NameCensus.

UK surname

Kinniburgh

Origin from a place name in Scotland, derived from Gaelic meaning "head of the fort."

In the 1881 census there were 191 people recorded with the Kinniburgh surname, ranking it #13,224 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 297, ranked #14,839, down from #13,224 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Kirkintilloch, New Monkland and Govan Combination. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bathgate East, Stonehouse and IZ10.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kinniburgh is 305 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 55.5%.

1881 census count

191

Ranked #13,224

Modern count

297

2016, ranked #14,839

Peak year

2014

305 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Kinniburgh had 191 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,224 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 297 in 2016, ranked #14,839.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 283 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Kinniburgh surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Kinniburgh surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Kinniburgh 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 142 #13,428
1861 historical 146 #15,628
1881 historical 191 #13,224
1891 historical 255 #12,552
1901 historical 283 #12,117
1911 historical 14 #32,045
1997 modern 277 #14,253
1998 modern 290 #14,179
1999 modern 289 #14,320
2000 modern 282 #14,532
2001 modern 281 #14,329
2002 modern 292 #14,236
2003 modern 272 #14,746
2004 modern 265 #15,110
2005 modern 277 #14,542
2006 modern 294 #14,092
2007 modern 296 #14,172
2008 modern 289 #14,502
2009 modern 299 #14,445
2010 modern 299 #14,769
2011 modern 286 #15,091
2012 modern 301 #14,476
2013 modern 304 #14,614
2014 modern 305 #14,678
2015 modern 303 #14,646
2016 modern 297 #14,839

Geography

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Where Kinniburghs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Kirkintilloch, New Monkland, Govan Combination, Edinburgh and Greenock. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bathgate East, Stonehouse, IZ10, Shetland South and Bathgate and Boghall. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Kirkintilloch Dunbarton
2 New Monkland Lanark
3 Govan Combination Lanark
4 Edinburgh Edinburgh
5 Greenock Renfrew

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bathgate East West Lothian
2 Stonehouse South Lanarkshire
3 IZ10 West Dunbartonshire
4 Shetland South Shetland Islands
5 Bathgate and Boghall West Lothian

Forenames

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First names often paired with Kinniburgh

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Kinniburgh

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Kinniburgh, 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 Kinniburgh surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Kinniburgh 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, Kinniburgh 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

Kinniburgh 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

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

Meaning and origin of Kinniburgh

The surname Kinniburgh is of Scottish origin and is believed to have originated from the lands of Kinniburgh, a former parish in Fife, Scotland. The name is thought to be derived from the Gaelic words "ceann" meaning "head" and "biorach" meaning "pointed," likely referring to a geographical feature in the area.

The earliest recorded instance of the name Kinniburgh can be traced back to the 14th century, when it appeared in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland in 1367. This ancient record suggests that the name was well-established in the region by that time.

In the 16th century, the Kinniburgh family played a significant role in the history of Fife. Sir John Kinniburgh, born in 1525, was a prominent landowner and served as the Sheriff of Fife during the reign of Mary, Queen of Scots. His son, William Kinniburgh, born in 1560, was a respected member of the local gentry and held substantial land holdings in the area.

The name Kinniburgh has also been recorded in various spellings throughout history, such as Kinniburch, Kynniburgh, and Kynniburch. These variations reflect the fluidity of spelling conventions in earlier times and the influence of regional dialects.

In the 17th century, the Kinniburgh family continued to hold a prominent position in Scottish society. James Kinniburgh, born in 1612, was a renowned scholar and theologian who served as the Principal of St. Leonard's College, part of the University of St. Andrews.

Another notable figure bearing the Kinniburgh name was Captain Robert Kinniburgh, born in 1745, who served in the British Royal Navy during the American Revolutionary War. He distinguished himself in several naval engagements and was commended for his bravery and leadership.

Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, the Kinniburgh surname continued to be represented in various professions, including law, medicine, and academia. One notable example is Dr. William Kinniburgh, born in 1788, who was a pioneering physician and contributed significantly to the understanding and treatment of tuberculosis.

While the Kinniburgh name has its roots in Scotland, it has since spread to various parts of the world due to immigration and the movement of people. However, the historical records and accounts from Scotland provide invaluable insights into the origins and significance of this distinctive surname.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Kinniburgh families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kinniburgh 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 115 Kinniburghs recorded in 1881 and an index of 18.99x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 115 18.99x
Dunbartonshire 38 75.50x
Renfrewshire 17 11.71x
Lancashire 8 0.36x
Wigtownshire 7 28.15x
Midlothian 3 1.20x
Hertfordshire 2 1.55x
Ayrshire 1 0.71x
Kent 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. Govan in Lanarkshire leads with 38 Kinniburghs recorded in 1881 and an index of 25.37x.

Place Total Index
Govan 38 25.37x
Glasgow 22 20.46x
Barony 14 9.13x
Cadder 13 290.83x
Kirkintilloch 13 190.06x
Abbey 10 45.15x
New Monkland 10 55.87x
Maryhill 9 75.89x
Shotts 9 124.14x
Cumbernauld 8 289.86x
New Kilpatrick 8 167.01x
Row 8 122.89x
Kirkdale 7 18.72x
Old Luce 7 445.86x
West Greenock 6 23.03x
South Leith 3 10.63x
Brickendon 2 333.33x
Accrington 1 4.95x
Ashford 1 16.08x
Eastwood 1 11.19x
Loudoun 1 29.67x
Old Kilpatrick 1 16.81x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Fanny 1
Margaret 1
Margt.A. 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Hugh 2
John 2
James 1
Robt. 1
William 1
Willm. 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 Kinniburgh households.

FAQ

Kinniburgh surname: questions and answers

How common was the Kinniburgh surname in 1881?

In 1881, 191 people were recorded with the Kinniburgh surname. That placed it at #13,224 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Kinniburgh surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 297 in 2016. That gives Kinniburgh a modern rank of #14,839.

What does the Kinniburgh surname mean?

Origin from a place name in Scotland, derived from Gaelic meaning "head of the fort."

What does the Kinniburgh map show?

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