NameCensus.

UK surname

Kaney

A locational surname derived from a place name referring to an ancient woodland area.

In the 1881 census there were 42 people recorded with the Kaney surname, ranking it #27,721 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 147, ranked #24,071, up from #27,721 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Raploch, Borestone and Hillpark.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kaney is 147 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 250.0%.

1881 census count

42

Ranked #27,721

Modern count

147

2016, ranked #24,071

Peak year

2016

147 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Kaney had 42 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #27,721 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 147 in 2016, ranked #24,071.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 63 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Kaney surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Kaney surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Kaney 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 12 #31,134
1861 historical 20 #31,364
1881 historical 42 #27,721
1891 historical 63 #28,881
1901 historical 60 #27,502
1911 historical 38 #29,147
1997 modern 115 #24,834
1998 modern 117 #25,190
1999 modern 118 #25,227
2000 modern 112 #25,978
2001 modern 111 #25,767
2002 modern 116 #25,632
2003 modern 108 #26,486
2004 modern 114 #25,870
2005 modern 117 #25,433
2006 modern 124 #24,750
2007 modern 124 #25,086
2008 modern 130 #24,695
2009 modern 135 #24,594
2010 modern 136 #25,009
2011 modern 128 #25,793
2012 modern 138 #24,614
2013 modern 140 #24,779
2014 modern 144 #24,504
2015 modern 145 #24,246
2016 modern 147 #24,071

Geography

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Where Kaneys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Raploch, Borestone, Hillpark, Broomridge and City Centre. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Raploch Stirling
2 Borestone Stirling
3 Hillpark Stirling
4 Broomridge Stirling
5 City Centre Stirling

Forenames

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First names often paired with Kaney

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Kaney

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

Legacy Communities

Group

Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities

Nationally, the Kaney surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Kaney household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Households in these areas often include divorced or separated parents and commonly include children and young adults. The age structure is heavily skewed towards the most advanced age groups. Individuals identifying as members of ethnic minorities are not present in large numbers. Flats predominate, with some terraced, semi-detached, and detached units. Multiple car ownership is low, and housing is predominantly in the private and social rented sectors. Employment is less skewed towards traditional routine industrial occupations. Levels of educational attainment are generally low. The Group occurs principally in the Central Lowlands of Scotland and other Scottish towns.

Wider pattern

These neighbourhoods characteristically comprise pockets of flats that are scattered across the UK, particularly in towns that retain or have legacies of heavy industry or are in more remote seaside locations. Employed residents of these neighbourhoods work mainly in low-skilled occupations. Residents typically have limited educational qualifications. Unemployment is above average. Some residents live in overcrowded housing within the social rented sector and experience long-term disability. All adult age groups are represented, although there is an overall age bias towards elderly people in general and the very old in particular. Individuals identifying as belonging to ethnic minorities or Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups are uncommon.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Kaney is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Kaney 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

Kaney 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 Kaney 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 - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Kaney

The surname Kaney has its origins in Ireland, specifically in the ancient Gaelic language. It is believed to have derived from the Irish word "cainne," which means "moss" or "thick growth." This suggests that the name's earliest bearers may have lived in a particularly lush or heavily forested area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Kaney surname can be found in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history compiled in the early 17th century. The annals mention a "Tadhg Kaney" who was a prominent figure in County Galway in the mid-13th century.

In the 16th century, the Kaney surname appears in various records from County Mayo, particularly in the baronies of Carra and Erris. This suggests that the name may have its roots in this region of western Ireland.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, the Kaney surname spread throughout Ireland, with notable individuals emerging in counties such as Sligo, Roscommon, and Westmeath. One prominent figure was Patrick Kaney (1670-1744), a Catholic landowner and member of the Irish Parliament who represented County Sligo.

In the 19th century, the Kaney surname gained further recognition with the birth of Michael Kaney (1828-1903), an Irish-born prelate of the Roman Catholic Church who served as the Bishop of Druzipara in modern-day Turkey.

Another notable figure was John Kaney (1841-1913), an Irish-American businessman and politician who served as the Mayor of Wilmington, Delaware, from 1892 to 1896.

While the Kaney surname is predominantly Irish, it has also been found in other parts of the world, likely due to Irish immigration. For example, James Kaney (1873-1951) was an English-born actor and singer who found success on the vaudeville stage in the early 20th century.

Throughout its history, the Kaney surname has undergone various spelling variations, including Kainey, Keaney, Keany, and Keeney, reflecting the fluid nature of surname spellings in earlier eras.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Kaney families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kaney 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. Stirlingshire leads with 14 Kaneys recorded in 1881 and an index of 92.65x.

County Total Index
Stirlingshire 14 92.65x
Lancashire 12 2.47x
Yorkshire 5 1.23x
Cheshire 4 4.42x
Durham 4 3.28x
Dunbartonshire 2 18.17x
Wigtownshire 1 18.38x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Stirling in Stirlingshire leads with 14 Kaneys recorded in 1881 and an index of 736.84x.

Place Total Index
Stirling 14 736.84x
Whalley 7 985.92x
Harton 4 833.33x
Tranmere 4 120.48x
Holy Trinity 3 30.74x
Worsley 3 100.00x
Doncaster 2 67.34x
Dumbarton 1 65.36x
Kirkcolm 1 384.62x
Manchester 1 4.57x
Old Kilpatrick 1 76.92x
Toxteth Park 1 6.08x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 3
Margaret 2
Ann 1
Barbara 1
Bridget 1
Christiana 1
Ellen 1
Frances 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 3
John 3
Michael 2
Patrick 2
Arthur 1
Joseph 1
Paul 1
Thomas 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 Kaney households.

FAQ

Kaney surname: questions and answers

How common was the Kaney surname in 1881?

In 1881, 42 people were recorded with the Kaney surname. That placed it at #27,721 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Kaney surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 147 in 2016. That gives Kaney a modern rank of #24,071.

What does the Kaney surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place name referring to an ancient woodland area.

What does the Kaney map show?

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