NameCensus.

UK surname

Kilbane

Irish surname transferred from a placename meaning "small church" or "small chapel".

In the 1881 census there were 5 people recorded with the Kilbane surname, ranking it #33,110 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 443, ranked #10,921, up from #33,110 in 1881.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kilbane is 475 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 8760.0%.

1881 census count

5

Ranked #33,110

Modern count

443

2016, ranked #10,921

Peak year

2010

475 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Kilbane had 5 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #33,110 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 443 in 2016, ranked #10,921.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 13 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Kilbane surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Kilbane surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Kilbane 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 3 #32,890
1861 historical 3 #33,861
1881 historical 5 #33,110
1891 historical 13 #33,099
1901 historical 7 #33,435
1911 historical 8 #32,903
1997 modern 416 #10,696
1998 modern 450 #10,409
1999 modern 449 #10,464
2000 modern 444 #10,559
2001 modern 432 #10,584
2002 modern 439 #10,656
2003 modern 431 #10,653
2004 modern 432 #10,658
2005 modern 439 #10,401
2006 modern 427 #10,683
2007 modern 434 #10,639
2008 modern 446 #10,501
2009 modern 456 #10,558
2010 modern 475 #10,445
2011 modern 455 #10,691
2012 modern 435 #10,959
2013 modern 457 #10,705
2014 modern 469 #10,570
2015 modern 457 #10,695
2016 modern 443 #10,921

Geography

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Where Kilbanes 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, Reading, Preston, Falkland and Freuchie and Borestone. 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 Raploch Stirling
2 Reading 007 Reading
3 Preston 013 Preston
4 Falkland and Freuchie Fife
5 Borestone Stirling

Forenames

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First names often paired with Kilbane

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Kilbane

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Established Multi-Ethnic Communities

Nationally, the Kilbane surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established Multi-Ethnic Communities, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Kilbane household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Parents and young children in this Group are drawn from diverse ethnic backgrounds in broadly similar proportions. Employment is typically in elementary occupations, though workers in professional, intermediate or skilled trades occupations are also present. The residential landscape is dominated by terraced housing, although semi-detached houses and flats are also present. This Group is found in London and in many provincial towns and cities throughout the U.K.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Kilbane is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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 residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Kilbane 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

Kilbane falls in decile 4 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Kilbane 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 Kilbane, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Kilbane

The surname Kilbane is of Irish origin and can be traced back to the 16th century. It is believed to have originated in County Galway, where it was initially spelled as Kilbaun or Kilbayne. The name is derived from the Irish Gaelic words "Cill Bán," which translate to "white church" or "white cell."

The earliest known record of the name Kilbane appears in the Annals of the Four Masters, a historical chronicle that covers events in Ireland from the earliest times to the 17th century. The Annals mention a "Teige Kilbane" in the year 1570, who was involved in a local conflict in County Galway.

In the 17th century, the Kilbane name was found in various parts of Connacht, particularly in counties Galway and Mayo. Records from this period show the name being spelled in different ways, such as Kilbane, Kilbaun, and Kilbayne, reflecting the variations in pronunciation and spelling common at the time.

One notable bearer of the Kilbane surname was John Kilbane (c. 1770-1846), an Irish Catholic priest and educator who founded several schools in County Mayo. Another was Michael Kilbane (1825-1899), a prominent Irish nationalist and member of the Irish Republican Brotherhood, who actively supported the cause of Irish independence during the 19th century.

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, many Kilbanes emigrated from Ireland to the United States and other parts of the world. One well-known Kilbane was Johnny Kilbane (1889-1972), an American professional boxer who held the World Featherweight Championship from 1912 to 1923. He was born in Ohio to Irish immigrant parents and is considered one of the greatest featherweight boxers of all time.

Another notable figure was Thomas Joseph Kilbane (1876-1947), an American politician and lawyer who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from Ohio from 1913 to 1915 and again from 1923 to 1925. He was born in Ohio to Irish immigrant parents and was the brother of boxer Johnny Kilbane.

In more recent times, the surname Kilbane has been associated with several authors and academics, including John Kilbane (born 1944), an American writer and professor of English literature, and Philip Kilbane (born 1958), an Irish poet and academic who has published several collections of poetry.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Kilbane families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kilbane 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. Midlothian leads with 3 Kilbanes recorded in 1881 and an index of 46.15x.

County Total Index
Midlothian 3 46.15x
Nottinghamshire 2 30.58x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Edinburgh St Johns in Midlothian leads with 3 Kilbanes recorded in 1881 and an index of 7500.00x.

Place Total Index
Edinburgh St Johns 3 7500.00x
Snenton 2 769.23x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 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 Kilbane households.

Occupation Count
Labourer 1

FAQ

Kilbane surname: questions and answers

How common was the Kilbane surname in 1881?

In 1881, 5 people were recorded with the Kilbane surname. That placed it at #33,110 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Kilbane surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 443 in 2016. That gives Kilbane a modern rank of #10,921.

What does the Kilbane surname mean?

Irish surname transferred from a placename meaning "small church" or "small chapel".

What does the Kilbane map show?

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