NameCensus.

UK surname

Junor

A Scottish surname derived from the Middle English word "juner" meaning younger or junior.

In the 1881 census there were 302 people recorded with the Junor surname, ranking it #9,673 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 299, ranked #14,770, down from #9,673 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Old Deer, Edinburgh and Glasgow. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Black Isle South, Dingwall and Inverness Culloden and Balloch.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Junor is 321 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 1.0%.

1881 census count

302

Ranked #9,673

Modern count

299

2016, ranked #14,770

Peak year

1891

321 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Junor had 302 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,673 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 299 in 2016, ranked #14,770.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 321 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Junor surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Junor surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Junor 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 208 #10,107
1861 historical 239 #10,273
1881 historical 302 #9,673
1891 historical 321 #10,520
1901 historical 294 #11,805
1911 historical 40 #28,913
1997 modern 291 #13,792
1998 modern 281 #14,506
1999 modern 281 #14,578
2000 modern 280 #14,601
2001 modern 261 #15,066
2002 modern 274 #14,849
2003 modern 268 #14,897
2004 modern 269 #14,955
2005 modern 268 #14,905
2006 modern 272 #14,834
2007 modern 301 #14,022
2008 modern 300 #14,135
2009 modern 298 #14,480
2010 modern 290 #15,096
2011 modern 296 #14,729
2012 modern 277 #15,375
2013 modern 293 #14,998
2014 modern 299 #14,880
2015 modern 301 #14,727
2016 modern 299 #14,770

Geography

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Where Junors are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Old Deer, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Avoch and Knockbain. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Black Isle South, Dingwall, Inverness Culloden and Balloch, Longside and Rattray and Inverness Ballifeary and Dalneigh. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Old Deer Aberdeen
2 Edinburgh Edinburgh
3 Glasgow Lanark
4 Avoch Ross And Cromarty
5 Knockbain Ross And Cromarty

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Black Isle South Highland
2 Dingwall Highland
3 Inverness Culloden and Balloch Highland
4 Longside and Rattray Aberdeenshire
5 Inverness Ballifeary and Dalneigh Highland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Junor

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Junor

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Junor surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Junor household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Junor is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Junor 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

Junor falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Junor is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Junor

The surname Junor originates from Scotland, with its earliest known origins dating back to the 14th century. The name is believed to derive from the Gaelic term "giunair," which means "maceman" or "mace-bearer," suggesting a connection to a military or ceremonial role held by the family's ancestors.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a collection of homage rolls submitted to King Edward I of England after his conquest of parts of Scotland. This document lists a "Thomas Junor" among those who swore allegiance to the English crown.

In the Scottish Borders region, there are several place names that incorporate variations of the surname, such as Junor Hill and Junortown. These toponyms likely arose from the presence of Junor families in those areas, further cementing the name's deep-rooted association with Scottish history and geography.

Notable individuals bearing the Junor surname include:

1. James Junor (1640-1718), a Scottish minister and theologian who served as the Principal of the University of Glasgow from 1690 to 1718.

2. John Junor (1781-1853), a Scottish architect known for his work on various churches and public buildings in Edinburgh, including the iconic St. John's Episcopal Church.

3. Sir William Junor (1828-1899), a Scottish-born Australian businessman and philanthropist who made his fortune in the wool trade and was knighted for his contributions to the community.

4. Alasdair Junor (1902-1983), a Scottish journalist and writer who served as the editor of the Glasgow Evening Times and authored several books on Scottish history and culture.

5. Penny Junor (born 1949), a British journalist and biographer known for her works on members of the British royal family, including her bestselling book "The Firm: The Troubled Life of the House of Windsor."

While the Junor name is most deeply rooted in Scotland, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly through emigration to countries like Australia, Canada, and the United States. However, its origins can be traced back to the mists of medieval Scottish history, where the name's bearers played their part in shaping the nation's rich cultural tapestry.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Junor families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Junor 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. Ross-shire leads with 127 Junors recorded in 1881 and an index of 161.25x.

County Total Index
Ross-shire 127 161.25x
Inverness-shire 50 58.38x
Aberdeenshire 33 12.42x
Midlothian 16 4.16x
Lanarkshire 15 1.62x
Morayshire 11 24.69x
Kincardineshire 10 28.64x
Peeblesshire 7 51.89x
Nairnshire 6 68.57x
Sussex 6 1.24x
Durham 3 0.35x
Angus 2 0.75x
Dunbartonshire 2 2.60x
Fife 1 0.59x
Lancashire 1 0.03x
Middlesex 1 0.03x
Perthshire 1 0.78x
Roxburghshire 1 1.92x
West Lothian 1 2.32x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Inverness in Inverness-shire leads with 41 Junors recorded in 1881 and an index of 190.34x.

Place Total Index
Inverness 41 190.34x
Rosemarkie 38 4418.60x
Avoch 22 1325.30x
Old Deer 21 417.50x
Fortrose 16 3333.33x
Knockbain 14 760.87x
Cromarty 9 426.54x
Dingwall 9 405.41x
Edinburgh Lady Yesters 8 300.75x
Govan 8 3.49x
Killearnan 7 673.08x
Nigg 7 242.21x
Ardersier 6 292.68x
Brighton 6 6.15x
Carluke 5 59.38x
Elgin 5 57.67x
Resolis 5 354.61x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 4 8.05x
Auldearn 4 312.50x
Duffus 4 101.78x
Fodderty 4 201.01x
Banchory Devenick 3 92.02x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 3 1.94x
Framwellgate 3 59.41x
Innerleithen 3 83.80x
Longside 3 94.64x
Stobo 3 638.30x
Strichen 3 129.87x
Aberdour 2 95.69x
Alves 2 180.18x
Barony 2 0.85x
Inverarity 2 235.29x
Nairn 2 37.66x
New Kilpatrick 2 27.29x
Tain 2 67.11x
Urquhart Glenmoriston 2 82.64x
Abbotshall 1 15.77x
Blair Athole 1 58.14x
Cockpen 1 22.27x
Edinburgh Canongate 1 10.22x
Edinburgh St Georges 1 12.55x
Edinburgh St Marys 1 13.39x
Edinburgh St Stephens 1 13.23x
Kensington London 1 0.63x
Kilmorack 1 38.46x
Linlithgow 1 18.05x
Lochcarron 1 69.93x
Peebles 1 25.06x
Widnes 1 4.07x
Wilton 1 17.54x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Helen 2
Ann 1
Beatrice 1
Christina 1
Isabella 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 2
George 1
Harry 1
Patrick 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 Junor households.

FAQ

Junor surname: questions and answers

How common was the Junor surname in 1881?

In 1881, 302 people were recorded with the Junor surname. That placed it at #9,673 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Junor surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 299 in 2016. That gives Junor a modern rank of #14,770.

What does the Junor surname mean?

A Scottish surname derived from the Middle English word "juner" meaning younger or junior.

What does the Junor map show?

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