NameCensus.

UK surname

Kirkup

A surname derived from a place name incorporating the Old Norse elements kirkja (church) and haugr (hill or mound).

In the 1881 census there were 725 people recorded with the Kirkup surname, ranking it #5,030 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,078, ranked #5,417, down from #5,030 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Gateshead and Auckland St Andrew. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include County Durham, Carlisle and Northumberland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kirkup is 1,114 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 48.7%.

1881 census count

725

Ranked #5,030

Modern count

1,078

2016, ranked #5,417

Peak year

2010

1,114 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Kirkup had 725 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,030 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,078 in 2016, ranked #5,417.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,028 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Kirkup surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Kirkup surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Kirkup 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 456 #5,420
1861 historical 485 #5,385
1881 historical 725 #5,030
1891 historical 827 #4,909
1901 historical 991 #4,802
1911 historical 1,028 #4,454
1997 modern 1,042 #5,306
1998 modern 1,059 #5,409
1999 modern 1,075 #5,378
2000 modern 1,074 #5,367
2001 modern 1,060 #5,323
2002 modern 1,087 #5,322
2003 modern 1,050 #5,377
2004 modern 1,050 #5,387
2005 modern 1,034 #5,391
2006 modern 1,027 #5,440
2007 modern 1,029 #5,482
2008 modern 1,057 #5,396
2009 modern 1,079 #5,410
2010 modern 1,114 #5,375
2011 modern 1,101 #5,366
2012 modern 1,069 #5,415
2013 modern 1,084 #5,441
2014 modern 1,079 #5,501
2015 modern 1,071 #5,471
2016 modern 1,078 #5,417

Geography

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Where Kirkups are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Gateshead, Auckland St Andrew, Arthuret and Cambridge: St Andrew the Less, St Andrew the Great, Holy Trinity, St Benedict. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to County Durham, Carlisle and Northumberland. 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 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
2 Gateshead Durham
3 Auckland St Andrew Durham
4 Arthuret Cumberland
5 Cambridge: St Andrew the Less, St Andrew the Great, Holy Trinity, St Benedict Cambridgeshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 County Durham 036 County Durham
2 Carlisle 001 Carlisle
3 County Durham 032 County Durham
4 Northumberland 028 Northumberland
5 County Durham 003 County Durham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Kirkup

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Kirkup

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

Young Families in Industrial Towns

Nationally, the Kirkup surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Kirkup household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

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, Kirkup 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

Kirkup 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

Kirkup falls in decile 9 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.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Kirkup is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Kirkup

The surname Kirkup is of English origin and is believed to have originated in the county of Yorkshire, England, during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English words "cirice" (meaning church) and "hop" (meaning a small valley or enclosure), suggesting that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived near a church in a small valley or enclosure.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Kirkup can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is listed as "Chirchehoppe." This entry suggests that the name was already in use by the late 11th century.

The surname Kirkup has also been associated with various place names in Yorkshire, such as Kirkup Beck, Kirkup Hill, and Kirkup Farm. These place names likely originated from the same etymological roots as the surname and may have contributed to its development.

In the 13th century, records show a John de Kyrkehope living in Yorkshire. This early spelling variation of the surname further demonstrates its long-standing presence in the region.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname Kirkup. One such person was John Kirkup (1746-1819), an English physician and author who wrote on various medical topics. Another was Thomas Kirkup (1844-1909), a British explorer and archaeologist who conducted excavations in Italy and Greece.

The surname Kirkup also has connections to the arts. William Kirkup (1698-1778) was an English painter known for his portraits and landscapes, while John Kirkup (1804-1880) was a notable English sculptor who created works for various churches and public buildings.

Another noteworthy individual with the surname Kirkup was Thomas Kirkup (1778-1843), a British merchant and traveler who spent several years in Egypt and wrote about his experiences in a published work titled "Travels in the East."

While the surname Kirkup is relatively uncommon today, its historical roots in Yorkshire and its association with various place names and notable individuals contribute to its rich heritage as a distinctive English surname.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Kirkup families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kirkup 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. Durham leads with 296 Kirkups recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.13x.

County Total Index
Durham 296 14.13x
Northumberland 210 20.04x
Cumberland 54 8.91x
Cambridgeshire 42 9.42x
Lancashire 36 0.43x
Middlesex 22 0.31x
Yorkshire 22 0.32x
Surrey 9 0.26x
Dumfriesshire 6 3.86x
Lanarkshire 5 0.22x
Sussex 5 0.42x
Roxburghshire 4 3.14x
Lincolnshire 2 0.18x
Midlothian 2 0.21x
Renfrewshire 2 0.37x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.23x
Derbyshire 1 0.09x
Fife 1 0.24x
Glamorgan 1 0.08x
Leicestershire 1 0.13x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bishopwearmouth in Durham leads with 48 Kirkups recorded in 1881 and an index of 26.69x.

Place Total Index
Bishopwearmouth 48 26.69x
Pelton 35 351.05x
Holy Trinity Cambridge 27 557.85x
Gateshead 26 16.57x
Arthuret 22 348.10x
Elswick 22 26.31x
Bedlington 21 60.02x
Benfieldside 19 137.88x
Manchester 15 3.99x
Boldon 14 187.42x
Conside Knitsley 14 85.94x
Eshott 14 4117.65x
Westgate 14 21.58x
Islington London 13 1.90x
St Andrewthe Less 12 23.55x
Newcastle On Tyne St 11 20.25x
Hamsterley 10 840.34x
Stockton On Tees 10 9.90x
Bishop Auckland 9 32.02x
Ford 9 234.99x
Urpeth 9 220.59x
Wavertree 9 33.64x
Westoe 9 7.58x
Winlaton 9 44.78x
Shoreston 8 2666.67x
Stannington 8 321.29x
West Chevington 8 661.16x
Woodhorn Hirst 8 1403.51x
Bromley London 7 4.52x
Fenrother 7 4666.67x
Glanton 7 578.51x
Linthorpe 7 16.81x
Lowick 7 191.78x
Southwark St George Martyr 7 4.94x
Stranton 7 9.92x
Tanfield 7 28.09x
Broxfield 6 12000.00x
Harton 6 72.46x
Kirkandrews On Esk 6 291.26x
Newton On The Moor 6 1071.43x
Ryton 6 81.52x
Waverton 6 517.24x
Alnmouth 5 387.60x
Barony 5 0.87x
Blackburn 5 2.25x
Burton 5 1785.71x
Cornhill 5 316.46x
Ellingham 5 925.93x
Gretna 5 170.65x
Harraton 5 122.55x
Sherburn 5 78.37x
Sunderland Bridge 5 150.60x
York St Mary 5 17.30x
Broom 4 229.89x
Dawdon 4 15.52x
Low Buston 4 1739.13x
Middlestone 4 95.24x
Tynemouth 4 7.13x
Whitburn 4 81.97x
Chesterton 3 21.82x
Hastings St Mary In The 3 11.84x
Haughton Le Skerne 3 173.41x
Heighington 3 194.81x
Heworth 3 7.27x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 3 4.79x
Rickergate 3 23.38x
Thornaby 3 11.50x
Warenton 3 967.74x
West Linton 3 283.02x
Yetholm 3 119.05x
Bracebridge 2 38.99x
Caldewgate 2 6.02x
Camberwell 2 0.44x
Coxlodge 2 25.09x
Cresswell 2 425.53x
Healeyfield 2 229.89x
Liverpool 2 0.39x
Manningham 2 2.33x
North Sunderland 2 83.33x
Openshaw 2 5.11x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 56
Elizabeth 36
Jane 35
Margaret 31
Ann 18
Sarah 16
Isabella 11
Alice 9
Annie 9
Eleanor 9
Ellen 9
Hannah 9
Dorothy 6
Agnes 5
Catherine 5
Martha 5
Eliza 4
Susan 4
Amelia 3
Esther 3
Florence 3
Caroline 2
Clara 2
Elizth. 2
Emily 2
Emma 2
Frances 2
Jannet 2
Jessie 2
Louise 2
Minnie 2
Rebecca 2
Bessie 1
Blanche 1
Dora 1
Eliz.S. 1
Elizbeth 1
Ellinor 1
Ethel 1
Ethelwyn 1
Fanny 1
Henrietta 1
Irving 1
Jesse 1
Kate 1
Kephziah 1
Lilly 1
Lizzie 1
Louisa 1
Tabetha 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 60
Thomas 43
William 40
Robert 38
George 35
James 24
Frederick 6
Edward 5
Joseph 5
Michael 5
Philip 5
Richard 5
Alfred 4
Andrew 4
Arthur 4
Adam 3
Christopher 3
David 3
Ernest 3
Benjamin 2
Charles 2
Frank 2
Fredric 2
Henry 2
Herbert 2
Jno. 2
Major 2
Ralph 2
Roger 2
Septimus 2
Wm. 2
Archbold 1
Charlie 1
Chas. 1
Edwin 1
Forster 1
Fredk.T. 1
Fredrick 1
Garnett 1
Geo 1
Geo. 1
Harry 1
Isacc 1
Kirkup 1
Lancelot 1
Mark 1
Matthew 1
Norman 1
Percy 1
Phillip 1

FAQ

Kirkup surname: questions and answers

How common was the Kirkup surname in 1881?

In 1881, 725 people were recorded with the Kirkup surname. That placed it at #5,030 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Kirkup surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,078 in 2016. That gives Kirkup a modern rank of #5,417.

What does the Kirkup surname mean?

A surname derived from a place name incorporating the Old Norse elements kirkja (church) and haugr (hill or mound).

What does the Kirkup map show?

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