NameCensus.

UK surname

Kilian

Derived from the Irish name "Cillián," meaning "little church," likely referring to someone who lived near a church.

In the 1881 census there were 15 people recorded with the Kilian surname, ranking it #31,451 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 137, ranked #25,254, up from #31,451 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Gwynedd, Hillingdon and Lambeth.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kilian is 137 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 813.3%.

1881 census count

15

Ranked #31,451

Modern count

137

2016, ranked #25,254

Peak year

2016

137 bearers

Map years

2

2006 to 2016

Key insights

  • Kilian had 15 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #31,451 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 137 in 2016, ranked #25,254.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 25 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Kilian surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Kilian surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Kilian 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 1 #33,412
1861 historical 7 #33,053
1881 historical 15 #31,451
1891 historical 8 #33,550
1901 historical 16 #32,260
1911 historical 25 #30,654
1997 modern 62 #31,412
1998 modern 75 #30,471
1999 modern 73 #30,856
2000 modern 69 #31,273
2001 modern 66 #31,394
2002 modern 73 #31,159
2003 modern 72 #31,281
2004 modern 81 #30,569
2005 modern 96 #28,671
2006 modern 110 #26,717
2007 modern 106 #27,722
2008 modern 111 #27,225
2009 modern 125 #25,823
2010 modern 132 #25,519
2011 modern 135 #24,922
2012 modern 135 #24,952
2013 modern 132 #25,789
2014 modern 132 #25,971
2015 modern 136 #25,352
2016 modern 137 #25,254

Geography

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Where Kilians 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 Gwynedd, Hillingdon, Lambeth, Norwich and Havering. 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 Gwynedd 014 Gwynedd
2 Hillingdon 003 Hillingdon
3 Lambeth 034 Lambeth
4 Norwich 007 Norwich
5 Havering 021 Havering

Forenames

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First names often paired with Kilian

These lists show first names that appear often with the Kilian 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 Kilian

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Kilian, 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 Kilian surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established Multi-Ethnic Communities, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Kilian 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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Kilian is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Kilian 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

Kilian 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 Kilian 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 - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Kilian

The surname Kilian originated in Germany and is derived from the Latin name Kilianus. The name traces its roots back to the 7th century when St. Kilianus, an Irish missionary, travelled to Franconia, a region in modern-day Germany, to spread Christianity.

St. Kilianus, along with his companions, is credited with establishing the first church in Würzburg, Bavaria. His life and martyrdom are documented in various historical records, including the Vita Kiliani, written in the 9th century by a monk named Hygeburhc.

The earliest known usage of the surname Kilian can be found in the Codex Traditiones Possessionesque, a manuscript dating back to the 11th century, which records land transactions and property ownership in the region around Würzburg.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Kilian was Henricus Kilian, a scribe and calligrapher who lived in Strasbourg, France, in the late 15th century. He is known for his beautiful handwritten manuscripts and his work in the printing industry.

In the 16th century, Lukas Kilian, a German engraver and publisher, was a prominent figure in the world of printmaking. His work included portraiture, religious engravings, and illustrations for books. He was born in Augsburg in 1579 and died in the same city in 1637.

Another notable figure with the surname Kilian was Philipp Andreas Kilian, a German composer and organist who lived from 1714 to 1759. He composed numerous church cantatas and organ works and served as the court organist for the Prince-Bishop of Würzburg.

In the 19th century, Hermann Friedrich Kilian was a German botanist and explorer who made significant contributions to the study of plant life in South Africa. He was born in 1800 in Kirchheimbolanden and led several expeditions to the Cape region, collecting and documenting various plant species.

The surname Kilian can also be found in various place names throughout Germany, such as Kilianstädten, a town in Hesse, and Kilianshöhe, a district in Würzburg. These place names likely originated from individuals with the surname Kilian who settled or held land in these areas.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Kilian families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kilian 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. Middlesex leads with 8 Kilians recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.48x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 8 5.48x
Kent 3 6.02x
Sussex 3 12.18x
Lancashire 1 0.58x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Marylebone London in Middlesex leads with 4 Kilians recorded in 1881 and an index of 51.28x.

Place Total Index
St Marylebone London 4 51.28x
Deptford St Paul 3 78.13x
Hastings St Mary In The 3 566.04x
Whitechapel London 2 138.89x
Halewood 1 1111.11x
Norwood 1 303.03x
St George In East London 1 72.99x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Esther 2
Annie 1
Bridget 1
Chatarna 1
Gertrude 1
Jane 1
Margarthe 1
Rose 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Arthur 1
Henry 1
Herman 1
Jacob 1
Paul 1
Philip 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 Kilian households.

FAQ

Kilian surname: questions and answers

How common was the Kilian surname in 1881?

In 1881, 15 people were recorded with the Kilian surname. That placed it at #31,451 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Kilian surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 137 in 2016. That gives Kilian a modern rank of #25,254.

What does the Kilian surname mean?

Derived from the Irish name "Cillián," meaning "little church," likely referring to someone who lived near a church.

What does the Kilian map show?

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