NameCensus.

UK surname

Kinahan

Irish surname derived from Ó Cionaoith meaning "descendant of Cionaoth", a personal name of unknown origin.

In the 1881 census there were 13 people recorded with the Kinahan surname, ranking it #31,761 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 190, ranked #20,262, up from #31,761 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Tewkesbury, Blackpool and Wychavon.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kinahan is 196 in 2015. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 1361.5%.

1881 census count

13

Ranked #31,761

Modern count

190

2016, ranked #20,262

Peak year

2015

196 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Kinahan had 13 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #31,761 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 190 in 2016, ranked #20,262.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 73 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Kinahan surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Kinahan surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Kinahan 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 9 #31,675
1861 historical 18 #31,580
1881 historical 13 #31,761
1891 historical 42 #31,018
1901 historical 44 #29,276
1911 historical 73 #25,541
1997 modern 155 #20,684
1998 modern 156 #21,144
1999 modern 155 #21,375
2000 modern 170 #20,120
2001 modern 161 #20,543
2002 modern 168 #20,396
2003 modern 176 #19,623
2004 modern 180 #19,424
2005 modern 187 #18,924
2006 modern 177 #19,738
2007 modern 179 #19,811
2008 modern 179 #20,015
2009 modern 186 #19,946
2010 modern 177 #21,034
2011 modern 177 #20,874
2012 modern 179 #20,679
2013 modern 189 #20,273
2014 modern 195 #20,036
2015 modern 196 #19,840
2016 modern 190 #20,262

Geography

Back to top

Where Kinahans 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 Tewkesbury, Blackpool, Wychavon, Rochdale and Herefordshire. 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 Tewkesbury 004 Tewkesbury
2 Blackpool 007 Blackpool
3 Wychavon 010 Wychavon
4 Rochdale 016 Rochdale
5 Herefordshire 005 Herefordshire, County of

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Kinahan

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Kinahan

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

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Kinahan surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Kinahan 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 comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Kinahan is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Kinahan 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

Kinahan falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Kinahan 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 - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Kinahan

The surname Kinahan is believed to have originated in Ireland, tracing its roots back to the late 16th or early 17th century. It is thought to be an Anglicized version of the Irish Gaelic name Ó Cionaoith, which means "descendant of Cionaoth."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Kinahan name can be found in the Fiants of the Reign of Elizabeth, a collection of documents from the 16th century. The name appears in various spellings, such as Kynawghe and Kynogho, reflecting the phonetic nature of the name's evolution.

During the tumultuous periods of the 16th and 17th centuries, many Irish families were forced to adopt Anglicized versions of their traditional Gaelic names. The Kinahans were likely among those who made this linguistic transition, with the name eventually settling into its current spelling.

One notable figure bearing the Kinahan surname was Sir Edward Kinahan, a prominent Irish landowner and politician who lived from 1639 to 1711. He served as a member of the Irish Parliament and was knighted for his service to the Crown.

Another individual of historical significance was Reverend John Kinahan, an Irish Anglican clergyman and writer who lived from 1705 to 1779. He authored several religious works and served as the Dean of Derry Cathedral.

In the 19th century, John Kinahan (1804-1880) gained prominence as a successful brewer and distiller in Ireland. His company, Kinahan's Irish Whiskey, became one of the country's most renowned whiskey brands, earning international acclaim.

Moving into the 20th century, Michael Kinahan (1897-1976) was a respected Irish historian and academic. He served as the President of University College Dublin from 1949 to 1965 and made significant contributions to the study of Irish history and culture.

Finally, Brendan Kinahan (born 1947) is a contemporary Irish playwright and novelist. His works, which often explore themes of identity and Irish culture, have been widely acclaimed and performed on stages around the world.

While the Kinahan surname may have evolved over time, its origins can be traced back to the rich cultural heritage of Ireland, where it has left an indelible mark on the country's history and literary traditions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Kinahan families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kinahan 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. Surrey leads with 7 Kinahans recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.53x.

County Total Index
Surrey 7 10.53x
Middlesex 3 2.20x
Hampshire 1 3.58x
Lanarkshire 1 2.27x
Lancashire 1 0.62x
Royal Navy 1 61.35x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Camberwell in Surrey leads with 7 Kinahans recorded in 1881 and an index of 80.37x.

Place Total Index
Camberwell 7 80.37x
Heston 2 444.44x
Govan 1 9.17x
Royal Navy 1 71.94x
Shoreditch London 1 16.92x
Titchfield 1 476.19x
Windle 1 109.89x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Margaret 2
Amalinda 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 2
Thomas 2
Cecil 1
James 1
Jas. 1
Percy 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 Kinahan households.

FAQ

Kinahan surname: questions and answers

How common was the Kinahan surname in 1881?

In 1881, 13 people were recorded with the Kinahan surname. That placed it at #31,761 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Kinahan surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 190 in 2016. That gives Kinahan a modern rank of #20,262.

What does the Kinahan surname mean?

Irish surname derived from Ó Cionaoith meaning "descendant of Cionaoth", a personal name of unknown origin.

What does the Kinahan map show?

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