modern 662 #8,039
2012 modern 663 #7,943
2013 modern 667 #8,042
2014 modern 686 #7,905
2015 modern 675 #7,954
2016 modern 678 #7,909

Geography

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Where Givens are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Markinch, Kilconquhar, Edinburgh, Greenock and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Keppochhill, Cumnock South and Craigens, Leith (Albert Street), Burntisland West and Burntisland East. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Markinch Fife
2 Kilconquhar Fife
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 Greenock Renfrew
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Keppochhill Glasgow City
2 Cumnock South and Craigens East Ayrshire
3 Leith (Albert Street) City of Edinburgh
4 Burntisland West Fife
5 Burntisland East Fife

Forenames

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First names often paired with Given

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Given

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Given 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

Given 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

Given 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 Given 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 - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Given

The surname Given is believed to have originated in England, with the earliest recorded examples dating back to the late 13th century. It is thought to have derived from the old English word "gifan," meaning "to give" or "to bestow." This suggests that the name may have been originally used as an occupational surname for someone who worked as a gift-giver or distributor.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Given was John Given, who was mentioned in the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire in 1297. The name also appeared in various other historical records from the 14th and 15th centuries, including the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield and the Register of the Freemen of York.

The Given surname is believed to have been particularly prominent in the northern counties of England, such as Yorkshire and Lancashire. Some early variations of the spelling included Giffyn, Giffin, and Giffan, which may have been influenced by local dialects or scribal errors.

In the 16th century, the surname Given was associated with several notable individuals, including Robert Given (c. 1570-1637), an English clergyman and academic who served as the Master of Christ's College, Cambridge. Another notable bearer of the name was John Given (1594-1647), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Shaftesbury during the reign of King Charles I.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, the Given surname spread across various parts of Britain and Ireland. One prominent figure was William Given (1633-1693), an Irish Presbyterian minister and author who played a significant role in the establishment of Presbyterianism in Ireland.

In the 19th century, the surname Given was further dispersed through migration and settlement in various parts of the world, including North America and Australia. Notable individuals from this period include William Bowie Given (1807-1884), an American politician and lawyer who served as the United States Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas.

Throughout its history, the surname Given has been borne by individuals from diverse backgrounds and professions, including clergymen, politicians, academics, and military personnel. While its origins can be traced back to medieval England, the name has since become established in various parts of the world, reflecting the mobility and adaptability of its bearers across different cultures and societies.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Given families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Given 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 62 Givens recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.13x.

County Total Index
Midlothian 62 19.13x
Lanarkshire 30 3.83x
Fife 28 19.55x
Renfrewshire 25 13.33x
Lancashire 22 0.77x
Stirlingshire 16 17.93x
Argyllshire 9 13.37x
Essex 6 1.26x
Berwickshire 5 17.06x
East Lothian 5 15.61x
Staffordshire 5 0.61x
West Lothian 5 13.73x
Middlesex 4 0.17x
Selkirkshire 4 18.27x
Cheshire 3 0.56x
Hampshire 3 0.61x
Northumberland 3 0.83x
Ayrshire 2 1.10x
Kent 2 0.24x
Peeblesshire 2 17.57x
Wigtownshire 2 6.23x
Angus 1 0.45x
Kirkcudbrightshire 1 2.86x
Perthshire 1 0.92x
Wiltshire 1 0.47x
Yorkshire 1 0.04x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Edinburgh St Cuthberts in Midlothian leads with 37 Givens recorded in 1881 and an index of 28.38x.

Place Total Index
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 37 28.38x
West Greenock 19 56.46x
Glasgow 14 10.08x
Briercliffe Cum 10 1052.63x
Elie 10 1785.71x
Slamannan 10 204.50x
Dunoon Kilmun 9 171.43x
Edinburgh St Stephens 8 125.39x
Bothwell 7 32.99x
Cramond 7 284.55x
Markinch 7 144.03x
Chelmsford 6 73.26x
Kilconquhar 6 352.94x
Great Barr 5 537.63x
Middle Greenock 5 97.66x
Rutherglen 5 43.55x
Uphall 5 124.69x
Haddington 4 84.57x
Lauder 4 246.91x
Liverpool 4 2.29x
Melrose 4 72.60x
West Derby 4 4.76x
Duddingston 3 46.08x
Edinburgh Canongate 3 36.36x
Edinburgh Newington 3 517.24x
Falkirk 3 14.36x
Newcastle On Tyne St 3 16.08x
Old Monkland 3 9.66x
Dukinfield 2 8.10x
Everton 2 2.19x
Kilrenny 2 75.47x
Oldham 2 2.16x
Portsea 2 2.06x
Stirling 2 17.78x
Walmer 2 55.71x
Aldershot 1 6.02x
Barony 1 0.51x
Berwick North 1 44.64x
Bethnal Green London 1 0.95x
Callander 1 55.87x
Enfield 1 6.30x
Innerleithen 1 33.11x
Kensington London 1 0.74x
Kilmarnock 1 4.64x
Kirkcowan 1 92.59x
Leswalt 1 45.45x
Liff Benvie 1 2.94x
Liscard 1 10.40x
Lochwinnoch 1 35.84x
Marlborough 1 277.78x
Monkton Prestwick 1 56.82x
Muiravonside 1 44.05x
Newbattle 1 36.10x
Pittenweem 1 56.50x
Sledmere Cum Croom 1 238.10x
St Andrews 1 15.34x
St Marylebone London 1 0.77x
Urr 1 21.93x
Wemyss 1 16.50x
West Linton 1 107.53x
Whitsome 1 217.39x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 5
William 4
George 3
Thomas 3
Alexander 2
James 2
Ernest 1
F. 1
Harold 1
Hubert 1
Samuel 1
Thos.Geo. 1
Victor 1
Walter 1
Wm. 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 Given households.

FAQ

Given surname: questions and answers

How common was the Given surname in 1881?

In 1881, 251 people were recorded with the Given surname. That placed it at #11,041 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Given surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 678 in 2016. That gives Given a modern rank of #7,909.

What does the Given surname mean?

Derived from a nickname for a generous person or from the medieval personal name Given.

What does the Given map show?

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