UK surname
A Scottish surname derived from a Gaelic personal name meaning "handsome lad" or "strapping youth".
In the 1881 census there were 47 people recorded with the Killy surname, ranking it #27,019 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 14, ranked #37,178, down from #27,019 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to St Leonard Shoreditch, London parishes and Toxteth Park. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Killy is 786 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 70.2%.
1881 census count
47
Ranked #27,019
Modern count
14
2016, ranked #37,178
Peak year
1861
786 bearers
Map years
5
1851 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Killy surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Killy surname density by area, 1911 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 329 | #7,079 |
| 1861 | historical | 786 | #3,507 |
| 1881 | historical | 47 | #27,019 |
| 1891 | historical | 628 | #6,158 |
| 1901 | historical | 168 | #16,886 |
| 1911 | historical | 268 | #12,332 |
| 1997 | modern | 9 | #37,214 |
| 1998 | modern | 10 | #37,048 |
| 1999 | modern | 10 | #37,072 |
| 2000 | modern | 7 | #37,430 |
| 2001 | modern | 6 | #37,456 |
| 2002 | modern | 6 | #37,532 |
| 2003 | modern | 7 | #37,397 |
| 2004 | modern | 8 | #37,346 |
| 2005 | modern | 7 | #37,581 |
| 2006 | modern | 7 | #37,634 |
| 2007 | modern | 6 | #37,837 |
| 2008 | modern | 5 | #38,027 |
| 2009 | modern | 6 | #37,953 |
| 2010 | modern | 7 | #37,904 |
| 2011 | modern | 6 | #38,016 |
| 2012 | modern | 8 | #37,740 |
| 2013 | modern | 12 | #37,342 |
| 2014 | modern | 11 | #37,462 |
| 2015 | modern | 12 | #37,371 |
| 2016 | modern | 14 | #37,178 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around St Leonard Shoreditch, London parishes, Toxteth Park, St Pancras and Manchester. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | St Leonard Shoreditch | London (East Districts) |
| 2 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 3 | Toxteth Park | Lancashire |
| 4 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| 5 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Killy surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Killy, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Killy surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Killy household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Killy is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Killy is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Killy, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Killy has its origins in Germany, where it first emerged in the Middle Ages around the 13th century. It is derived from the Old German word "kulle," which means a small hill or mound. The name was likely given to someone who lived on or near a small hill.
The earliest known record of the name Killy can be found in the town of Kiel, Germany, in the year 1275. The name was spelled as "Kulle" at that time. In the 14th century, variations of the name such as "Kulli" and "Kullie" appeared in various German towns and villages.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Killy was Hans Killy, a farmer who lived in the village of Niederau, Germany, in the late 15th century. In the 16th century, the name appeared in the town of Freiburg, Germany, where a family of Killys owned a small vineyard.
The name Killy is also associated with the town of Killingen, located in the Rhineland-Palatinate region of Germany. The town's name is believed to be derived from the same root word as the surname Killy, and it is possible that some early bearers of the name may have originated from or lived in this area.
In the 17th century, a notable figure named Johann Killy was a scholar and theologian who taught at the University of Heidelberg. He was born in 1602 and passed away in 1675.
Another prominent individual with the surname Killy was Johann Baptist Killy, a German painter who lived in the 18th century. He was born in 1715 and is known for his religious paintings and portraits.
In the 19th century, a man named Friedrich Killy made a name for himself as a successful businessman and entrepreneur in the city of Frankfurt, Germany. He was born in 1821 and founded a successful trading company that dealt with various goods.
The name Killy also spread to other parts of Europe, including Switzerland and Austria, where variations such as "Killi" and "Killy" can be found in historical records.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Killy surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lancashire leads with 12 Killys recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.89x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 12 | 1.89x |
| Isle of Man | 8 | 80.32x |
| Glamorgan | 5 | 5.35x |
| Essex | 4 | 3.78x |
| Hampshire | 4 | 3.64x |
| Middlesex | 4 | 0.75x |
| Norfolk | 4 | 4.85x |
| Renfrewshire | 2 | 4.81x |
| Staffordshire | 2 | 1.10x |
| Sussex | 2 | 2.21x |
| Angus | 1 | 2.01x |
| Cheshire | 1 | 0.84x |
| Devon | 1 | 0.90x |
| Durham | 1 | 0.63x |
| Kent | 1 | 0.55x |
| Lanarkshire | 1 | 0.58x |
| Leicestershire | 1 | 1.68x |
| Yorkshire | 1 | 0.19x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. German in Isle of Man leads with 6 Killys recorded in 1881 and an index of 1111.11x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| German | 6 | 1111.11x |
| Manchester | 5 | 17.47x |
| Roath | 4 | 94.34x |
| Southampton St Mary | 4 | 57.89x |
| Wells Next Sea | 4 | 833.33x |
| West Ham | 4 | 17.11x |
| Walton On Hill | 3 | 86.96x |
| Islington London | 2 | 3.85x |
| Littlehampton | 2 | 277.78x |
| Liverpool | 2 | 5.17x |
| Barony | 1 | 2.28x |
| Birkenhead | 1 | 10.59x |
| Braddan | 1 | 185.19x |
| Cannock | 1 | 31.65x |
| Cardiff St Mary | 1 | 19.46x |
| Chorlton On Medlock | 1 | 9.89x |
| Dundee | 1 | 5.39x |
| Hackney London | 1 | 3.33x |
| Inverkip | 1 | 102.04x |
| Kilmalcolm | 1 | 200.00x |
| Lewisham | 1 | 10.25x |
| Luppitt | 1 | 909.09x |
| Malew | 1 | 114.94x |
| Norton | 1 | 169.49x |
| Pennington In Leigh | 1 | 81.97x |
| Skipton | 1 | 59.88x |
| St Gregory By St Pauls | 1 | 769.23x |
| Wednesbury | 1 | 22.12x |
| Whitwick | 1 | 131.58x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Killy surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Killy surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Killy households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 4 |
| Farmer Daur | 3 |
| Carter | 2 |
| Labourer | 2 |
| (I) Stone Miner | 1 |
| Broker | 1 |
| Carpenter | 1 |
| Carter Wife | 1 |
| Coal Pit Drawer | 1 |
| Domestic Cook | 1 |
| Domestic Serv | 1 |
| Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Dressmaker | 1 |
| Farm Labourer | 1 |
| Farm Labourer Servant | 1 |
| Farmer Wife | 1 |
| Farmer of 80 Acres | 1 |
| Folder & Stitcher (Artizan) | 1 |
| Formerly Farmer | 1 |
| Formerly Hawker | 1 |
| General Dealer | 1 |
| General Servant | 1 |
| Joiner | 1 |
| Masons Labourer | 1 |
| Minor Canon St Pauls Cath | 1 |
| Publican | 1 |
| Scaffolder Scafter | 1 |
| Seaman | 1 |
| W Of Captain In HMS | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 47 people were recorded with the Killy surname. That placed it at #27,019 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 14 in 2016. That gives Killy a modern rank of #37,178.
A Scottish surname derived from a Gaelic personal name meaning "handsome lad" or "strapping youth".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Killy bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.