NameCensus.

UK surname

Kirby

From the Old Norse byname "Kyrri," meaning "settlement with a church," referring to a person living near a church.

In the 1881 census there were 11,367 people recorded with the Kirby surname, ranking it #378 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 16,047, ranked #393, down from #378 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars and Preston. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Riding of Yorkshire, North Lincolnshire and Winchester.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kirby is 17,127 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 41.2%.

1881 census count

11,367

Ranked #378

Modern count

16,047

2016, ranked #393

Peak year

1999

17,127 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Kirby had 11,367 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #378 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 16,047 in 2016, ranked #393.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 15,736 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Kirby surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Kirby surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Kirby 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 6,194 #447
1861 historical 6,302 #442
1881 historical 11,367 #378
1891 historical 11,615 #385
1901 historical 14,483 #365
1911 historical 15,736 #308
1997 modern 16,452 #363
1998 modern 16,997 #367
1999 modern 17,127 #366
2000 modern 16,938 #369
2001 modern 16,467 #370
2002 modern 16,754 #373
2003 modern 16,408 #370
2004 modern 16,275 #373
2005 modern 15,956 #373
2006 modern 15,963 #375
2007 modern 16,064 #376
2008 modern 16,114 #377
2009 modern 16,386 #382
2010 modern 16,721 #380
2011 modern 16,492 #379
2012 modern 16,046 #385
2013 modern 16,337 #386
2014 modern 16,398 #387
2015 modern 16,185 #389
2016 modern 16,047 #393

Geography

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Where Kirbys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars and Preston. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Riding of Yorkshire, North Lincolnshire, Winchester and Hambleton. 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 London parishes London 3
3 Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars Leicestershire
4 Preston Lancashire
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Riding of Yorkshire 015 East Riding of Yorkshire
2 East Riding of Yorkshire 018 East Riding of Yorkshire
3 North Lincolnshire 001 North Lincolnshire
4 Winchester 012 Winchester
5 Hambleton 004 Hambleton

Forenames

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First names often paired with Kirby

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Kirby

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Kirby, 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 Kirby surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Kirby 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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Kirby 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

Kirby is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Kirby falls in decile 6 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Kirby is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Kirby

The surname Kirby is of English origin, deriving from the Old Norse words 'kirkju' meaning church and 'by' meaning a settlement or village. It essentially translates to 'church village' or 'village with a church'. The name is believed to have originated in the 11th century during the Norman conquest of England.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which mentions a landowner named Turchil de Chirkebei in Lincolnshire. This early spelling variation highlights the name's Viking roots and its connection to settlements with churches.

Throughout the Middle Ages, the name spread across various regions of England, particularly in areas with strong Norse influence such as Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. The surname was often associated with people who lived near or worked for the local church or monastery.

In the 13th century, a notable bearer of the name was John de Kirby, who served as the Lord Chancellor of England under King Edward I from 1292 to 1293. Another prominent figure was Sir John Kirby (1470-1552), a courtier and landowner during the reign of Henry VIII.

During the 17th century, the Kirby family played a significant role in the English Civil War. Sir Richard Kirby (1594-1675) was a Parliamentarian officer who fought against the Royalists, while his son, Sir William Kirby (1622-1691), initially supported the Royalist cause but later switched sides.

In the realm of literature, the name is associated with William Kirby (1759-1850), an English entomologist and naturalist who wrote several influential works on insects and their classification. He is considered one of the founders of modern entomology.

Other notable bearers of the Kirby surname include Sir Walter Kirby (1844-1929), a British civil engineer who designed and built several landmark bridges in Europe and Asia, and Jack Kirby (1917-1994), the iconic American comic book artist and writer who co-created many beloved Marvel characters such as the Fantastic Four, the X-Men, and the Hulk.

The surname Kirby has maintained its presence throughout history, with variations in spelling such as Kerby, Kirbye, and Kyrbee appearing in various records and documents over the centuries. Its origins can be traced back to the early days of the Norman conquest, reflecting the influence of Norse settlers in shaping English culture and language.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Kirby families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kirby 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. Yorkshire leads with 2,081 Kirbys recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.89x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 2,081 1.89x
Middlesex 1,369 1.24x
Lancashire 1,318 1.00x
Surrey 527 0.98x
Kent 510 1.35x
Leicestershire 485 3.95x
Warwickshire 472 1.69x
Durham 411 1.25x
Essex 399 1.82x
Hampshire 324 1.43x
Northamptonshire 273 2.62x
Norfolk 263 1.54x
Gloucestershire 254 1.17x
Lincolnshire 250 1.41x
Buckinghamshire 236 3.52x
Hertfordshire 227 2.97x
Staffordshire 215 0.57x
Oxfordshire 154 2.25x
Derbyshire 143 0.82x
Sussex 132 0.71x
Bedfordshire 123 2.14x
Suffolk 123 0.91x
Cheshire 112 0.46x
Cambridgeshire 107 1.52x
Nottinghamshire 87 0.58x
Worcestershire 79 0.55x
Berkshire 74 0.89x
Glamorgan 71 0.37x
Wiltshire 64 0.65x
Rutland 60 7.37x
Northumberland 58 0.35x
Cumberland 51 0.53x
Devon 50 0.22x
Somerset 43 0.24x
Monmouthshire 38 0.47x
Huntingdonshire 31 1.41x
Westmorland 21 0.86x
Lanarkshire 19 0.05x
Dorset 17 0.23x
Royal Navy 14 1.06x
Shropshire 13 0.14x
Herefordshire 10 0.22x
Montgomeryshire 7 0.28x
Midlothian 6 0.04x
Perthshire 5 0.10x
Aberdeenshire 4 0.04x
Cornwall 4 0.03x
Denbighshire 4 0.10x
Dunbartonshire 3 0.10x
Isle of Man 3 0.15x
Pembrokeshire 3 0.09x
Stirlingshire 3 0.07x
Wigtownshire 3 0.20x
Carmarthenshire 2 0.04x
Renfrewshire 2 0.02x
East Lothian 1 0.07x
Morayshire 1 0.06x
Roxburghshire 1 0.05x
Selkirkshire 1 0.10x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Preston in Lancashire leads with 221 Kirbys recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.28x.

Place Total Index
Preston 221 6.28x
Islington London 153 1.42x
Birmingham 143 1.53x
Aston 129 1.68x
Lambeth 117 1.21x
St Marylebone London 114 1.93x
Holy Trinity 111 4.20x
Leeds 109 1.76x
Leicester St Margaret 103 3.44x
St Pancras London 101 1.13x
Sculcoates 78 4.48x
Liverpool 74 0.93x
Brighton 70 1.86x
Bethnal Green London 63 1.31x
Leigh 63 82.81x
Hunslet 62 3.62x
Camberwell 61 0.86x
Everton 61 1.46x
Shoreditch London 59 1.23x
Ashby De La Zouch 58 20.36x
Hampstead London 58 3.36x
Kirkham 58 33.35x
Kensington London 56 0.91x
Newington 55 1.34x
Paddington London 55 1.35x
Sheffield 54 1.54x
Maidstone 52 4.62x
Manchester 51 0.86x
Walsall Foreign 49 2.54x
Hackney London 47 0.76x
Droxford 40 46.14x
Great Driffield 40 17.74x
Bishopwearmouth 39 1.38x
Hornsey 39 2.78x
Stranton 39 3.51x
Battersea 38 0.93x
Bermondsey 38 1.15x
Bootle Cum Linacre 37 3.54x
Coventry St Michael 37 4.12x
Darlington 37 2.91x
Bromley London 35 1.44x
Cromer 35 57.77x
Deptford St Paul 35 1.20x
Nottingham St Mary 35 0.91x
Sedgeford 35 121.36x
West Ham 35 0.72x
Chelsea London 33 0.99x
Handsworth 33 3.58x
Northampton Priory St 33 5.27x
Sheepshed 33 19.59x
Croydon 31 1.03x
Moulton 31 36.34x
Richmond 31 4.10x
Broxbourne 30 19.81x
Thringstone 30 63.87x
Walthamstow 30 3.81x
Westoe 30 1.60x
Bedminster 29 1.73x
Edmonton 29 3.25x
Hutton Cranswick 29 62.76x
Luton 29 2.92x
Wortley In Bramley 29 3.33x
Wycombe 29 5.81x
Coventry Holy Trinity 28 3.35x
Scarborough 28 2.81x
Birkenhead 27 1.38x
Bridlington 27 10.74x
Derby St Werburgh 27 2.69x
Stockton On Tees 27 1.70x
Stratfieldsaye 27 124.20x
Thornton In Fylde 27 9.38x
Barking 26 4.06x
Greenwich 26 1.47x
Kirkdale 26 1.18x
Minchinhampton 26 15.01x
Southwark St George Martyr 26 1.17x
St George Hanover Square 26 1.33x
Willesden 26 2.49x
Bradford 25 0.94x
Doncaster 25 3.12x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 776
Sarah 424
Elizabeth 409
Ann 242
Jane 211
Ellen 206
Alice 193
Emma 177
Annie 170
Eliza 154
Emily 129
Margaret 124
Hannah 117
Harriet 100
Charlotte 84
Ada 79
Louisa 73
Martha 69
Frances 66
Florence 60
Kate 60
Anne 57
Caroline 57
Edith 55
Fanny 54
Clara 53
Maria 51
Catherine 47
Isabella 44
Lucy 44
Agnes 42
Rebecca 39
Susan 37
Amelia 35
Rose 31
Harriett 27
Esther 25
Amy 22
Bridget 22
Gertrude 22
Susannah 22
Elizth. 20
Jessie 20
Maud 20
Minnie 19
Ruth 19
Sophia 19
Eleanor 18
Julia 17
Rachel 16

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 771
John 668
Thomas 438
George 401
James 329
Henry 239
Charles 218
Joseph 196
Robert 147
Edward 141
Arthur 131
Richard 130
Alfred 118
Frederick 99
Albert 91
Walter 89
Harry 65
Samuel 62
Frank 45
Francis 40
David 39
Ernest 36
Herbert 35
Edwin 33
Thos. 33
Wm. 30
Tom 28
Stephen 27
Fred 24
Michael 23
Benjamin 22
Isaac 22
Patrick 21
Christopher 20
Daniel 18
Fredrick 17
Mark 17
Peter 16
Geo. 15
Fredk. 13
Alexander 12
Edmund 11
Matthew 11
Luke 10
Martin 10
Percy 9
Robt. 9
Sidney 9
Sydney 9
Willm. 9

FAQ

Kirby surname: questions and answers

How common was the Kirby surname in 1881?

In 1881, 11,367 people were recorded with the Kirby surname. That placed it at #378 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Kirby surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 16,047 in 2016. That gives Kirby a modern rank of #393.

What does the Kirby surname mean?

From the Old Norse byname "Kyrri," meaning "settlement with a church," referring to a person living near a church.

What does the Kirby map show?

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