UK surname
An English surname derived from a Scottish place name meaning "church."
In the 1881 census there were 3 people recorded with the Kirks surname, ranking it #33,498 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 3, ranked #38,594, down from #33,498 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Hull Holy Trinity, Halifax and Kirton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kirks is 127 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 0.0%.
1881 census count
3
Ranked #33,498
Modern count
3
2016, ranked #38,594
Peak year
1861
127 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Kirks surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Kirks surname density by area, 1861 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 37 | #26,673 |
| 1861 | historical | 127 | #17,469 |
| 1881 | historical | 3 | #33,498 |
| 1891 | historical | 51 | #30,158 |
| 1901 | historical | 29 | #30,848 |
| 1911 | historical | 11 | #32,463 |
| 1999 | modern | 5 | #37,872 |
| 2000 | modern | 1 | #38,790 |
| 2002 | modern | 1 | #38,709 |
| 2003 | modern | 1 | #38,735 |
| 2004 | modern | 1 | #38,771 |
| 2011 | modern | 2 | #38,745 |
| 2012 | modern | 1 | #38,986 |
| 2013 | modern | 1 | #39,008 |
| 2014 | modern | 1 | #39,020 |
| 2015 | modern | 1 | #39,021 |
| 2016 | modern | 3 | #38,594 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Hull Holy Trinity, Halifax, Kirton, Woolverton and Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hull Holy Trinity | Yorkshire, East Riding |
| 2 | Halifax | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 3 | Kirton | Suffolk |
| 4 | Woolverton | Northamptonshire |
| 5 | Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard | Nottinghamshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Kirks surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Kirks, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Kirks surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Kirks household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Kirks is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Kirks is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Kirks, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Kirks has its origins in Scotland, dating back to the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English word "cyrice," meaning church, and the Old Norse word "kirkja," which also translates to church. This suggests that the name may have been initially given to someone who lived near a church or worked in some capacity related to a church.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Kirks can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a historical document containing the names of Scottish nobles who swore fealty to King Edward I of England. This document mentions a "Robert de Kyrkes" from Dumfriesshire, Scotland.
In the 14th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as "Kyrkis," "Kyrkys," and "Kyrkes," reflecting the different spellings and pronunciations of the time. The modern spelling of "Kirks" became more standardized in the 16th and 17th centuries.
One notable individual bearing the surname Kirks was Sir John Kirks (1670-1740), a Scottish merchant and colonist who played a significant role in the establishment of the Darien colony in Panama. Despite its ultimate failure, the Darien colony was an important attempt by Scotland to establish a trading presence in the Americas.
Another historical figure with the surname Kirks was James Kirks (1732-1809), a Scottish-born merchant and plantation owner in Virginia. He was a prominent figure in the American Revolution and served as a member of the Virginia House of Burgesses.
In the 19th century, William Kirks (1817-1892) was a Scottish-born Canadian businessman and politician. He served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba and was instrumental in the development of the Red River Settlement, now known as Winnipeg.
The name Kirks has also been associated with various place names throughout Scotland and England. For example, Kirkcudbright in Scotland is derived from the Old Norse "Kirkju-bryggjur," meaning "church by the harbor." Similarly, Kirkliston in West Lothian, Scotland, is named after the church of St. Liston.
While the surname Kirks may have originated in Scotland, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly through Scottish migration and settlement. However, its historical roots remain firmly grounded in the medieval period and the early development of Christianity in Scotland.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kirks surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Cheshire leads with 1 Kirks' recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.50x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Cheshire | 1 | 15.50x |
| Derbyshire | 1 | 21.88x |
| Yorkshire | 1 | 3.45x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Clifton In York in Yorkshire leads with 1 Kirks' recorded in 1881 and an index of 1666.67x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Clifton In York | 1 | 1666.67x |
| Davenport | 1 | 0.00x |
| Long Eaton | 1 | 1666.67x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Kirks surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Alice | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Kirks surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Kirks households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Kitchen Maid (Domestic) | 1 |
| Scholar | 1 |
| Tailor | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 3 people were recorded with the Kirks surname. That placed it at #33,498 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 3 in 2016. That gives Kirks a modern rank of #38,594.
An English surname derived from a Scottish place name meaning "church."
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Kirks bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.