NameCensus.

UK surname

Kinnon

Celtic surname meaning "good chieftain" or "illustrious leader".

In the 1881 census there were 180 people recorded with the Kinnon surname, ranking it #13,735 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 270, ranked #15,913, down from #13,735 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Rutherglen and Govan Combination. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Drumry East, Yoker South and Garthamlock, Auchinlea and Gartloch.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kinnon is 306 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 50.0%.

1881 census count

180

Ranked #13,735

Modern count

270

2016, ranked #15,913

Peak year

2010

306 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Kinnon had 180 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,735 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 270 in 2016, ranked #15,913.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 225 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Kinnon surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Kinnon surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Kinnon 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 100 #17,164
1861 historical 134 #16,754
1881 historical 180 #13,735
1891 historical 225 #13,714
1901 historical 189 #15,684
1911 historical 52 #27,620
1997 modern 239 #15,718
1998 modern 238 #16,218
1999 modern 242 #16,146
2000 modern 231 #16,610
2001 modern 230 #16,415
2002 modern 247 #15,941
2003 modern 228 #16,663
2004 modern 226 #16,829
2005 modern 233 #16,434
2006 modern 228 #16,789
2007 modern 225 #17,154
2008 modern 237 #16,688
2009 modern 245 #16,646
2010 modern 306 #14,529
2011 modern 257 #16,335
2012 modern 271 #15,628
2013 modern 270 #15,911
2014 modern 274 #15,877
2015 modern 271 #15,881
2016 modern 270 #15,913

Geography

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Where Kinnons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Rutherglen, Govan Combination, Tynemouth (Chirton, Preston, Murton, Whitley, Monkseaton), Earsdon (Earsdon) and Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Drumry East, Yoker South, Garthamlock, Auchinlea and Gartloch, Cheshire East and Gourock Central, Upper East and IRH. 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 London parishes London 1
2 Rutherglen Lanark
3 Govan Combination Lanark
4 Tynemouth (Chirton, Preston, Murton, Whitley, Monkseaton), Earsdon (Earsdon) Northumberland
5 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Drumry East Glasgow City
2 Yoker South Glasgow City
3 Garthamlock, Auchinlea and Gartloch Glasgow City
4 Cheshire East 009 Cheshire East
5 Gourock Central, Upper East and IRH Inverclyde

Forenames

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First names often paired with Kinnon

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Kinnon

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Kinnon, 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 Kinnon surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Kinnon 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

Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles

Group

Established Homeowners with Children

Within London, Kinnon is most associated with areas classed as Established Homeowners with Children, part of Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles. 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 predominantly British-born residents are typically married/in civil partnerships and own the properties in which they are raising their children. Parents are typically over 45, and many other residents are beyond normal retirement age. Detached and semi-detached houses predominate and multiple car ownership is common.

Wider London pattern

These neighbourhoods house people of all ages, predominantly of White British or European extraction. Resident turnover is low. Religious affiliation is less common than average and tends to be Christian if expressed. Homeownership, typically of terraced houses, is common but use of the social rented sector is not. Employment is typically in professional, managerial and associate professional or technical occupations. There are few full-time students. Level 4 qualifications are common. More households lack dependent children than have them which, considered alongside low levels of crowding and over-all age structure, indicates that many households may be post child-rearing and in late middle age. Incidence of disability is low, as is residence in communal establishments.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Kinnon 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

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

Meaning and origin of Kinnon

The surname Kinnon has its origins in Scotland, with roots dating back to the 16th century. It is believed to be derived from the Gaelic word "cionath," which means "descendant" or "offspring." This name likely originated in the Highlands, where many Gaelic names were born.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Kinnon name can be found in the Parish Records of Kilmadock, Perthshire, in 1595. These records mention a "Donald Kinnon," suggesting that the name was already in use in the late 16th century.

During the 17th century, the Kinnon name appeared in various clan records and historical documents. For instance, a "John Kinnon" was listed as a member of the Clan Campbell in a 1634 document from Argyllshire.

The Kinnon surname has also been linked to several place names in Scotland, such as Kinnon Hill in Perthshire and Kinnon Water, a tributary of the River Dee in Aberdeenshire. These place names may have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname over time.

Notable individuals with the Kinnon surname include:

1. Alexander Kinnon (1733-1814), a Scottish soldier who served in the British Army during the American Revolutionary War. 2. Euphemia Kinnon (1760-1845), a Scottish poet and author known for her collection of poems titled "The Caledonian Lyre." 3. James Kinnon (1815-1892), a Scottish-born Canadian businessman and politician who served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario. 4. Robert Kinnon (1863-1944), a Scottish businessman and philanthropist who founded the Kinnon Trust, which provided educational opportunities for underprivileged children. 5. Margaret Kinnon (1888-1967), a Scottish suffragette and activist who campaigned for women's rights and social reforms in the early 20th century.

While the Kinnon surname may have evolved and spread to other parts of the world, its roots can be traced back to the rugged landscapes of Scotland, where it emerged as a distinct family name with a rich history and cultural significance.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Kinnon families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kinnon 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 71 Kinnons recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.50x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 71 12.50x
Lancashire 20 0.96x
Ayrshire 17 12.94x
Renfrewshire 13 9.55x
Durham 12 2.30x
Roxburghshire 9 28.30x
Midlothian 6 2.55x
Nottinghamshire 6 2.54x
Yorkshire 5 0.29x
Kirkcudbrightshire 4 15.74x
Northumberland 4 1.53x
Angus 3 1.84x
Stirlingshire 2 3.09x
Buteshire 1 9.40x
Cumberland 1 0.66x
Devon 1 0.27x
Dumfriesshire 1 2.58x
Kinross-shire 1 22.52x
Middlesex 1 0.06x
Suffolk 1 0.47x
Sussex 1 0.34x

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 26 Kinnons recorded in 1881 and an index of 18.51x.

Place Total Index
Govan 26 18.51x
Barony 18 12.53x
Glasgow 12 11.90x
Melrose 9 327.27x
Seaham 8 421.05x
Ayr 7 112.90x
Rutherglen 7 84.03x
Liverpool 6 4.74x
Stevenston 6 174.93x
Burnley 5 28.51x
Paisley Middle Church 5 63.13x
Poulton With Fearnhead 5 1111.11x
Eastwood 4 47.73x
Edinburgh Greenside S 4 470.59x
Hamilton 4 25.25x
Maybole 4 100.00x
Nottingham St Mary 4 6.53x
Shettleston 4 78.74x
Ardwick 3 15.97x
Kirkmabreck 3 270.27x
Paisley High Church 3 27.70x
Westgate 3 18.54x
York St Lawrence 3 165.75x
Corstorphine 2 153.85x
Dawdon 2 31.15x
Ecclesall Bierlow 2 5.65x
Liff Benvie 2 8.10x
Snenton 2 21.51x
Arundel 1 60.24x
Blackburn 1 1.80x
Bridekirk 1 82.64x
Colvend 1 129.87x
Darlington 1 4.96x
Denny 1 29.07x
Dundee 1 1.65x
Glencairn 1 96.15x
Heworth 1 9.72x
Hornsey 1 4.50x
Inverkip 1 31.15x
Kingarth 1 131.58x
Orwell 1 81.97x
Stanton 1 196.08x
Stirling 1 12.25x
Tynemouth 1 7.15x
Wolborough 1 21.65x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 6
John 3
Peter 3
Henry 2
James 2
Robert 2
Charles 1
Isaac 1
Michael 1
Patrick 1
Philip 1
Richard 1
Thoams 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 Kinnon households.

FAQ

Kinnon surname: questions and answers

How common was the Kinnon surname in 1881?

In 1881, 180 people were recorded with the Kinnon surname. That placed it at #13,735 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Kinnon surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 270 in 2016. That gives Kinnon a modern rank of #15,913.

What does the Kinnon surname mean?

Celtic surname meaning "good chieftain" or "illustrious leader".

What does the Kinnon map show?

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