NameCensus.

UK surname

Kiggins

Surname derived from a nickname for a mischievous or naughty person.

In the 1881 census there were 31 people recorded with the Kiggins surname, ranking it #29,218 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 139, ranked #25,001, up from #29,218 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Toxteth Park, Poulton and Childwall. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Copeland, Sefton and Nottingham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kiggins is 140 in 2015. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 348.4%.

1881 census count

31

Ranked #29,218

Modern count

139

2016, ranked #25,001

Peak year

2015

140 bearers

Map years

4

1901 to 2016

Key insights

  • Kiggins had 31 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #29,218 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 139 in 2016, ranked #25,001.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 108 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Kiggins surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Kiggins surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Kiggins 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 43 #25,518
1861 historical 73 #24,492
1881 historical 31 #29,218
1891 historical 78 #27,035
1901 historical 108 #21,836
1911 historical 85 #24,322
1997 modern 93 #27,932
1998 modern 103 #27,141
1999 modern 101 #27,617
2000 modern 101 #27,555
2001 modern 103 #26,927
2002 modern 110 #26,412
2003 modern 108 #26,486
2004 modern 116 #25,580
2005 modern 111 #26,260
2006 modern 113 #26,267
2007 modern 114 #26,491
2008 modern 119 #26,067
2009 modern 127 #25,564
2010 modern 133 #25,379
2011 modern 130 #25,547
2012 modern 129 #25,705
2013 modern 135 #25,395
2014 modern 136 #25,452
2015 modern 140 #24,836
2016 modern 139 #25,001

Geography

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Where Kiggins' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Toxteth Park, Poulton, Childwall, West Derby and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Copeland, Sefton, Nottingham and Cotswold. 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 Toxteth Park Lancashire
2 Poulton Lancashire
3 Childwall Lancashire
4 West Derby Lancashire
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Copeland 004 Copeland
2 Sefton 021 Sefton
3 Copeland 005 Copeland
4 Nottingham 006 Nottingham
5 Cotswold 005 Cotswold

Forenames

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First names often paired with Kiggins

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Kiggins

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Young Families in Industrial Towns

Nationally, the Kiggins surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Kiggins household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Kiggins is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Kiggins is most concentrated in decile 7 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Kiggins 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 Kiggins 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 - British

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

Meaning and origin of Kiggins

The surname KIGGINS is believed to have originated in Ireland, specifically in the northern regions of Ulster and Connacht. It is thought to be derived from the Irish Gaelic name "Mac Giogain," which means "son of Giogan." Giogan itself is a diminutive form of the name Giolla Iogain, meaning "servant of St. John."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the KIGGINS name can be traced back to the 16th century in County Mayo, where it was spelled as "McGiogan." This spelling variation is believed to have evolved over time into the more modern KIGGINS form. In the 17th century, the name was also found in County Fermanagh, where it was recorded as "McGiogane."

The KIGGINS surname has been associated with various place names in Ireland, such as Ballymacgiogane (now known as Ballymacgeehan) in County Sligo and Tullymacgiogane (now Tullymagigan) in County Fermanagh. These place names suggest that the KIGGINS family had a significant presence in these areas during the Middle Ages.

One notable bearer of the KIGGINS name was John Kiggins, an Irish poet and schoolmaster who lived in County Mayo in the late 16th century. His works, written in Irish Gaelic, have been preserved and provide insights into the literary traditions of the time.

Another prominent figure was Thomas Kiggins, born in County Fermanagh in 1752. He was a renowned mathematician and astronomer who made significant contributions to the study of celestial mechanics and the calculation of planetary orbits.

In the 19th century, James Kiggins (1818-1902), a native of County Mayo, emigrated to the United States and became a successful businessman in New York City. He was instrumental in establishing the Irish-American community in the city and was actively involved in various charitable organizations.

Patrick Kiggins (1847-1924), born in County Sligo, was a prominent figure in the Irish Republican Brotherhood, a revolutionary organization that played a crucial role in the Irish independence movement. He was imprisoned for his involvement in the movement but later pardoned and recognized for his contributions to Irish nationalism.

Mary Kiggins (1891-1967), born in County Fermanagh, was a renowned author and playwright. She wrote several novels and plays that explored the lives and struggles of rural Irish communities, offering a unique perspective on the cultural and social dynamics of the time.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Kiggins families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kiggins 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 19 Kiggins' recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.30x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 19 5.30x
Surrey 3 2.04x
Lanarkshire 2 2.05x
Middlesex 2 0.66x
Warwickshire 2 2.62x
Hampshire 1 1.61x
Staffordshire 1 0.98x
Yorkshire 1 0.33x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Garston in Lancashire leads with 5 Kiggins' recorded in 1881 and an index of 471.70x.

Place Total Index
Garston 5 471.70x
Thornton In Fylde 5 641.03x
Everton 4 34.97x
Liverpool 4 18.36x
Southwark Christchurch 3 211.27x
Birmingham 2 7.87x
Fulham London 2 45.56x
Hamilton 2 73.26x
Burntwood Edial 1 153.85x
Chorley 1 49.75x
Farnborough 1 153.85x
Middlesbrough 1 25.64x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 3
Catherine 2
Jane 2
Margaret 2
Elizabeth 1
Ellen 1
Emily 1
Ester 1
Rebecca 1
Sarah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 4
James 2
Barthomew 1
Jas. 1
Joseph 1
Mathew 1
Phil 1
Walter 1
William 1
Wm. 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 Kiggins households.

FAQ

Kiggins surname: questions and answers

How common was the Kiggins surname in 1881?

In 1881, 31 people were recorded with the Kiggins surname. That placed it at #29,218 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Kiggins surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 139 in 2016. That gives Kiggins a modern rank of #25,001.

What does the Kiggins surname mean?

Surname derived from a nickname for a mischievous or naughty person.

What does the Kiggins map show?

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