NameCensus.

UK surname

Kerins

An anglicized Irish surname derived from the Irish "O'Ciardha", meaning "descendant of Ciardha".

In the 1881 census there were 13 people recorded with the Kerins surname, ranking it #31,761 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 353, ranked #13,081, up from #31,761 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bradford, North Lincolnshire and County Durham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kerins is 370 in 2011. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 2615.4%.

1881 census count

13

Ranked #31,761

Modern count

353

2016, ranked #13,081

Peak year

2011

370 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Kerins had 13 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #31,761 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 353 in 2016, ranked #13,081.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 35 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Kerins surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Kerins surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Kerins 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 11 #32,452
1881 historical 13 #31,761
1891 historical 13 #33,099
1901 historical 35 #30,194
1911 historical 17 #31,675
1997 modern 294 #13,707
1998 modern 305 #13,753
1999 modern 314 #13,556
2000 modern 322 #13,307
2001 modern 314 #13,318
2002 modern 325 #13,275
2003 modern 324 #13,135
2004 modern 332 #12,951
2005 modern 335 #12,795
2006 modern 343 #12,626
2007 modern 335 #13,001
2008 modern 326 #13,374
2009 modern 333 #13,434
2010 modern 355 #13,099
2011 modern 370 #12,576
2012 modern 356 #12,784
2013 modern 356 #13,016
2014 modern 351 #13,227
2015 modern 343 #13,365
2016 modern 353 #13,081

Geography

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Where Kerins' 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 Bradford, North Lincolnshire, County Durham, South Cambridgeshire and Chorley. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bradford 061 Bradford
2 North Lincolnshire 001 North Lincolnshire
3 County Durham 061 County Durham
4 South Cambridgeshire 015 South Cambridgeshire
5 Chorley 014 Chorley

Forenames

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First names often paired with Kerins

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Kerins

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Kerins surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Kerins household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Kerins 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

Kerins 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

Kerins falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Kerins 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 - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Kerins

The surname KERINS is of Irish origin, deriving from the Gaelic name "O'Ciarain" or "O'Ciaran", meaning "descendant of Ciaran". Ciaran was a popular Irish name derived from the Gaelic word "ciar", meaning "black" or "dark".

The name KERINS is predominantly found in counties Cork and Kerry in the southwestern part of Ireland, where it has its earliest recorded roots dating back to the 16th century. It is believed that the name may have evolved from the anglicized version of the Irish name "O'Ciarain" as English became more prevalent in Ireland.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name KERINS can be found in the "Fiants of the Tudor Sovereigns", a collection of public records from the 16th century reign of Queen Elizabeth I. The records show a "Dermot O'Keyrin" being pardoned for his involvement in the Desmond Rebellions, which took place in the province of Munster between 1569 and 1573.

Another notable early bearer of the name was Patrick Kerins (1567-1624), a Catholic priest and theologian from County Cork who was educated at the University of Salamanca in Spain. He later returned to Ireland and became a prominent figure in the Irish Counter-Reformation.

In the 18th century, John Kerins (1725-1789) was a well-known Catholic merchant and landowner in Cork City. He played a significant role in the economic and social life of the city during his time.

During the Irish Rebellion of 1798, Michael Kerins (1770-1798) from County Kerry was a prominent leader of the United Irishmen, a revolutionary republican organization. He was captured and executed by British forces for his involvement in the rebellion.

In the 19th century, James Kerins (1834-1908) was a notable Irish-American businessman and philanthropist who emigrated to the United States in the 1850s. He became a successful real estate developer in Chicago and donated generously to various charitable causes in Ireland and the United States.

Throughout its history, the surname KERINS has maintained a strong presence in Ireland, particularly in the southwestern regions, and has also spread to other parts of the world through Irish emigration.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Kerins families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kerins 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. Leicestershire leads with 4 Kerins' recorded in 1881 and an index of 28.45x.

County Total Index
Leicestershire 4 28.45x
Lancashire 3 1.99x
Lanarkshire 2 4.88x
Middlesex 2 1.58x
Yorkshire 2 1.59x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Blackfordby in Leicestershire leads with 4 Kerins' recorded in 1881 and an index of 10000.00x.

Place Total Index
Blackfordby 4 10000.00x
Hulme 2 63.69x
St George Martyr London 2 769.23x
Brightside Bierlow 1 40.65x
Castleford 1 217.39x
Chorlton On Medlock 1 41.84x
Glasgow 1 13.74x
Maryhill 1 125.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Ellen 1
Martha 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 2
John 2
Jno. 1
Martin 1
Michael 1
Patrick 1
Patt 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 Kerins households.

FAQ

Kerins surname: questions and answers

How common was the Kerins surname in 1881?

In 1881, 13 people were recorded with the Kerins surname. That placed it at #31,761 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Kerins surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 353 in 2016. That gives Kerins a modern rank of #13,081.

What does the Kerins surname mean?

An anglicized Irish surname derived from the Irish "O'Ciardha", meaning "descendant of Ciardha".

What does the Kerins map show?

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