NameCensus.

UK surname

Kincaid

From the Gaelic "ceann cadha," meaning "head of the pass," likely referring to a gatekeeper or chief of a mountain pass.

In the 1881 census there were 370 people recorded with the Kincaid surname, ranking it #8,434 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 742, ranked #7,354, up from #8,434 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to New Abbey, London parishes and Govan Combination. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Greenock East, Greenock West and Central and Greenock Town Centre and East Central.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kincaid is 761 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 100.5%.

1881 census count

370

Ranked #8,434

Modern count

742

2016, ranked #7,354

Peak year

2014

761 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Kincaid had 370 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,434 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 742 in 2016, ranked #7,354.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 455 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Kincaid surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Kincaid surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Kincaid 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 172 #11,682
1861 historical 237 #10,359
1881 historical 370 #8,434
1891 historical 436 #8,262
1901 historical 455 #8,641
1911 historical 98 #22,959
1997 modern 598 #8,162
1998 modern 646 #7,949
1999 modern 647 #7,979
2000 modern 644 #7,990
2001 modern 628 #7,995
2002 modern 653 #7,915
2003 modern 619 #8,134
2004 modern 640 #7,923
2005 modern 656 #7,716
2006 modern 652 #7,782
2007 modern 666 #7,727
2008 modern 660 #7,817
2009 modern 694 #7,690
2010 modern 737 #7,471
2011 modern 727 #7,482
2012 modern 728 #7,393
2013 modern 742 #7,409
2014 modern 761 #7,281
2015 modern 744 #7,345
2016 modern 742 #7,354

Geography

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Where Kincaids are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around New Abbey, London parishes, Govan Combination, Falkirk and Greenock. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Greenock East, Greenock West and Central, Greenock Town Centre and East Central, Lennoxtown and Bow Farm, Barrs Cottage, Cowdenknowes and Overton. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 New Abbey Kirkcudbright
2 London parishes London 3
3 Govan Combination Lanark
4 Falkirk Stirling
5 Greenock Renfrew

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Greenock East Inverclyde
2 Greenock West and Central Inverclyde
3 Greenock Town Centre and East Central Inverclyde
4 Lennoxtown East Dunbartonshire
5 Bow Farm, Barrs Cottage, Cowdenknowes and Overton Inverclyde

Forenames

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First names often paired with Kincaid

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Kincaid

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Kincaid surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Kincaid household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Kincaid is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Kincaid is most concentrated in decile 2 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Kincaid 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 Kincaid is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Kincaid

The surname Kincaid is of Scottish origin and dates back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Gaelic words "ceann" meaning head and "cath" meaning battle, thus translating to "head of the battle" or "leader in battle". The name was likely given as a nickname or epithet to a distinguished warrior or chieftain.

The earliest recorded bearer of the name was Richard de Kyncaith, who is mentioned in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a historical document recording the names of Scottish landowners who swore fealty to King Edward I of England. The name is believed to have originated in the region of Stirlingshire, Scotland.

In the 16th century, the Kincaids were a prominent family in the Scottish Lowlands, particularly in the counties of Stirling and Lennox. The Kincaid Baronetcy of Bantaskine was created in 1686 for John Kincaid, a member of the Scottish Parliament.

One notable bearer of the name was Alexander Kincaid (1618-1699), a Scottish churchman who served as the Bishop of Aberdeen and played a significant role in the Scottish Episcopal Church during a tumultuous period of religious turmoil.

Another famous Kincaid was James Kincaid (1629-1699), a Scottish merchant and politician who served as the Lord Provost of Edinburgh from 1688 to 1689. He was instrumental in securing the city's support for the Glorious Revolution that brought William of Orange to the British throne.

In literature, the name gained prominence through the fictional character of Godfrey Kincaid, a recurring figure in the historical novels of Sir Walter Scott, such as "The Antiquary" and "The Abbot".

In the United States, the name Kincaid has been present since the 18th century, with many descendants of Scottish immigrants bearing the surname. One notable American Kincaid was Brigadier General John Kincaid (1816-1883), who served in the Union Army during the American Civil War and was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions at the Battle of Jonesboro.

Throughout history, variations in spelling have included Kyncaith, Kyncade, Kincade, and Kincaide, reflecting the phonetic transcription and regional dialects of the time.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Kincaid families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kincaid 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. Lanarkshire leads with 130 Kincaids recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.23x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 130 11.23x
Renfrewshire 79 28.48x
Stirlingshire 45 34.08x
Kirkcudbrightshire 15 28.95x
Lancashire 15 0.35x
Dunbartonshire 12 12.47x
Ayrshire 11 4.11x
Middlesex 11 0.31x
Midlothian 10 2.09x
Perthshire 8 4.98x
Hampshire 6 0.82x
Northumberland 6 1.13x
Angus 4 1.21x
Essex 4 0.57x
Argyllshire 3 3.01x
Kent 2 0.16x
West Lothian 2 3.71x
Yorkshire 2 0.06x
Hertfordshire 1 0.41x
Surrey 1 0.06x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Barony in Lanarkshire leads with 46 Kincaids recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.70x.

Place Total Index
Barony 46 15.70x
Glasgow 46 22.38x
Govan 29 10.13x
Campsie 26 358.62x
East Greenock 23 87.79x
West Greenock 22 44.18x
Neilston 18 129.22x
Newabbey 13 1171.17x
Port Glasgow 12 89.49x
Dumbarton 11 82.15x
Falkirk 10 32.35x
Beith 8 100.13x
Kilmadock 7 189.70x
Cadder 6 70.18x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 6 18.86x
Slamannan 6 82.99x
Barrow In Furness 5 8.66x
Edinburgh High Church 5 166.11x
Alverstoke 4 15.06x
Dundee 4 3.23x
Shoreditch London 4 2.58x
Tottington Lower End 4 19.81x
West Ham 4 2.56x
Chelsea London 3 2.78x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 3 1.55x
Kensington London 3 1.51x
Boness 2 26.92x
Bury 2 4.12x
Kilcalmonell Kilberry 2 357.14x
Middle Greenock 2 26.42x
New Monkland 2 5.84x
Stirling 2 12.01x
Toxteth Park 2 1.39x
Troqueer 2 29.41x
Basingstoke 1 11.85x
Bilton Cum Harrogate 1 8.24x
Bushey 1 17.04x
Cambusnethan 1 3.89x
Chorlton On Medlock 1 1.48x
Dunoon Kilmun 1 12.87x
Edinburgh Tolbooth 1 35.84x
Folkestone 1 4.22x
Freshwater 1 29.85x
Gargunnock 1 116.28x
Gillingham 1 3.97x
Glencorse 1 54.35x
Guildford Holy Trinity 1 30.12x
Kilmalcolm 1 30.12x
Kilwinning 1 11.56x
Kirkintilloch 1 7.65x
Largs 1 15.85x
Logie 1 17.36x
Nether Hallam 1 2.08x
North Meols 1 2.41x
Renfrew 1 10.92x
St Andrew Holborn London 1 6.45x
St Quivox 1 11.04x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 5
Alice 4
Jane 3
Elizabeth 2
Ellen 2
Betsy 1
Catherine 1
Clara 1
Lousia 1
Margaret 1
Marie 1
Sarah 1

Top male names

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

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 Kincaid households.

FAQ

Kincaid surname: questions and answers

How common was the Kincaid surname in 1881?

In 1881, 370 people were recorded with the Kincaid surname. That placed it at #8,434 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Kincaid surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 742 in 2016. That gives Kincaid a modern rank of #7,354.

What does the Kincaid surname mean?

From the Gaelic "ceann cadha," meaning "head of the pass," likely referring to a gatekeeper or chief of a mountain pass.

What does the Kincaid map show?

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