NameCensus.

UK surname

Killin

A habitational name denoting someone from a place called Killin.

In the 1881 census there were 201 people recorded with the Killin surname, ranking it #12,791 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 229, ranked #17,878, down from #12,791 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Govan Combination, Greenock and Muirkirk. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Leith, Caerphilly and Saltcoats North West.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Killin is 262 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 13.9%.

1881 census count

201

Ranked #12,791

Modern count

229

2016, ranked #17,878

Peak year

1901

262 bearers

Map years

6

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Killin had 201 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,791 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 229 in 2016, ranked #17,878.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 262 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Killin surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Killin surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Killin 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 83 #23,189
1881 historical 201 #12,791
1891 historical 258 #12,440
1901 historical 262 #12,740
1911 historical 97 #23,076
1997 modern 235 #15,895
1998 modern 253 #15,547
1999 modern 253 #15,667
2000 modern 257 #15,468
2001 modern 240 #15,912
2002 modern 243 #16,147
2003 modern 245 #15,822
2004 modern 233 #16,471
2005 modern 235 #16,335
2006 modern 236 #16,384
2007 modern 228 #16,984
2008 modern 230 #17,033
2009 modern 237 #17,052
2010 modern 246 #16,975
2011 modern 236 #17,279
2012 modern 241 #16,925
2013 modern 240 #17,251
2014 modern 243 #17,232
2015 modern 237 #17,413
2016 modern 229 #17,878

Geography

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Where Killins are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Govan Combination, Greenock, Muirkirk, Glasgow and Liverpool. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Leith, Caerphilly, Saltcoats North West, Saltcoats North East and Maldon. 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 Govan Combination Lanark
2 Greenock Renfrew
3 Muirkirk Ayr
4 Glasgow Lanark
5 Liverpool Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Leith City of Edinburgh
2 Caerphilly 020 Caerphilly
3 Saltcoats North West North Ayrshire
4 Saltcoats North East North Ayrshire
5 Maldon 006 Maldon

Forenames

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First names often paired with Killin

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Killin

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

Legacy Communities

Group

Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities

Nationally, the Killin surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Killin household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Households in these areas often include divorced or separated parents and commonly include children and young adults. The age structure is heavily skewed towards the most advanced age groups. Individuals identifying as members of ethnic minorities are not present in large numbers. Flats predominate, with some terraced, semi-detached, and detached units. Multiple car ownership is low, and housing is predominantly in the private and social rented sectors. Employment is less skewed towards traditional routine industrial occupations. Levels of educational attainment are generally low. The Group occurs principally in the Central Lowlands of Scotland and other Scottish towns.

Wider pattern

These neighbourhoods characteristically comprise pockets of flats that are scattered across the UK, particularly in towns that retain or have legacies of heavy industry or are in more remote seaside locations. Employed residents of these neighbourhoods work mainly in low-skilled occupations. Residents typically have limited educational qualifications. Unemployment is above average. Some residents live in overcrowded housing within the social rented sector and experience long-term disability. All adult age groups are represented, although there is an overall age bias towards elderly people in general and the very old in particular. Individuals identifying as belonging to ethnic minorities or Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups are uncommon.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Killin 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

Killin is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Killin falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Killin

The surname Killin originated in Scotland, with its roots dating back to the 16th century. It is believed to be derived from the Gaelic word "cill," which means "church" or "cell," indicating that the name may have been associated with those who lived near or worked at a church or monastery.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Killin can be found in the records of Perthshire, where it was spelled as "Killein" in the late 1500s. This spelling variation suggests a connection to the village of Killin, located in the heart of the Scottish Highlands, near the picturesque Loch Tay.

During the 17th century, the name Killin gained prominence in the historic parish of Killin, which was known for its strategic location along the ancient military road connecting the Lowlands to the Highlands. Several families bearing this surname were documented in the parish records, indicating their involvement in the local community and economy.

In the 18th century, the Killin surname appeared in various historical documents, including the Old Parish Registers of Scotland. One notable individual was John Killin, born in 1712, who served as a minister in the Church of Scotland and was instrumental in establishing a school in the village of Killin.

As the centuries progressed, the Killin family spread across Scotland and beyond. In the 19th century, a notable figure was Sir Walter Killin (1811-1897), a Scottish businessman and philanthropist who made significant contributions to the development of the city of Glasgow.

Another prominent individual was Mary Killin (1865-1942), a Scottish writer and activist who advocated for women's rights and was instrumental in the suffragette movement. Her works, including poetry and essays, shed light on the struggles and aspirations of women during that era.

In the 20th century, the Killin surname continued to be associated with notable individuals, such as Sir Alexander Killin (1914-2002), a renowned Scottish architect whose designs left a lasting impact on the urban landscape of Edinburgh and other cities.

Throughout its history, the surname Killin has maintained a strong connection to its Scottish roots, with many families still residing in the Highlands and other parts of Scotland. The name's association with the village of Killin and its rich cultural heritage continues to be a source of pride for those who bear this surname.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Killin families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Killin 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. Lanarkshire leads with 64 Killins recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.20x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 64 10.20x
Renfrewshire 44 29.25x
Lancashire 15 0.65x
Ayrshire 13 8.95x
Clackmannanshire 10 62.38x
Warwickshire 9 1.84x
Gloucestershire 7 1.84x
Cumberland 5 2.99x
Durham 5 0.87x
Glamorgan 5 1.48x
Bedfordshire 4 3.98x
Roxburghshire 4 11.38x
Merionethshire 3 8.45x
Middlesex 2 0.10x
Perthshire 2 2.30x
Argyllshire 1 1.85x
Cardiganshire 1 2.11x
Cheshire 1 0.23x
Dunbartonshire 1 1.92x
Midlothian 1 0.38x
Peeblesshire 1 10.95x
Staffordshire 1 0.15x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Govan in Lanarkshire leads with 28 Killins recorded in 1881 and an index of 18.04x.

Place Total Index
Govan 28 18.04x
Renfrew 15 301.81x
Muirkirk 13 381.23x
Rutherglen 12 130.29x
Barony 11 6.92x
Tillicoultry 10 280.11x
Paisley High Church 9 75.13x
West Greenock 9 33.33x
Glasgow 7 6.28x
Liverpool 7 5.00x
Tewkesbury 7 205.88x
Coventry Holy Trinity 6 41.04x
Cambusnethan 5 35.87x
Port Glasgow 5 68.78x
Kyo 4 147.06x
Luton 4 22.99x
Melrose 4 131.58x
Middle Greenock 4 97.56x
Whitchurch 4 218.58x
Coventry St Michael 3 19.08x
Festiniog 3 40.05x
Walmersley Cum 3 81.52x
Walton On Hill 3 24.04x
Kilbarchan 2 43.76x
Whitehaven 2 22.45x
Aberavon 1 32.15x
Aberystwith 1 24.51x
Campbeltown 1 15.34x
Hensingham 1 72.99x
Kirkdale 1 2.58x
Lasswade 1 16.81x
Logie 1 31.95x
Macclesfield 1 5.25x
Old Monkland 1 4.01x
Perth St Pauls 1 49.51x
Rishton 1 37.04x
Row 1 14.81x
Seaton 1 51.28x
St Cuthbert W O 1 12.27x
St George Hanover Square 1 2.92x
St George Martyr London 1 25.45x
Stranton 1 5.14x
Traquair 1 196.08x
Wolverhampton 1 1.98x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 3
Ellen 3
Emily 3
Emma 2
Margaret 2
Ann 1
Bridget 1
Catherine 1
Edith 1
Hannah 1
Harret 1
Harriett 1
Janet 1
Jeanie 1
Johanna 1
Marion 1
Mary 1
Winefred 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Killin surname: questions and answers

How common was the Killin surname in 1881?

In 1881, 201 people were recorded with the Killin surname. That placed it at #12,791 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Killin surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 229 in 2016. That gives Killin a modern rank of #17,878.

What does the Killin surname mean?

A habitational name denoting someone from a place called Killin.

What does the Killin map show?

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