NameCensus.

UK surname

Kilduff

An Anglicized form of the Irish surname "Ó Cillduibh" meaning "descendant of the swarthy person".

In the 1881 census there were 43 people recorded with the Kilduff surname, ranking it #27,575 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 330, ranked #13,765, up from #27,575 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bradford, Rochdale and Salford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kilduff is 335 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 667.4%.

1881 census count

43

Ranked #27,575

Modern count

330

2016, ranked #13,765

Peak year

2010

335 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Kilduff had 43 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #27,575 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 330 in 2016, ranked #13,765.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 90 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Kilduff surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Kilduff surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Kilduff 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 41 #25,926
1861 historical 44 #28,433
1881 historical 43 #27,575
1891 historical 65 #28,660
1901 historical 79 #25,363
1911 historical 90 #23,797
1997 modern 309 #13,268
1998 modern 315 #13,452
1999 modern 319 #13,420
2000 modern 321 #13,337
2001 modern 315 #13,291
2002 modern 321 #13,378
2003 modern 305 #13,662
2004 modern 308 #13,655
2005 modern 304 #13,724
2006 modern 303 #13,834
2007 modern 299 #14,077
2008 modern 315 #13,686
2009 modern 326 #13,630
2010 modern 335 #13,645
2011 modern 330 #13,664
2012 modern 320 #13,868
2013 modern 327 #13,868
2014 modern 331 #13,851
2015 modern 322 #14,023
2016 modern 330 #13,765

Geography

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Where Kilduffs 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, Rochdale, Salford and Sedgemoor. 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 060 Bradford
2 Rochdale 018 Rochdale
3 Salford 030 Salford
4 Sedgemoor 002 Sedgemoor
5 Bradford 061 Bradford

Forenames

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First names often paired with Kilduff

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Kilduff

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Kilduff, 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 Kilduff surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Kilduff 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

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Kilduff 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

Kilduff is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Kilduff

The surname Kilduff is of Irish origin, with its roots traced back to the 11th century. It is derived from the Irish Gaelic phrase "Cill Dhuibh," which translates to "Black Church" or "Church of the Black Person." This name is believed to have originated in County Mayo, Ireland, where a church of this description once stood.

In ancient Irish records, the name appears in various spellings, such as Kilduffe, Kilduf, and Kildoffe, reflecting the variations in pronunciation and spelling over time. One of the earliest known references to the name can be found in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history compiled in the 17th century.

The Kilduff surname is closely associated with several prominent figures throughout Irish history. One notable bearer was Seán Kilduff (1623-1683), an Irish Catholic priest and scholar who played a significant role in preserving Irish language and literature during the Cromwellian era. Another was Dáibhí Ó Cillduibh (1590-1660), a renowned Irish-language poet and scribe from County Sligo.

In the 18th century, the Kilduff family had strong ties to the townland of Carna, County Galway, where they were landowners and influential members of the community. One notable figure from this era was Patrick Kilduff (1737-1819), a wealthy merchant and landowner who was involved in local politics and community affairs.

Moving into the 19th century, James Kilduff (1804-1879) was a prominent Irish-American businessman and philanthropist who emigrated to the United States and became one of the wealthiest men in New York City. He made significant contributions to various charitable organizations and educational institutions.

Another notable bearer of the Kilduff name was John Kilduff (1884-1956), an Irish-American labor leader and politician who served as the president of the International Longshoremen's Association and was elected to the New York State Assembly.

While the Kilduff surname is predominantly found in Ireland and among the Irish diaspora, it has also spread to other parts of the world through migration and intermarriage. However, the name remains closely tied to its Irish roots and the rich heritage associated with its origins.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Kilduff families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kilduff 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 Kilduffs recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.82x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 19 3.82x
Yorkshire 11 2.65x
Cheshire 6 6.48x
Angus 3 7.72x
Middlesex 3 0.72x
Kent 1 0.70x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Warrington in Lancashire leads with 11 Kilduffs recorded in 1881 and an index of 186.44x.

Place Total Index
Warrington 11 186.44x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 6 155.04x
Stockport 6 126.05x
Dewsbury 5 117.37x
Newton In Makerfield 5 328.95x
Monifieth 3 218.98x
Tottenham 3 44.91x
Gillingham 1 33.90x
Oldham 1 6.23x
Skelmersdale 1 120.48x
Toxteth Park 1 5.94x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 6
Ann 2
Anne 2
Ellen 2
Agnes 1
Elizabeth 1
Jane 1
Kate 1
Sarah 1
Shibbiner 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Thomas 4
William 4
John 3
Patrick 3
James 2
Henry 1
Hugh 1
Martin 1
Matthew 1
Michael 1
Richard 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 Kilduff households.

FAQ

Kilduff surname: questions and answers

How common was the Kilduff surname in 1881?

In 1881, 43 people were recorded with the Kilduff surname. That placed it at #27,575 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Kilduff surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 330 in 2016. That gives Kilduff a modern rank of #13,765.

What does the Kilduff surname mean?

An Anglicized form of the Irish surname "Ó Cillduibh" meaning "descendant of the swarthy person".

What does the Kilduff map show?

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