NameCensus.

UK surname

Kieran

A surname of Irish origin meaning "little dark one".

In the 1881 census there were 45 people recorded with the Kieran surname, ranking it #27,314 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 401, ranked #11,857, up from #27,314 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Caithness North West, Wigan and Manchester.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kieran is 423 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 791.1%.

1881 census count

45

Ranked #27,314

Modern count

401

2016, ranked #11,857

Peak year

2010

423 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Kieran had 45 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #27,314 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 401 in 2016, ranked #11,857.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 84 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Kieran surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Kieran surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Kieran 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 10 #31,497
1881 historical 45 #27,314
1891 historical 30 #31,889
1901 historical 79 #25,363
1911 historical 84 #24,442
1997 modern 375 #11,555
1998 modern 390 #11,563
1999 modern 388 #11,696
2000 modern 396 #11,486
2001 modern 377 #11,723
2002 modern 394 #11,561
2003 modern 378 #11,741
2004 modern 400 #11,281
2005 modern 386 #11,493
2006 modern 378 #11,714
2007 modern 386 #11,676
2008 modern 396 #11,581
2009 modern 410 #11,503
2010 modern 423 #11,470
2011 modern 411 #11,617
2012 modern 400 #11,726
2013 modern 411 #11,669
2014 modern 408 #11,830
2015 modern 399 #11,928
2016 modern 401 #11,857

Geography

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Where Kierans 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 Caithness North West, Wigan, Manchester, Isle of Anglesey and Havant. 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 Caithness North West Highland
2 Wigan 017 Wigan
3 Manchester 041 Manchester
4 Isle of Anglesey 006 Isle of Anglesey
5 Havant 013 Havant

Forenames

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First names often paired with Kieran

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Kieran

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Kieran, 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 Kieran surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Kieran 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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Kieran 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

Kieran 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

Kieran 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 Kieran is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Kieran

The surname Kieran has its origins in Ireland, tracing back to the medieval Gaelic name Ciarán. It is derived from the old Irish word "ciar," meaning dark or black, referring to the hair or complexion of the original bearer.

The name first appeared in Irish annals and manuscripts dating back to the 6th century AD. One of the earliest recorded examples is St. Ciarán of Saigir, a renowned Irish monk and scholar born around 512 AD in County Offaly. He founded the monastic settlement of Seir-Kieran and is revered as one of the Twelve Apostles of Ireland.

Another notable figure was St. Ciarán of Clonmacnoise, born in 516 AD in County Longford. He founded the iconic Clonmacnoise monastery, which became a significant center of learning and religious life in medieval Ireland. The name is also associated with the ancient territory of Ciaran in County Roscommon, suggesting its connection to a prominent Irish clan or family.

The Kieran surname gained prominence in various parts of Ireland, particularly in Counties Offaly, Longford, and Roscommon. It has been recorded in historical documents such as the Annals of Ulster and the Annals of the Four Masters, which chronicle Irish history from the 5th to the 17th centuries.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the surname Kieran is found in the Annals of Ulster, which mentions "Ceranus Ua Ciardhubhain" in the year 1021. This entry refers to a member of the Ua Ciardhubhain family, a prominent lineage in medieval Ireland.

Another notable figure bearing the surname Kieran was Mael Brighde Ua Ciardhubhain, an Irish cleric and scholar who lived in the 12th century. He was the abbot of the renowned monastery of Clonmacnoise and played a significant role in preserving Irish literature and scholarship during the Norman invasion of Ireland.

In more recent times, notable individuals with the surname Kieran include:

1. John Kieran (1892-1981), an American writer, journalist, and author known for his contributions to the New York Times and his appearances on the popular radio quiz show "Information Please."

2. Frances Kiernan (1890-1969), an American author and playwright best known for her novel "The Pioneers," which explored the lives of Irish immigrants in the United States.

3. Victor G. Kiernan (1913-2009), a British historian and academic who specialized in the study of imperialism and Marxist theory.

4. Patrick J. Kieran (1911-1987), a prominent American lawyer and politician who served as a member of the New York State Assembly and as the Lieutenant Governor of New York from 1959 to 1963.

5. Thomas Kieran (1897-1967), an American journalist and author who worked for various publications, including the New York World and the New York Sun.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Kieran families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kieran 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 16 Kierans recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.07x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 16 3.07x
Cheshire 7 7.23x
Durham 6 4.60x
Middlesex 6 1.37x
Buckinghamshire 4 15.08x
Hampshire 3 3.34x
Lanarkshire 2 1.41x
Renfrewshire 1 2.94x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Liverpool in Lancashire leads with 8 Kierans recorded in 1881 and an index of 25.30x.

Place Total Index
Liverpool 8 25.30x
Birkenhead 7 90.67x
Bootle Cum Linacre 6 145.28x
Southwick 5 403.23x
Bradwell 4 1081.08x
Mile End Old Town London 4 42.83x
South Stoneham 3 153.85x
Barony 2 5.57x
Kirkdale 2 22.83x
Bishopwearmouth 1 8.92x
Port Glasgow 1 60.98x
Westminster St John 1 18.73x
Westminster St Margaret 1 47.17x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Catherine 3
Mary 3
Matilda 2
Agnes 1
Alice 1
Ann 1
Catharine 1
Ellen 1
Jane 1
Madeline 1
Margann 1
Margaret 1
Sarah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 4
James 3
Patrick 3
Thomas 3
George 2
Joseph 2
Arthur 1
Charles 1
Edward 1
Martin 1
Owen 1
Peter 1
William 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 Kieran households.

FAQ

Kieran surname: questions and answers

How common was the Kieran surname in 1881?

In 1881, 45 people were recorded with the Kieran surname. That placed it at #27,314 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Kieran surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 401 in 2016. That gives Kieran a modern rank of #11,857.

What does the Kieran surname mean?

A surname of Irish origin meaning "little dark one".

What does the Kieran map show?

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