NameCensus.

UK surname

Kiernan

A surname of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic "Ó Ciaráin," meaning "descendant of Ciarán" (little dark one).

In the 1881 census there were 306 people recorded with the Kiernan surname, ranking it #9,586 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,152, ranked #3,004, up from #9,586 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Rochdale, Manchester and Liverpool. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Craigend and Ruchazie, Wakefield and Paisley Ferguslie.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kiernan is 2,223 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 603.3%.

1881 census count

306

Ranked #9,586

Modern count

2,152

2016, ranked #3,004

Peak year

2010

2,223 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Kiernan had 306 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,586 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,152 in 2016, ranked #3,004.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 404 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Kiernan surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Kiernan surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Kiernan 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 93 #17,946
1861 historical 81 #23,431
1881 historical 306 #9,586
1891 historical 253 #12,645
1901 historical 404 #9,426
1911 historical 318 #10,988
1997 modern 1,995 #3,058
1998 modern 2,083 #3,060
1999 modern 2,123 #3,034
2000 modern 2,123 #3,011
2001 modern 2,082 #3,007
2002 modern 2,169 #2,960
2003 modern 2,088 #2,997
2004 modern 2,061 #3,041
2005 modern 2,051 #3,008
2006 modern 2,099 #2,954
2007 modern 2,113 #2,971
2008 modern 2,090 #3,015
2009 modern 2,167 #2,993
2010 modern 2,223 #2,986
2011 modern 2,190 #2,985
2012 modern 2,102 #3,043
2013 modern 2,126 #3,066
2014 modern 2,163 #3,036
2015 modern 2,144 #3,023
2016 modern 2,152 #3,004

Geography

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Where Kiernans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Rochdale, Manchester, Liverpool, London parishes and Bury (Walmersley and Tottington, Heap),Middleton (Birtle with Bamford, Pilsworth). These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Craigend and Ruchazie, Wakefield, Paisley Ferguslie and Dundyvan. 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 Rochdale Lancashire
2 Manchester Lancashire
3 Liverpool Lancashire
4 London parishes London 2
5 Bury (Walmersley and Tottington, Heap),Middleton (Birtle with Bamford, Pilsworth) Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Craigend and Ruchazie Glasgow City
2 Wakefield 011 Wakefield
3 Paisley Ferguslie Renfrewshire
4 Dundyvan North Lanarkshire
5 Wakefield 010 Wakefield

Forenames

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First names often paired with Kiernan

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Kiernan

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

Kiernan 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

Kiernan 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 Kiernan 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 Kiernan, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Kiernan

The surname Kiernan is of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic personal name Ciarán, meaning "little dark one" or "little tanned one." It is believed to have originated in the 5th century AD in the ancient Irish kingdom of Meath.

The name Ciarán was borne by several early Irish saints, the most famous being St. Ciarán of Clonmacnoise (516-549 AD), who founded the influential monastery of Clonmacnoise in County Offaly. The Kiernan surname is thought to have emerged from this monastic settlement, as families often adopted the names of revered saints.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Kiernan surname appears in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history, which mentions a "Kiernan O'Melaghlin" in the year 1236. This suggests that the surname had become established by the 13th century.

Throughout the Middle Ages, the Kiernans were a prominent family in the Irish midlands, particularly in Counties Westmeath and Longford. The name is also associated with the ancient territory of Fir Chennada, located in what is now County Leitrim.

Notable historical figures with the Kiernan surname include Geoffrey Kiernan (1595-1675), an Irish Catholic priest and author who was a prominent figure in the Confederate War in Ireland. Another was Matthias Kiernan (1804-1875), an Irish-born American Catholic priest who founded several churches and schools in the Diocese of Richmond, Virginia.

In the 19th century, James Kiernan (1819-1890) was a successful Irish-American businessman and philanthropist in New York City, known for his support of Catholic charities and educational institutions. Mary Kiernan (1889-1982), born in Ireland, was a prominent labor activist and organizer who worked tirelessly for the rights of garment workers in New York City.

The Kiernan name has also been associated with various place names in Ireland, such as Kiernansgrove in County Leitrim and Kiernans Bridge in County Westmeath, reflecting the historical presence of the family in these regions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Kiernan families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kiernan 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 207 Kiernans recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.88x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 207 5.88x
Yorkshire 14 0.48x
Angus 13 4.73x
Surrey 11 0.76x
Middlesex 9 0.30x
Hampshire 8 1.32x
Lanarkshire 8 0.83x
Lincolnshire 8 1.69x
West Lothian 8 17.91x
Essex 5 0.85x
Sussex 4 0.80x
Kent 3 0.30x
Flintshire 2 2.51x
Buteshire 1 5.56x
Midlothian 1 0.25x
Royal Navy 1 2.83x
Warwickshire 1 0.13x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Manchester in Lancashire leads with 48 Kiernans recorded in 1881 and an index of 30.33x.

Place Total Index
Manchester 48 30.33x
Castleton 25 71.14x
Liverpool 22 10.29x
Liff Benvie 13 31.17x
Pilkington 13 97.23x
Everton 10 8.92x
Hulme 10 13.61x
Windle 9 45.45x
Oldham 8 7.04x
Walmersley Cum 8 142.35x
Cadder 7 98.87x
Great Grimsby 7 23.26x
Gorton 6 18.14x
Harrow On The Hill 6 101.35x
Hunslet 6 13.09x
Moss Side 6 32.40x
Radcliffe 6 35.38x
Southwark St Olave 6 265.49x
Portsea 5 4.20x
Preston 5 5.31x
Salford 5 4.83x
Uphall 5 101.83x
West Ham 5 3.87x
Broughton In Salford 4 12.43x
Prescot 4 62.89x
Subdeanery 4 105.54x
Baildon 3 54.25x
Bradford 3 18.21x
Camberwell 3 1.58x
Frindsbury 3 78.74x
Great Bolton 3 6.44x
Livingstone 3 197.37x
Chorlton On Medlock 2 3.58x
Kimberworth 2 12.26x
Portsmouth 2 14.29x
Rhuddlan 2 28.49x
Richmond 2 9.88x
Aldershot 1 4.91x
Ardwick 1 3.15x
Aston 1 0.49x
Barony 1 0.41x
Bootle Cum Linacre 1 3.58x
Boston 1 6.95x
Bradfield 1 8.83x
Bradford 1 1.41x
Bromley London 1 1.53x
Bury 1 2.49x
Cheetham 1 3.81x
Crumpsall 1 12.06x
Ecclesall Bierlow 1 1.67x
Kingarth 1 77.52x
Kirkdale 1 1.69x
North Meols 1 2.90x
Rainhill 1 44.44x
Royal Navy 1 3.31x
St Gregory By St Pauls 1 135.14x
West Calder 1 12.77x
West Derby 1 0.97x
Westminster St John 1 2.77x
Whittingham 1 64.52x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 33
Elizabeth 11
Catherine 8
Ellen 7
Sarah 7
Ann 6
Annie 6
Margaret 6
Bridget 5
Eliza 5
Agness 2
Alice 2
Fanny 2
Jane 2
Maria 2
Martha 2
P. 2
Teresa 2
... 1
...ry 1
Ada 1
Amelia 1
Anne 1
Catharine 1
Cathrine 1
Charlotte 1
Clara 1
Cleattn. 1
Eleanor 1
Elizab. 1
Emily 1
Emma 1
Esther 1
Florence 1
Jemina 1
Jessie 1
Julia 1
Kate 1
Kathleen 1
L. 1
Lucy 1
M. 1
M.A. 1
Millicent 1
Olive 1
Rose 1
S. 1
Susan 1
Susanna 1
Winifred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 23
James 19
Thomas 14
William 13
Michael 7
Patrick 6
Peter 5
Joseph 3
Owen 3
Alfred 2
Charles 2
Francis 2
Hugh 2
J. 2
Laurence 2
Lawrence 2
Richard 2
...ry 1
Albert 1
Andrew 1
Farrel 1
Felix 1
Fred 1
Frederick 1
Geo. 1
George 1
H. 1
Henry 1
Luke 1
Micheal 1
Michl. 1
Patk. 1
Rich.S. 1
Robert 1
Samuel 1
Terence 1
Wm. 1
Wm.F. 1
Wm.J. 1

FAQ

Kiernan surname: questions and answers

How common was the Kiernan surname in 1881?

In 1881, 306 people were recorded with the Kiernan surname. That placed it at #9,586 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Kiernan surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,152 in 2016. That gives Kiernan a modern rank of #3,004.

What does the Kiernan surname mean?

A surname of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic "Ó Ciaráin," meaning "descendant of Ciarán" (little dark one).

What does the Kiernan map show?

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