NameCensus.

UK surname

Innis

Of Scottish and Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic word "inis," meaning "island" or "from the river island."

In the 1881 census there were 276 people recorded with the Innis surname, ranking it #10,305 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 221, ranked #18,321, down from #10,305 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St. Monance and East Dean, Little Dean, Flaxley, Abinghall, Weston-under-Penyard (Ross, Herefordshire), Lea (Ross, H. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bromley, Gateshead and Worthing.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Innis is 277 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 19.9%.

1881 census count

276

Ranked #10,305

Modern count

221

2016, ranked #18,321

Peak year

1891

277 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Innis had 276 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,305 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 221 in 2016, ranked #18,321.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 277 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Innis surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Innis surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Innis 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 254 #8,683
1861 historical 187 #12,690
1881 historical 276 #10,305
1891 historical 277 #11,784
1901 historical 239 #13,489
1911 historical 122 #20,245
1997 modern 209 #17,157
1998 modern 224 #16,888
1999 modern 223 #17,025
2000 modern 229 #16,695
2001 modern 226 #16,620
2002 modern 215 #17,487
2003 modern 210 #17,559
2004 modern 204 #17,992
2005 modern 202 #18,016
2006 modern 201 #18,226
2007 modern 209 #17,951
2008 modern 217 #17,693
2009 modern 228 #17,486
2010 modern 234 #17,544
2011 modern 228 #17,673
2012 modern 209 #18,659
2013 modern 218 #18,441
2014 modern 221 #18,412
2015 modern 222 #18,225
2016 modern 221 #18,321

Geography

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Where Innis' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St. Monance, East Dean, Little Dean, Flaxley, Abinghall, Weston-under-Penyard (Ross, Herefordshire), Lea (Ross, H, Edinburgh and Manchester. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bromley, Gateshead, Worthing, Leeds and Lewes. 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 London parishes London 1
2 St. Monance Fife
3 East Dean, Little Dean, Flaxley, Abinghall, Weston-under-Penyard (Ross, Herefordshire), Lea (Ross, H Gloucestershire
4 Edinburgh Edinburgh
5 Manchester Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bromley 008 Bromley
2 Gateshead 021 Gateshead
3 Worthing 010 Worthing
4 Leeds 042 Leeds
5 Lewes 012 Lewes

Forenames

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First names often paired with Innis

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Innis

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Innis surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Innis 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 is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Innis is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Innis 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

Innis 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 Innis is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Innis

The surname INNIS is of Scottish origin, derived from the Gaelic word "innis," meaning island or meadow. It is believed to have originated in the Hebrides Islands, off the western coast of Scotland, where many families with this name resided.

The earliest recorded instance of the INNIS surname dates back to the 13th century, when a Robert de Innis was mentioned in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland in 1264. This suggests that the name was in use by the mid-13th century, possibly referring to a family residing on an island or meadow in the Hebrides.

In the 16th century, the INNIS name appeared in the records of the Clan Mackenzie, a powerful Scottish clan based in Ross-shire. The Innises were a sept, or branch, of the Clan Mackenzie, and they were known for their allegiance and service to the clan chiefs.

One notable figure in Scottish history bearing the INNIS surname was Robert Innis (c. 1570-1644), a Scottish minister and scholar. He served as the minister of the parish of Dornoch and was renowned for his theological writings and contributions to the Church of Scotland.

Another historical figure was John Innis (1768-1847), a Scottish-born merchant and entrepreneur who settled in Canada. He played a significant role in the development of the fur trade and the establishment of the Hudson's Bay Company's operations in western Canada.

In the United States, the INNIS surname can be traced back to the 18th century, when Scottish immigrants began arriving in the American colonies. One notable American with this surname was George Innis (1752-1833), a Revolutionary War soldier who fought in several major battles, including the Battle of Saratoga.

The INNIS surname has also been associated with various place names, particularly in Scotland. For example, Innis House, a historic manor house in Elgin, Scotland, and Innishowen, a peninsula in County Donegal, Ireland, both derive their names from the Gaelic word "innis."

Throughout history, the INNIS surname has been spelled in various ways, including Innes, Inniss, and Inneys, reflecting regional variations and cultural influences. However, the core meaning and origin of the name remain rooted in the Scottish Gaelic language and the geographical features of the Hebrides Islands.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Innis families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Innis 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. Lancashire leads with 34 Innis' recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.10x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 34 1.10x
Durham 29 3.73x
Gloucestershire 27 5.27x
Angus 20 8.26x
Surrey 19 1.49x
Middlesex 18 0.69x
Oxfordshire 14 8.67x
Warwickshire 12 1.82x
Yorkshire 11 0.42x
Perthshire 9 7.67x
Herefordshire 8 7.46x
Fife 7 4.52x
Lanarkshire 7 0.83x
Staffordshire 7 0.79x
Glamorgan 6 1.32x
Lincolnshire 5 1.20x
Cheshire 4 0.69x
Cumberland 4 1.78x
Stirlingshire 4 4.15x
Hampshire 3 0.56x
Midlothian 3 0.86x
Northumberland 3 0.77x
Renfrewshire 3 1.48x
Hertfordshire 2 1.11x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.41x
Berkshire 1 0.51x
Devon 1 0.18x
Essex 1 0.19x
Isle of Man 1 2.06x
Kincardineshire 1 3.14x
Royal Navy 1 3.21x
Sussex 1 0.23x
Worcestershire 1 0.29x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Winchcomb in Gloucestershire leads with 13 Innis' recorded in 1881 and an index of 511.81x.

Place Total Index
Winchcomb 13 511.81x
Westbury On Severn East 11 94.91x
Preston 10 12.05x
Birmingham 9 4.10x
Dundee 9 9.95x
Lochlee 9 2812.50x
Perth East Church 8 72.33x
Sunderland 8 58.27x
Weston Under Penyard 8 1066.67x
Bermondsey 7 9.00x
Handsworth 7 32.18x
Manchester 7 5.02x
Oxford St Peter Le Bailey 7 875.00x
St George Hanover Square 7 15.20x
Cwmdu 6 108.11x
Leeds 6 4.10x
Oxford St Giles 6 77.92x
West Herrington 6 220.59x
Beath 5 102.25x
Everton 5 5.06x
Great Grimsby 5 18.85x
Hart 5 264.55x
Newington 5 5.18x
Campsie 4 75.61x
Dewsbury 4 15.05x
Farlam 4 281.69x
Aston 3 1.65x
Birkenhead 3 6.52x
Glasgow 3 2.00x
Kensington London 3 2.06x
Newbottle 3 70.59x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 3 12.91x
St Giles 3 61.86x
Ulverston 3 33.22x
West Greenock 3 8.25x
Barrow In Furness 2 4.74x
Beddington 2 40.57x
Ealing 2 8.56x
Eccleston In Prescot 2 12.85x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 2 1.42x
Lanark 2 29.41x
Southampton St Mary 2 5.94x
Toxteth Park 2 1.90x
Tring 2 41.58x
Blantyre 1 11.36x
Burntisland 1 23.09x
Camberwell 1 0.60x
Chapel Of Garioch 1 58.14x
Cheltenham 1 2.53x
Claines 1 10.67x
Cookham 1 16.34x
Dalgety 1 84.75x
East Ham 1 10.44x
Fetteresso 1 20.04x
Fowlis Wester 1 100.00x
Framwellgate 1 21.69x
Gateshead 1 1.72x
Hastings St Mary 1 9.12x
Hendon 1 10.63x
Isleworth 1 8.61x
Islington London 1 0.39x
Liverpool 1 0.53x
Marske In Guisbrough 1 21.74x
Michael 1 101.01x
Monifieth 1 11.70x
Old Monkland 1 2.98x
Oxford St Clement 1 24.57x
Plympton St Mary 1 31.75x
Portsea 1 0.95x
Poulton Cum Seacombe 1 15.06x
Rotherhithe 1 3.10x
Ruardean 1 86.21x
Sherburn 1 42.19x
South Leith 1 2.54x
Southwark Christchurch 1 8.16x
St Marylebone London 1 0.72x
Tewkesbury 1 21.83x
Walton On Hill 1 5.95x
Westminster St Margaret 1 7.93x

FAQ

Innis surname: questions and answers

How common was the Innis surname in 1881?

In 1881, 276 people were recorded with the Innis surname. That placed it at #10,305 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Innis surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 221 in 2016. That gives Innis a modern rank of #18,321.

What does the Innis surname mean?

Of Scottish and Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic word "inis," meaning "island" or "from the river island."

What does the Innis map show?

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