NameCensus.

UK surname

Glenny

A locational surname referring to someone from a place called Glen or Glennie.

In the 1881 census there were 190 people recorded with the Glenny surname, ranking it #13,270 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 203, ranked #19,396, down from #13,270 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Barking, Hawick and Wilton and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Netherton and Kirkhill, Waverley and Trafford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Glenny is 255 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 6.8%.

1881 census count

190

Ranked #13,270

Modern count

203

2016, ranked #19,396

Peak year

1999

255 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Glenny had 190 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,270 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 203 in 2016, ranked #19,396.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 217 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Glenny surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Glenny surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Glenny 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 105 #16,618
1861 historical 106 #20,147
1881 historical 190 #13,270
1891 historical 189 #15,547
1901 historical 217 #14,381
1911 historical 200 #14,960
1997 modern 222 #16,508
1998 modern 237 #16,272
1999 modern 255 #15,599
2000 modern 236 #16,380
2001 modern 226 #16,620
2002 modern 233 #16,590
2003 modern 222 #16,942
2004 modern 215 #17,384
2005 modern 200 #18,144
2006 modern 200 #18,294
2007 modern 203 #18,303
2008 modern 197 #18,818
2009 modern 214 #18,220
2010 modern 216 #18,492
2011 modern 206 #18,907
2012 modern 204 #18,973
2013 modern 207 #19,093
2014 modern 208 #19,194
2015 modern 209 #19,018
2016 modern 203 #19,396

Geography

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Where Glennys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Barking, Hawick and Wilton, London parishes, Glasgow and Liverpool. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Netherton and Kirkhill, Waverley, Trafford, Broxbourne and South Tyneside. 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 Barking Essex
2 Hawick and Wilton Roxburgh
3 London parishes London 3
4 Glasgow Lanark
5 Liverpool Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Netherton and Kirkhill North Lanarkshire
2 Waverley 013 Waverley
3 Trafford 013 Trafford
4 Broxbourne 011 Broxbourne
5 South Tyneside 003 South Tyneside

Forenames

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First names often paired with Glenny

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Glenny

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

Ageing Communities

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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, Glenny 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

Glenny is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Glenny falls in decile 10 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.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Glenny

The surname Glenny is believed to have originated in Scotland during the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Gaelic word "gleannan," which means a small valley or glen. The name likely referred to someone who lived in or near a small valley.

Early records show various spellings of the name, such as Glennye, Gleny, and Glennie, reflecting the phonetic variations common before standardized spelling. The name is found in medieval Scottish charters and land records, indicating its longstanding presence in the region.

One of the earliest documented instances of the name is in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which record the swearing of allegiance to King Edward I of England by Scottish nobles and landholders. The Rolls mention a John de Glenny from Aberdeenshire.

In the 14th century, the Glenny name appears in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland, which were administrative records of the Scottish Exchequer. These rolls list several individuals with the name, such as William Glenny, who held land in Fife in the 1360s.

During the 16th century, the Glenny family established themselves as landowners in Aberdeenshire, particularly in the parish of Forgue. Notable members of the family included John Glenny (c. 1520-1590), who served as a magistrate in Aberdeen, and his son, Alexander Glenny (1560-1628), a respected scholar and minister.

Another prominent figure was Robert Glenny (1711-1785), a successful merchant and philanthropist from Aberdeen. He made substantial donations to educational institutions and charities in the city, leaving a lasting impact on the community.

In the 19th century, James Glenny (1816-1888) gained recognition as a renowned horticulturist and author of several books on gardening and floriculture. He was involved in the establishment of the Royal Horticultural Society and served as its secretary for many years.

Other notable individuals with the Glenny surname include Sir John Glenny (1846-1924), a British naval officer who played a significant role in the development of modern naval tactics, and Michael Glenny (1925-2014), a renowned English botanist and expert on the flora of the Middle East.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Glenny families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Glenny 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. Essex leads with 33 Glennys recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.02x.

County Total Index
Essex 33 9.02x
Middlesex 25 1.35x
Lancashire 24 1.09x
Lanarkshire 22 3.67x
Surrey 14 1.55x
Durham 13 2.36x
Roxburghshire 13 38.73x
Angus 10 5.82x
Hampshire 6 1.58x
Yorkshire 6 0.33x
Staffordshire 4 0.64x
Sussex 4 1.28x
Cumberland 3 1.88x
Norfolk 3 1.05x
Cheshire 2 0.49x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.89x
Denbighshire 1 1.43x
Kincardineshire 1 4.43x
Northumberland 1 0.36x
Perthshire 1 1.20x
Royal Navy 1 4.53x
Warwickshire 1 0.21x
West Lothian 1 3.58x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Barking in Essex leads with 29 Glennys recorded in 1881 and an index of 271.03x.

Place Total Index
Barking 29 271.03x
Barony 17 11.21x
Islington London 12 6.68x
Oldham 12 16.91x
Wilton 10 271.74x
Hornsey 8 34.13x
Camberwell 7 5.91x
Liff Benvie 7 26.86x
Liverpool 7 5.24x
South Hayling 6 882.35x
Benfieldside 5 137.74x
Hamilton 5 29.90x
Clapham 4 17.26x
Gateshead 4 9.69x
South Bersted 4 150.38x
West Ham 4 4.95x
Cavers 3 357.14x
Egremont 3 78.95x
Fulham London 3 11.16x
Hunslet 3 10.47x
Tipton 3 15.66x
Walsoken 3 175.44x
Dundee 2 3.12x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 2 8.38x
Higher Bebington 2 76.34x
Manchester 2 2.02x
Richmond 2 15.81x
Allendale 1 39.06x
Bishopwearmouth 1 2.11x
Bradford 1 2.25x
Chirk 1 72.46x
Chorlton On Medlock 1 2.86x
Coventry Holy Trinity 1 7.16x
Huddersfield 1 3.74x
Methven 1 81.97x
Mile End Old Town London 1 2.53x
South Shields 1 20.37x
Southwark Christchurch 1 11.52x
St Anne Soho London 1 9.45x
St Vigeans 1 10.79x
Stoke Upon Trent 1 1.51x
Strachan 1 227.27x
Taplow 1 149.25x
Uphall 1 32.57x
West Derby 1 1.55x
Wuerdle Wardle 1 14.97x
York St Giles In 1 57.80x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 13
Elizabeth 8
Ellen 3
Anna 2
Catherine 2
Elizth. 2
Emma 2
Frances 2
Jane 2
Margaret 2
Marion 2
Sophia 2
Amelia 1
Betsy 1
Cecelia 1
E. 1
Eleanor 1
Eliza 1
Ethel 1
Glenny 1
H. 1
Hannah 1
Harriet 1
Hilda 1
I. 1
Isabella 1
James 1
Janet 1
Lilian 1
Lizy 1
Louisa 1
M. 1
Maria 1
Maud 1
Rose 1
Sarah 1
Selina 1
Susan 1
Voilet 1
Winifred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 11
James 6
Thomas 5
William 5
Edward 4
George 4
Robert 4
Charles 3
Francis 3
Henry 3
Isaac 3
Alexander 2
Frederick 2
Gordon 2
Joseph 2
Alick 1
B. 1
Bryant 1
Elliot 1
Frederic 1
Gavine 1
Samuel 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Glenny surname: questions and answers

How common was the Glenny surname in 1881?

In 1881, 190 people were recorded with the Glenny surname. That placed it at #13,270 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Glenny surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 203 in 2016. That gives Glenny a modern rank of #19,396.

What does the Glenny surname mean?

A locational surname referring to someone from a place called Glen or Glennie.

What does the Glenny map show?

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