NameCensus.

UK surname

Kivlin

A surname derived from the given name Cuiléne, an Irish diminutive of Irish cuilen "little wolf."

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Northfield and Piershill, Portobello and Kingston upon Hull.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kivlin is 168 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

168

2016, ranked #21,984

Peak year

2016

168 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 168 in 2016, ranked #21,984.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 27 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Routine Occupations or Retirement.

Kivlin surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Kivlin surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Kivlin 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
1891 historical 11 #33,268
1901 historical 27 #31,057
1911 historical 15 #31,938
1997 modern 117 #24,553
1998 modern 126 #24,094
1999 modern 127 #24,125
2000 modern 137 #23,048
2001 modern 126 #23,883
2002 modern 131 #23,793
2003 modern 121 #24,776
2004 modern 127 #24,224
2005 modern 134 #23,406
2006 modern 140 #22,948
2007 modern 144 #22,804
2008 modern 146 #22,822
2009 modern 159 #22,072
2010 modern 166 #21,941
2011 modern 154 #22,886
2012 modern 143 #24,019
2013 modern 152 #23,438
2014 modern 157 #23,101
2015 modern 165 #22,241
2016 modern 168 #21,984

Geography

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Where Kivlins are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Northfield and Piershill, Portobello, Kingston upon Hull and Moredun and Craigour. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Northfield and Piershill City of Edinburgh
2 Portobello City of Edinburgh
3 Kingston upon Hull 003 Kingston upon Hull, City of
4 Kingston upon Hull 008 Kingston upon Hull, City of
5 Moredun and Craigour City of Edinburgh

Forenames

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First names often paired with Kivlin

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Kivlin

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

Routine Occupations or Retirement

Nationally, the Kivlin surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Routine Occupations or Retirement, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Kivlin 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 are characterised by high proportions of single, often never-married adults of normal retirement age or older, including many that are in the most advanced age groups. Most adults are UK born and live at high residential densities, and many of the children living with parents are in adulthood. Individuals identifying as members of ethnic minorities are uncommon, but above average proportions of households include individuals that identify with different ethnic groups. Long-term disability is relatively common, and the dominant accommodation type is flats. Unemployment rates are high, with most of those employed working in routine occupations. Few individuals have high level qualifications. Car ownership is not high.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Kivlin 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

Kivlin is most concentrated in decile 7 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Kivlin

The surname KIVLIN is believed to have originated in Ireland, with roots that can be traced back to the medieval era. It is thought to be a variation of the Gaelic name "Ó Coilfhín," which means "descendent of Coilfhín." The name Coilfhín itself is a diminutive form of the Irish word "colfa," meaning "calf" or "whelp."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name KIVLIN can be found in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history compiled in the early 17th century. The annals mention a certain "Coilfhín Ó Maoilmuaidh" who was involved in a conflict in the year 1227.

The KIVLIN name is also believed to have connections to various place names in Ireland, such as Killyvin in County Monaghan and Killinevingoge in County Sligo. These place names likely derived from the same root as the surname, suggesting that the KIVLIN family may have originated or held land in these areas.

In the 16th century, a notable figure bearing the name KIVLIN was Patrick Kivlin, a Catholic priest and scholar who lived from around 1530 to 1588. He was known for his writings on theology and his involvement in the Counter-Reformation movement.

Another prominent KIVLIN was John Kivlin, an Irish soldier who fought in the Williamite War in Ireland during the late 17th century. He served under the command of Patrick Sarsfield, a renowned Jacobite leader, and participated in the Siege of Limerick in 1691.

Moving forward to the 18th century, a woman named Mary Kivlin gained notoriety as a midwife and herbalist in County Antrim, Ireland. She is said to have practiced traditional Irish healing methods and helped deliver countless babies in her community.

In the 19th century, a figure of note was James Kivlin, an Irish-American politician who served as a member of the New York State Assembly from 1861 to 1862. He was born in County Monaghan, Ireland, in 1828 and later emigrated to the United States.

The KIVLIN name has also been associated with various locations in North America, such as Kivlin Township in Minnesota and Kivlin Hill in British Columbia, Canada. These place names likely derived from KIVLIN families who settled in these areas in the late 19th or early 20th centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Kivlin surname: questions and answers

How common is the Kivlin surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 168 in 2016. That gives Kivlin a modern rank of #21,984.

What does the Kivlin surname mean?

A surname derived from the given name Cuiléne, an Irish diminutive of Irish cuilen "little wolf."

What does the Kivlin map show?

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