NameCensus.

UK surname

Kinnaird

A Scottish territorial surname derived from lands near Perth, Scotland.

In the 1881 census there were 524 people recorded with the Kinnaird surname, ranking it #6,528 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,126, ranked #5,236, up from #6,528 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Govan Combination, London parishes and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Nairn Rural, IZ20 and Lossiemouth East and Seatown.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kinnaird is 1,126 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 114.9%.

1881 census count

524

Ranked #6,528

Modern count

1,126

2016, ranked #5,236

Peak year

2016

1,126 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Kinnaird had 524 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,528 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,126 in 2016, ranked #5,236.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 710 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Kinnaird surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Kinnaird surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Kinnaird 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 307 #7,502
1861 historical 292 #8,626
1881 historical 524 #6,528
1891 historical 563 #6,744
1901 historical 710 #6,211
1911 historical 153 #17,633
1997 modern 1,034 #5,336
1998 modern 1,046 #5,459
1999 modern 1,040 #5,531
2000 modern 1,061 #5,424
2001 modern 1,027 #5,470
2002 modern 1,043 #5,494
2003 modern 1,045 #5,398
2004 modern 1,037 #5,443
2005 modern 1,050 #5,335
2006 modern 1,054 #5,317
2007 modern 1,069 #5,304
2008 modern 1,062 #5,366
2009 modern 1,111 #5,284
2010 modern 1,112 #5,388
2011 modern 1,102 #5,363
2012 modern 1,080 #5,371
2013 modern 1,097 #5,387
2014 modern 1,109 #5,361
2015 modern 1,118 #5,279
2016 modern 1,126 #5,236

Geography

Back to top

Where Kinnairds are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Govan Combination, London parishes, Edinburgh, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Nairn Rural, IZ20, Lossiemouth East and Seatown, Darnley East and Sutherland North and West. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Govan Combination Lanark
2 London parishes London 3
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Nairn Rural Highland
2 IZ20 East Lothian
3 Lossiemouth East and Seatown Moray
4 Darnley East Glasgow City
5 Sutherland North and West Highland

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Kinnaird

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Kinnaird

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

Legacy Communities

Group

Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities

Nationally, the Kinnaird surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Kinnaird household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Households in these areas often include divorced or separated parents and commonly include children and young adults. The age structure is heavily skewed towards the most advanced age groups. Individuals identifying as members of ethnic minorities are not present in large numbers. Flats predominate, with some terraced, semi-detached, and detached units. Multiple car ownership is low, and housing is predominantly in the private and social rented sectors. Employment is less skewed towards traditional routine industrial occupations. Levels of educational attainment are generally low. The Group occurs principally in the Central Lowlands of Scotland and other Scottish towns.

Wider pattern

These neighbourhoods characteristically comprise pockets of flats that are scattered across the UK, particularly in towns that retain or have legacies of heavy industry or are in more remote seaside locations. Employed residents of these neighbourhoods work mainly in low-skilled occupations. Residents typically have limited educational qualifications. Unemployment is above average. Some residents live in overcrowded housing within the social rented sector and experience long-term disability. All adult age groups are represented, although there is an overall age bias towards elderly people in general and the very old in particular. Individuals identifying as belonging to ethnic minorities or Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups are uncommon.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Kinnaird is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Kinnaird is most concentrated in decile 1 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Kinnaird

The surname Kinnaird has its origins in Scotland, with the earliest records dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to derive from the Gaelic words "ceann" meaning "head" and "ard" meaning "high," likely referring to a prominent geographical feature or a person's stature.

The Kinnairds were a notable Scottish family with lands and estates in the counties of Angus and Perthshire. The name is closely associated with the parish of Kinnairdie, which is located in Angus. This parish was mentioned in the Regesta Regum Scottorum, a collection of records related to the acts of Scottish kings, in the late 12th century.

One of the earliest recorded individuals bearing the surname Kinnaird was Sir John Kinnaird, who was granted a charter for the lands of Kinnaird in Perthshire by King Robert the Bruce in 1322. The Kinnaird family played a significant role in Scottish history, particularly during the Wars of Scottish Independence.

In the 16th century, the Kinnairds acquired the estate of Inchture in Perthshire, which became their principal seat. Patrick Kinnaird of Inchture (1590-1658) was a prominent figure during the Scottish Civil War and served as a colonel in the Covenanter army.

The Kinnairds were also known for their literary contributions. Lady Caroline Oliphant, née Kinnaird (1807-1839), was a Scottish author and poet who wrote under the pen name "Mrs. Oliphant." She is remembered for her historical novels and tales of Scottish life.

Another notable figure was Charles Kinnaird, 8th Baron Kinnaird (1786-1826), who was a Scottish peer and politician. He served as a Member of Parliament and was a supporter of various social and political reforms, including the abolition of slavery.

In the 19th century, Arthur Kinnaird, 11th Baron Kinnaird (1847-1923), was a prominent figure in the world of sports. He was an influential advocate for the development of football (soccer) and played a key role in the establishment of the Football Association.

The surname Kinnaird has also been associated with other notable individuals throughout history, such as Sir George Kinnaird (1639-1689), a Scottish lawyer and judge, and Sir Reginald Kinnaird (1809-1890), a British diplomat who served as Ambassador to the Netherlands.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Kinnaird families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kinnaird 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 93 Kinnairds recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.60x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 93 5.60x
Midlothian 75 10.91x
Fife 39 12.84x
Morayshire 37 46.41x
Nairnshire 31 197.96x
Middlesex 29 0.57x
Aberdeenshire 28 5.89x
Perthshire 22 9.55x
Northumberland 21 2.75x
Banffshire 17 15.97x
Angus 15 3.16x
East Lothian 13 19.13x
Renfrewshire 13 3.27x
Ayrshire 12 3.13x
Lancashire 9 0.15x
West Lothian 9 11.65x
Kincardineshire 8 12.80x
Dumfriesshire 7 6.18x
Stirlingshire 7 3.70x
Kirkcudbrightshire 6 8.08x
Argyllshire 5 3.50x
Essex 5 0.49x
Kent 4 0.23x
Clackmannanshire 3 7.08x
Inverness-shire 3 1.96x
Royal Navy 3 4.91x
Berwickshire 2 3.22x
Dunbartonshire 2 1.45x
Durham 2 0.13x
Surrey 2 0.08x
Caithness 1 1.42x
Hampshire 1 0.10x
Peeblesshire 1 4.14x
Worcestershire 1 0.15x

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 32 Kinnairds recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.62x.

Place Total Index
Barony 32 7.62x
Govan 30 7.31x
Drainie 22 311.61x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 20 7.23x
Ardclach 14 714.29x
Leslie 14 182.05x
Aberdeen Old Machar 13 13.10x
Edinburgh Buccleuch 12 73.80x
South Leith 12 15.51x
Dundee 11 6.20x
Banff 10 108.23x
Dunblane 10 181.49x
North Seaton 10 312.50x
Cawdor 9 471.20x
Edinburgh High Church 9 208.82x
Islington London 9 1.81x
Kirkliston 9 199.56x
Rutherglen 9 36.98x
Banchory Devenick 8 136.99x
Garvald 8 597.01x
Huntly 8 103.49x
Maryhill 8 24.63x
Nairn 8 84.21x
West Greenock 8 11.21x
Abernethy 7 232.56x
Alnwick 7 53.35x
Galston 7 66.67x
Rothes 7 179.95x
St Andrews 7 50.65x
Stirling 7 29.34x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 6 6.75x
Irongray 6 434.78x
Kirkcaldy 6 39.84x
Lancaster 6 16.56x
Dalziel 5 28.01x
Dumfries 5 44.72x
Dunoon Kilmun 5 44.88x
Edinburgh New North 5 83.61x
St George Hanover Square 5 5.53x
St Martin In Fields 5 16.28x
Strathmiglo 5 137.74x
Waltham Holy Cross 5 52.80x
Westminster St Margaret 5 20.20x
Colinton 4 52.22x
East Greenock 4 10.65x
Girvan 4 41.49x
Kinloss 4 211.64x
Lee 4 15.74x
Liff Benvie 4 5.54x
Old Monkland 4 6.07x
Rathven 4 20.01x
Alloa 3 14.60x
Cambuslang 3 17.93x
Edinburgh Lady Yesters 3 63.03x
Forres 3 35.80x
Inveresk 3 16.12x
Little Dunkeld 3 76.73x
North Leith 3 9.43x
St Marylebone London 3 1.10x
West Chevington 3 340.91x
Whitekirk Tynninghame 3 161.29x
Alvah 2 83.33x
Dunse 2 33.96x
Dysart 2 9.78x
Edinburgh Old 2 47.96x
Escomb 2 28.53x
Johnstone 2 112.99x
Kirkintilloch 2 10.68x
Markinch 2 19.40x
Royal Navy 2 3.83x
Embleton 1 61.35x
Glasgow 1 0.34x
Kensington London 1 0.35x
Lambeth 1 0.22x
Marnoch 1 17.48x
Queensferry 1 142.86x
Quernmore 1 97.09x
Sorn 1 13.26x
Urquhart 1 26.53x
West Calder 1 7.38x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

FAQ

Kinnaird surname: questions and answers

How common was the Kinnaird surname in 1881?

In 1881, 524 people were recorded with the Kinnaird surname. That placed it at #6,528 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Kinnaird surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,126 in 2016. That gives Kinnaird a modern rank of #5,236.

What does the Kinnaird surname mean?

A Scottish territorial surname derived from lands near Perth, Scotland.

What does the Kinnaird map show?

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