NameCensus.

UK surname

Kilmurray

A Scottish surname derived from a place name meaning "church of St. Muiread."

In the 1881 census there were 18 people recorded with the Kilmurray surname, ranking it #31,019 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 179, ranked #21,086, up from #31,019 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wishaw South, Carluke East and Carluke South.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kilmurray is 202 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 894.4%.

1881 census count

18

Ranked #31,019

Modern count

179

2016, ranked #21,086

Peak year

2000

202 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Kilmurray had 18 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #31,019 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 179 in 2016, ranked #21,086.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 74 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Kilmurray surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Kilmurray surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Kilmurray 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 12 #31,134
1861 historical 7 #33,053
1881 historical 18 #31,019
1891 historical 55 #29,744
1901 historical 74 #25,958
1911 historical 39 #29,025
1997 modern 195 #17,912
1998 modern 191 #18,624
1999 modern 193 #18,642
2000 modern 202 #18,094
2001 modern 190 #18,520
2002 modern 196 #18,535
2003 modern 184 #19,075
2004 modern 187 #18,993
2005 modern 178 #19,535
2006 modern 170 #20,214
2007 modern 169 #20,562
2008 modern 185 #19,589
2009 modern 185 #20,010
2010 modern 188 #20,235
2011 modern 183 #20,425
2012 modern 180 #20,606
2013 modern 176 #21,237
2014 modern 180 #21,115
2015 modern 188 #20,417
2016 modern 179 #21,086

Geography

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Where Kilmurrays 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 Wishaw South, Carluke East, Carluke South, Kennoway and Bonnybank and Wiltshire. 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 Wishaw South North Lanarkshire
2 Carluke East South Lanarkshire
3 Carluke South South Lanarkshire
4 Kennoway and Bonnybank Fife
5 Wiltshire 018 Wiltshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Kilmurray

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Kilmurray

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Kilmurray, 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 Kilmurray surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Kilmurray 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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Kilmurray 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

Kilmurray 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

Kilmurray 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 Kilmurray 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 Kilmurray, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Kilmurray

The surname Kilmurray has its origins in Ireland, tracing back to the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Gaelic words "Cill Muireadhaigh," which translates to "Church of Muireadhach" or "Muireadhach's Church." This suggests that the name may have been linked to a specific church or monastery associated with an individual named Muireadhach.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in ancient Irish annals and manuscripts, such as the Annals of the Four Masters, which document historical events and genealogies. One notable early reference is in the 14th century, when a Gillemurry O'Ferrell is mentioned as a prominent member of the O'Ferrell clan in County Longford, Ireland.

In the 16th century, the name appears in various forms, including Kilmurry, Kilmurrie, and Kilmurray, reflecting the regional variations in spelling and pronunciation. During this period, the Kilmurray family is recorded as having held lands and estates in counties such as Sligo, Mayo, and Galway.

Several individuals bearing the Kilmurray surname have left their mark on history. One notable figure was Patrick Kilmurray (1625-1690), an Irish Catholic priest and religious writer who faced persecution during the Penal Laws. Another was John Kilmurray (1761-1838), an Irish-born merchant and landowner who settled in Antigua and played a role in the island's economic development.

In the 19th century, James Kilmurray (1815-1890) was a prominent Irish businessman and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for County Wexford. Meanwhile, Thomas Kilmurray (1820-1891) was a notable Irish-American Catholic priest and author who worked to promote education and social welfare in New York City.

One of the most famous individuals with this surname was Mary Kilmurray (1880-1972), an Irish-American labor activist and trade unionist. She played a pivotal role in organizing workers and advocating for better working conditions, particularly in the garment industry.

While the Kilmurray surname has its roots in Ireland, it has since spread to various parts of the world through migration and diaspora, reflecting the rich history and cultural heritage associated with this name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Kilmurray families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kilmurray 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 9 Kilmurrays recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.32x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 9 4.32x
Ayrshire 6 45.66x
Lanarkshire 3 5.28x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Billinge Chapel End in Lancashire leads with 8 Kilmurrays recorded in 1881 and an index of 6666.67x.

Place Total Index
Billinge Chapel End 8 6666.67x
Kilmarnock 6 384.62x
Shotts 3 441.18x
Gorton 1 51.02x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 3
Bridget 1
Margaret 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 1
John 1
Richard 1
William 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 Kilmurray households.

FAQ

Kilmurray surname: questions and answers

How common was the Kilmurray surname in 1881?

In 1881, 18 people were recorded with the Kilmurray surname. That placed it at #31,019 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Kilmurray surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 179 in 2016. That gives Kilmurray a modern rank of #21,086.

What does the Kilmurray surname mean?

A Scottish surname derived from a place name meaning "church of St. Muiread."

What does the Kilmurray map show?

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