NameCensus.

UK surname

Kirlew

A variant spelling of Carlew, indicating someone from the town of Carloow or Carlisle.

In the 1881 census there were 52 people recorded with the Kirlew surname, ranking it #26,281 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 235, ranked #17,530, up from #26,281 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Hemingborough (Cliff with Lund), Drax (Drax), Warthill and Hull Holy Trinity. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Holland, Liverpool and Amber Valley.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kirlew is 241 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 351.9%.

1881 census count

52

Ranked #26,281

Modern count

235

2016, ranked #17,530

Peak year

2010

241 bearers

Map years

4

1911 to 2016

Key insights

  • Kirlew had 52 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #26,281 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 235 in 2016, ranked #17,530.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 103 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Kirlew surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Kirlew surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Kirlew 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 26 #28,667
1861 historical 45 #28,296
1881 historical 52 #26,281
1891 historical 65 #28,660
1901 historical 81 #25,130
1911 historical 103 #22,328
1997 modern 201 #17,564
1998 modern 206 #17,796
1999 modern 202 #18,127
2000 modern 201 #18,152
2001 modern 198 #18,047
2002 modern 214 #17,545
2003 modern 215 #17,286
2004 modern 224 #16,918
2005 modern 233 #16,434
2006 modern 221 #17,149
2007 modern 224 #17,193
2008 modern 227 #17,196
2009 modern 234 #17,194
2010 modern 241 #17,186
2011 modern 219 #18,145
2012 modern 218 #18,139
2013 modern 230 #17,756
2014 modern 229 #17,925
2015 modern 231 #17,733
2016 modern 235 #17,530

Geography

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Where Kirlews are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Hemingborough (Cliff with Lund), Drax (Drax), Warthill, Hull Holy Trinity, Pinchbeck, Cowbit and West Derby. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Holland, Liverpool, Amber Valley and Kingston upon Hull. 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 Hemingborough (Cliff with Lund), Drax (Drax) Yorkshire, West Riding
2 Warthill Yorkshire, East Riding
3 Hull Holy Trinity Yorkshire, East Riding
4 Pinchbeck, Cowbit Lincolnshire
5 West Derby Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Holland 005 South Holland
2 Liverpool 035 Liverpool
3 Liverpool 045 Liverpool
4 Amber Valley 001 Amber Valley
5 Kingston upon Hull 001 Kingston upon Hull, City of

Forenames

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First names often paired with Kirlew

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Kirlew

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Kirlew surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Kirlew 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 is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Kirlew is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Kirlew is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Kirlew falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Kirlew 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 Kirlew, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Kirlew

The surname Kirlew is believed to have originated in England, specifically in the counties of Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, sometime during the medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Old English words "cyrice" and "hlaw," which translate to "church" and "hill" or "mound," respectively. This suggests that the name may have originally referred to someone who lived near a church on a hill or a raised area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Kirlew surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Cyriclahue." This ancient record, commissioned by William the Conqueror, was a survey of land and property ownership throughout England at the time.

In the 13th century, the name was also documented in various forms, such as "Kirkelawe" and "Kyrklawe," further reinforcing its connection to the Old English words for "church" and "hill." The variations in spelling were common during this period due to the lack of standardized orthography.

One notable individual with the Kirlew surname was John Kirlew, a prominent merchant and landowner from Yorkshire, who lived in the late 15th century. He is recorded as having significant landholdings in the region and was influential in local affairs.

Another historical figure was Thomas Kirlew, born in 1624 in Lincolnshire. He served as a Member of Parliament for Grimsby in the late 17th century and was known for his involvement in local politics during the turbulent period of the English Civil War.

In the 18th century, a man named William Kirlew, born in 1712 in Yorkshire, gained recognition as a skilled architect and builder. He was responsible for the design and construction of several notable structures in the region, including churches and manor houses.

Moving into the 19th century, the Kirlew surname can be found in various historical records, such as parish registers and census documents. One prominent individual from this era was Elizabeth Kirlew, born in 1823 in Lincolnshire. She was a renowned educator and campaigner for women's rights, advocating for equal opportunities in education and employment.

Additionally, the Kirlew name has been associated with several place names in England, such as Kirkley in Suffolk and Kirkley Hall in Northumberland. These locations may have derived their names from the Old English words that also gave rise to the Kirlew surname, further underscoring the name's deep historical roots in the region.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Kirlew families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kirlew 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 34 Kirlews recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.77x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 34 6.77x
Durham 6 3.98x
Kent 4 2.31x
Lancashire 4 0.66x
Lincolnshire 4 4.93x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Cliff Cum Lund in Yorkshire leads with 9 Kirlews recorded in 1881 and an index of 8181.82x.

Place Total Index
Cliff Cum Lund 9 8181.82x
Warthill Copyhold 8 26666.67x
Bishopwearmouth 6 46.33x
Beckenham 4 176.99x
Chorlton On Medlock 4 41.84x
Holy Trinity St Mary 4 519.48x
Pinchbeck 4 769.23x
St Mary 4 1176.47x
York St Lawrence 4 769.23x
Southcoates 3 107.53x
Escrick 1 1000.00x
York St Mary 1 48.08x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Ann 2
Mary 2
Amelia 1
Annie 1
Bella 1
Caroline 1
Charlotte 1
Edeth 1
Eliza 1
Frances 1
Isabella 1
Kate 1
Margaret 1
Martha 1
Minnie 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 5
George 4
James 3
Thomas 3
Fred 2
Tom 2
William 2
Arthur 1
Augustus 1
Charles 1
Daniel 1
Donald 1
Edwd.Oliver 1
Edwin 1
Frederick 1
Gilbert 1
Joe 1
Leopold 1
Lewis 1
Martha 1
Richard 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 Kirlew households.

FAQ

Kirlew surname: questions and answers

How common was the Kirlew surname in 1881?

In 1881, 52 people were recorded with the Kirlew surname. That placed it at #26,281 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Kirlew surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 235 in 2016. That gives Kirlew a modern rank of #17,530.

What does the Kirlew surname mean?

A variant spelling of Carlew, indicating someone from the town of Carloow or Carlisle.

What does the Kirlew map show?

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