NameCensus.

UK surname

Killoran

An Anglicized version of the Irish surname Ó Cillóráin, meaning "descendant of Cillórán".

In the 1881 census there were 127 people recorded with the Killoran surname, ranking it #17,166 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 364, ranked #12,748, up from #17,166 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Manchester, Grimsby, Great and Dean. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Weymouth and Portland, Huntingdonshire and Paisley South East.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Killoran is 372 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 186.6%.

1881 census count

127

Ranked #17,166

Modern count

364

2016, ranked #12,748

Peak year

2014

372 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Killoran had 127 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #17,166 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 364 in 2016, ranked #12,748.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 201 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Killoran surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Killoran surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Killoran 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 44 #25,328
1861 historical 60 #26,313
1881 historical 127 #17,166
1891 historical 156 #17,842
1901 historical 201 #15,059
1911 historical 174 #16,311
1997 modern 337 #12,522
1998 modern 334 #12,940
1999 modern 332 #13,075
2000 modern 328 #13,129
2001 modern 318 #13,205
2002 modern 318 #13,475
2003 modern 310 #13,522
2004 modern 314 #13,473
2005 modern 323 #13,133
2006 modern 312 #13,554
2007 modern 319 #13,474
2008 modern 323 #13,462
2009 modern 323 #13,720
2010 modern 339 #13,523
2011 modern 350 #13,086
2012 modern 349 #12,993
2013 modern 359 #12,917
2014 modern 372 #12,669
2015 modern 367 #12,696
2016 modern 364 #12,748

Geography

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Where Killorans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Manchester, Grimsby, Great, Dean, 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 Weymouth and Portland, Huntingdonshire, Paisley South East, Bradford and Wakefield. 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 Manchester Lancashire
2 Grimsby, Great Lincolnshire
3 Dean Lancashire
4 Glasgow Lanark
5 Liverpool Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Weymouth and Portland 002 Weymouth and Portland
2 Huntingdonshire 007 Huntingdonshire
3 Paisley South East Renfrewshire
4 Bradford 058 Bradford
5 Wakefield 044 Wakefield

Forenames

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First names often paired with Killoran

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Killoran

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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Killoran surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Killoran household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Killoran 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

Killoran 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

Killoran 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 Killoran 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 - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Killoran

The surname Killoran is believed to have originated in Ireland, and can be traced back to the 16th century. It is derived from the Irish Gaelic words "cill" meaning church, and "Odhrain" which is a personal name meaning "pale green." The name likely referred to someone who lived near a church associated with St. Odhran.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history. In 1586, a "Teige Killoran" is mentioned as participating in a battle against English forces in County Mayo.

The Killorans were historically concentrated in the western counties of Connacht, particularly Mayo, Galway, and Roscommon. Variations in spelling included Killoren, Kiloren, and Killouran. Some early bearers of the name were tenants of Anglo-Norman settlers in the 13th century.

Notable Killorans throughout history include Thaddeus Killoran (1697-1773), an Irish Catholic priest who played a role in the preservation of the Irish language and culture during the Penal Laws. Patrick Killoran (1832-1908) was a prominent Irish nationalist and member of the Irish Parliamentary Party.

Margaret Mary Killoran (1888-1984) was a Irish-born Australian nun who founded the Missionary Sisters of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Queen of the World congregation. John Killoran (1914-2000) was a Canadian lawyer and judge who served on the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia.

Edmond Killoran (1780-1858) was an Irish soldier who fought in the Napoleonic Wars and later settled in Canada, where he became a farmer and local magistrate. His descendants continued to use the spelling Killoran.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Killoran families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Killoran 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 42 Killorans recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.86x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 42 2.86x
Yorkshire 20 1.63x
Lanarkshire 16 3.99x
Durham 12 3.26x
Northumberland 8 4.34x
Kent 6 1.42x
Staffordshire 6 1.44x
Derbyshire 4 2.06x
Hampshire 4 1.58x
Cheshire 3 1.10x
Devon 3 1.16x
Lincolnshire 1 0.50x
Middlesex 1 0.08x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.60x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Manchester in Lancashire leads with 9 Killorans recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.62x.

Place Total Index
Manchester 9 13.62x
Bothwell 8 73.66x
Gateshead 8 29.00x
Leeds 8 11.54x
Widnes 8 75.47x
Darcy Lever 7 823.53x
Churwell 6 714.29x
Farnworth 6 68.10x
Wolverhampton 6 18.66x
Woolwich 6 38.44x
Byker 5 54.88x
Aldershot 4 47.00x
Govan 4 4.04x
Liverpool 4 4.48x
Stranton 4 32.23x
Wardleworth 4 47.62x
Barony 3 2.96x
Bedlington 3 48.78x
East Stonehouse 3 59.06x
Knutsford Nether 3 181.82x
Sturston 3 937.50x
Bradford 2 6.73x
Holbeck 2 24.60x
Newton 2 17.65x
Aldbrough In Richmond 1 588.24x
Bromley London 1 3.67x
Derby St Alkmund 1 17.21x
Great Bolton 1 5.14x
Little Bolton 1 5.29x
Maryhill 1 12.76x
Nottingham St Mary 1 2.32x
Pointon 1 526.32x
Sheffield 1 2.56x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 13
Bridget 5
Margaret 5
Elizabeth 4
Ellen 4
Catherine 3
Rose 3
Ann 2
Sarah 2
Annie 1
Bridgott 1
Catrina 1
Eliza 1
Emma 1
Jane 1
Kate 1
Katherine 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 14
Michael 7
Patrick 6
Thomas 5
Edward 4
Andrew 3
James 3
Micheal 3
Joseph 2
Luke 2
Martin 2
Robert 2
Barnard 1
Daniel 1
Dominick 1
Matthew 1
Pat 1
Richard 1
William 1

FAQ

Killoran surname: questions and answers

How common was the Killoran surname in 1881?

In 1881, 127 people were recorded with the Killoran surname. That placed it at #17,166 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Killoran surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 364 in 2016. That gives Killoran a modern rank of #12,748.

What does the Killoran surname mean?

An Anglicized version of the Irish surname Ó Cillóráin, meaning "descendant of Cillórán".

What does the Killoran map show?

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