NameCensus.

UK surname

Kilmartin

A locational surname for someone from a place called Kilmartin or Kilmarten.

In the 1881 census there were 193 people recorded with the Kilmartin surname, ranking it #13,144 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 499, ranked #9,997, up from #13,144 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Govan Combination, St Werburgh and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Hambleton, Leeds and York.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kilmartin is 536 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 158.5%.

1881 census count

193

Ranked #13,144

Modern count

499

2016, ranked #9,997

Peak year

1998

536 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Kilmartin had 193 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,144 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 499 in 2016, ranked #9,997.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 285 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Small Town Suburbia.

Kilmartin surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Kilmartin surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Kilmartin 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 82 #19,317
1861 historical 117 #18,635
1881 historical 193 #13,144
1891 historical 266 #12,169
1901 historical 285 #12,063
1911 historical 216 #14,240
1997 modern 514 #9,129
1998 modern 536 #9,099
1999 modern 523 #9,332
2000 modern 518 #9,366
2001 modern 511 #9,304
2002 modern 518 #9,400
2003 modern 498 #9,512
2004 modern 504 #9,468
2005 modern 480 #9,718
2006 modern 477 #9,821
2007 modern 465 #10,096
2008 modern 474 #10,040
2009 modern 486 #10,069
2010 modern 505 #9,985
2011 modern 495 #10,026
2012 modern 495 #9,941
2013 modern 501 #10,006
2014 modern 502 #10,050
2015 modern 494 #10,083
2016 modern 499 #9,997

Geography

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Where Kilmartins are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Govan Combination, St Werburgh, Manchester, Bradford and St Michael-le-Belfry, St Giles. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Hambleton, Leeds and York. 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 St Werburgh Derbyshire
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding
5 St Michael-le-Belfry, St Giles Yorkshire, East Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Hambleton 010 Hambleton
2 Leeds 004 Leeds
3 York 008 York
4 York 013 York
5 Leeds 070 Leeds

Forenames

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First names often paired with Kilmartin

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Kilmartin

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Small Town Suburbia

Nationally, the Kilmartin surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Small Town Suburbia, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Kilmartin household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group is predominantly comprised of married couples with no resident dependent children, living in areas characterised neither by under-occupancy nor overcrowding throughout the UK in or adjacent to small towns. White ethnic groups and affiliation with Christianity predominates. Housing tends to be predominantly semi-detached or detached and workers are employed principally in managerial and professional occupations, with semi-skilled occupations also in evidence. These areas of the Supergroup are of higher population density.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Kilmartin 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

Kilmartin 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

Kilmartin falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Kilmartin is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Kilmartin

The surname KILMARTIN is of Scottish origin, deriving from the Gaelic place name "Cill Mhartainn", meaning "church of St. Martin". The name originated in the region of Argyllshire, located in the western Highlands of Scotland.

The earliest recorded instance of the name KILMARTIN can be traced back to the 13th century, where it appeared in various Scottish charters and records. It is believed that the name was originally held by individuals who lived near or were associated with the church of St. Martin in the village of Kilmartin, Argyllshire.

One of the most notable historical references to the KILMARTIN name is found in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland from the late 14th century, which documented various landholdings and transactions involving individuals with this surname.

In the 16th century, the KILMARTIN family was prominent in the region of Argyllshire, with several members holding important positions and land grants. One such individual was John KILMARTIN, born around 1540, who served as a prominent landowner and local official in the area.

Another significant figure bearing the KILMARTIN name was Robert KILMARTIN, born in 1625, who was a Scottish minister and author. He wrote several influential works on theology and religious matters during his lifetime.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, the KILMARTIN surname spread beyond its traditional roots in Argyllshire, as members of the family migrated to other parts of Scotland and even to the Americas. One notable individual from this period was James KILMARTIN, born in 1698, who was a successful merchant and landowner in the city of Glasgow.

In the 19th century, the KILMARTIN name gained further recognition with the achievements of individuals such as Sir Walter KILMARTIN, born in 1812, who was a renowned Scottish lawyer and judge. He served as Lord Justice Clerk, one of the highest judicial positions in Scotland.

Throughout its history, the KILMARTIN surname has maintained a strong presence in Scotland, particularly in the regions of Argyllshire and the western Highlands. While the name has spread to other parts of the world, its origins can be traced back to the ancient Gaelic place name "Cill Mhartainn", reflecting the rich cultural heritage of the Scottish Highlands.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Kilmartin families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kilmartin 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. Yorkshire leads with 45 Kilmartins recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.40x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 45 2.40x
Lancashire 34 1.51x
Ayrshire 18 12.71x
Cheshire 15 3.59x
Warwickshire 15 3.14x
Derbyshire 10 3.38x
Lanarkshire 10 1.63x
Dunbartonshire 8 15.73x
Durham 8 1.42x
Leicestershire 7 3.34x
Renfrewshire 5 3.41x
Middlesex 4 0.21x
Northumberland 4 1.42x
Surrey 3 0.33x
Hampshire 2 0.52x
Angus 1 0.57x
Channel Islands 1 1.78x
Devon 1 0.25x
Gloucestershire 1 0.27x
Midlothian 1 0.39x
Staffordshire 1 0.16x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Auckinleck in Ayrshire leads with 16 Kilmartins recorded in 1881 and an index of 365.30x.

Place Total Index
Auckinleck 16 365.30x
Birmingham 15 9.43x
York St Margaret 15 1293.10x
Bradford 10 22.03x
Little Bolton 9 31.17x
Leeds 8 7.56x
Sunderland 8 80.48x
Hyde 7 56.77x
Ashton Under Lyne 6 12.23x
Bonhill 6 73.53x
Chorlton On Medlock 6 16.82x
Derby St Michael 6 967.74x
Govan 6 3.96x
Leicester St Margaret 6 11.73x
Renfrew 5 103.31x
Derby All Sts 4 161.94x
Newton In Ashton Under 4 97.09x
Blackburn 3 5.02x
Lambeth 3 1.82x
Liverpool 3 2.20x
Macclesfield 3 16.16x
Otley 3 65.93x
Ayr 2 29.94x
Cardross 2 32.73x
Keighley 2 10.01x
Manchester 2 1.98x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 2 11.90x
Tinsley 2 303.03x
Widnes 2 12.35x
Aldershot 1 7.70x
Alnwick 1 20.66x
Bristol St Michael 1 31.45x
Burntwood Edial 1 24.51x
Cambusnethan 1 7.36x
Clifton In York 1 25.51x
Cossington 1 384.62x
Dundee 1 1.53x
Glasgow 1 0.92x
Gorbals 1 27.55x
Grappenhall 1 196.08x
Grouville 1 64.10x
Haslingden 1 10.75x
Kexby 1 1111.11x
Lasswade 1 17.24x
Longbenton 1 8.39x
Old Monkland 1 4.12x
Pontefract 1 24.75x
Poplar London 1 2.80x
Portsea 1 1.32x
Rotherham 1 9.46x
Spitalfields London 1 7.03x
St George Hanover Square 1 3.00x
St Giles In Fields London 1 10.78x
Stoke Damerel 1 3.63x
West Derby 1 1.52x
Wigan 1 3.19x
Wyke In Bradford 1 29.85x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 21
Catherine 7
Ellen 5
Margaret 5
Annie 4
Sarah 4
Alice 2
Bridget 2
Elizabeth 2
Ann 1
Bettsy 1
Biddy 1
Goff 1
Hannah 1
Jane 1
Kate 1
Margt. 1
Maria 1
Norah 1
Theresa 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Kilmartin surname: questions and answers

How common was the Kilmartin surname in 1881?

In 1881, 193 people were recorded with the Kilmartin surname. That placed it at #13,144 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Kilmartin surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 499 in 2016. That gives Kilmartin a modern rank of #9,997.

What does the Kilmartin surname mean?

A locational surname for someone from a place called Kilmartin or Kilmarten.

What does the Kilmartin map show?

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