NameCensus.

UK surname

Larkin

Derived from the Gaelic surname O'Lorcain, meaning "descendant of Lorcan," a personal name meaning "little fierce one."

In the 1881 census there were 2,685 people recorded with the Larkin surname, ranking it #1,655 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 5,587, ranked #1,202, up from #1,655 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Horsemonden, London parishes and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Tunbridge Wells, Wakefield and Paisley Ferguslie.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Larkin is 5,713 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 108.1%.

1881 census count

2,685

Ranked #1,655

Modern count

5,587

2016, ranked #1,202

Peak year

1999

5,713 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Larkin had 2,685 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,655 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 5,587 in 2016, ranked #1,202.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 3,247 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Larkin surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Larkin surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Larkin 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 1,380 #2,079
1861 historical 1,328 #2,156
1881 historical 2,685 #1,655
1891 historical 2,505 #1,891
1901 historical 3,215 #1,744
1911 historical 3,247 #1,602
1997 modern 5,529 #1,181
1998 modern 5,625 #1,203
1999 modern 5,713 #1,198
2000 modern 5,691 #1,195
2001 modern 5,589 #1,188
2002 modern 5,663 #1,197
2003 modern 5,473 #1,212
2004 modern 5,405 #1,230
2005 modern 5,346 #1,222
2006 modern 5,356 #1,220
2007 modern 5,389 #1,211
2008 modern 5,444 #1,204
2009 modern 5,509 #1,224
2010 modern 5,672 #1,219
2011 modern 5,584 #1,219
2012 modern 5,506 #1,211
2013 modern 5,613 #1,211
2014 modern 5,641 #1,213
2015 modern 5,550 #1,215
2016 modern 5,587 #1,202

Geography

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Where Larkins are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Horsemonden, London parishes, Manchester and Liverpool. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Tunbridge Wells, Wakefield and Paisley Ferguslie. 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 Horsemonden Kent
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 Liverpool Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Tunbridge Wells 013 Tunbridge Wells
2 Tunbridge Wells 011 Tunbridge Wells
3 Wakefield 026 Wakefield
4 Paisley Ferguslie Renfrewshire
5 Wakefield 045 Wakefield

Forenames

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First names often paired with Larkin

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Larkin

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

Established but Challenged

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

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, Larkin 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

Larkin 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

Larkin 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 Larkin is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Larkin

The surname Larkin originated in Ireland. It is an Anglicized form of the Gaelic surnames O'Lorcain, O'Loughran, and O'Larkin, derived from the personal names Lorcán and Lachtnán. These names are rooted in the Irish word "lacht," meaning "calf." The name likely referred to someone with a youthful or vigorous appearance.

The earliest recorded instances of the name date back to the 12th century. In the Annals of Ulster, a scribe named Gilla na Naem O'Lorcain is mentioned in 1128. The surname also appears in the Annals of the Four Masters from the 15th century. The surname was prominent in counties Donegal, Louth, and Monaghan during the Middle Ages.

In the Domesday Book of 1086, a record of landholders in England compiled by William the Conqueror, there is no mention of the surname Larkin. However, variations like Lorkin and Lorkyn are listed, suggesting the name's early presence in England.

One notable bearer of the surname was Hugh Larkin (c. 1590-1660), an Irish Franciscan friar and theologian. He was a professor at the College of St. Anthony in Louvain, Belgium, and authored several works on philosophy and theology.

Another prominent figure was Thomas Larkin (1758-1858), an American merchant and diplomat. He served as the first and only U.S. consul to Mexican California from 1844 to 1848 and played a crucial role in the Mexican-American War.

In the realm of literature, Philip Larkin (1922-1985) was an English poet, novelist, and librarian. He is known for his distinctive poetic voice and works such as "The Whitsun Weddings" and "High Windows." He was also the recipient of the Queen's Gold Medal for Poetry in 1965.

James Larkin (1876-1947), an Irish trade union leader and labor activist, founded the Irish Transport and General Workers' Union. He played a significant role in the Dublin Lock-out of 1913, a major industrial dispute that helped advance workers' rights in Ireland.

Finally, Maurice Larkin (1899-1964) was an Irish historian and academic. He served as the Lecky Professor of Modern History at Trinity College Dublin and authored several books on Irish history, including "The Consolidation of the Roman Catholic Church in Ireland, 1860-1870."

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Larkin families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Larkin 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. Lancashire leads with 645 Larkins recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.07x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 645 2.07x
Kent 360 4.02x
Middlesex 341 1.30x
Yorkshire 176 0.68x
Sussex 141 3.19x
Surrey 136 1.06x
Durham 121 1.55x
Lanarkshire 109 1.28x
Essex 85 1.64x
Staffordshire 71 0.80x
Derbyshire 54 1.31x
Cheshire 51 0.88x
Hertfordshire 45 2.49x
Warwickshire 38 0.57x
Hampshire 29 0.54x
Renfrewshire 22 1.08x
Midlothian 21 0.60x
Leicestershire 20 0.69x
Cumberland 19 0.84x
Buckinghamshire 18 1.13x
Cambridgeshire 17 1.02x
Lincolnshire 15 0.36x
Monmouthshire 15 0.79x
Gloucestershire 11 0.21x
Northumberland 11 0.28x
Nottinghamshire 10 0.28x
Somerset 10 0.24x
Devon 9 0.16x
Glamorgan 9 0.20x
West Lothian 9 2.28x
Brecknockshire 7 1.33x
Worcestershire 7 0.20x
Angus 5 0.21x
Berkshire 5 0.25x
Dumfriesshire 5 0.86x
Dunbartonshire 4 0.57x
Caernarfonshire 3 0.28x
Dorset 3 0.17x
Herefordshire 3 0.28x
Norfolk 3 0.07x
Royal Navy 3 0.96x
Stirlingshire 3 0.31x
Suffolk 3 0.09x
Anglesey 2 0.43x
Ayrshire 2 0.10x
Bedfordshire 2 0.15x
Denbighshire 2 0.20x
Montgomeryshire 2 0.33x
Shropshire 2 0.09x
Wigtownshire 2 0.57x
Argyllshire 1 0.14x
East Lothian 1 0.29x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.12x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Liverpool in Lancashire leads with 96 Larkins recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.08x.

Place Total Index
Liverpool 96 5.08x
Salford 65 7.10x
Manchester 51 3.64x
Glasgow 36 2.39x
Kensington London 36 2.47x
Stockton On Tees 36 9.57x
Toxteth Park 34 3.22x
Horsemonden 30 229.36x
St Luke London 28 6.65x
Deptford St Paul 27 3.91x
Chelsea London 24 3.04x
Chatham 23 9.34x
Hammersmith London 23 3.56x
Brentwood 22 69.66x
Everton 22 2.22x
Great Bolton 22 5.33x
Lichfield St Mary 22 86.11x
Stranton 22 8.37x
Camberwell 21 1.25x
Holy Trinity 21 3.36x
Fulham London 20 5.26x
Hackney London 20 1.36x
St Pancras London 20 0.95x
Brenchley 19 59.30x
Haydock 19 35.41x
West Ham 19 1.66x
Islington London 18 0.71x
Wickhambreux 18 412.84x
Birmingham 17 0.77x
Bradford 17 2.70x
Hulme 17 2.62x
Ramsgate 17 11.63x
Sutton Coldfield 17 24.44x
Aldenham 16 97.21x
Battersea 16 1.66x
Beckley 16 144.67x
Brede 16 172.60x
Govan 16 0.76x
Tonbridge 16 4.95x
Warrington 16 4.33x
Eastbourne 15 7.37x
Kirkdale 15 2.86x
Litherland 15 23.04x
Middlesbrough 15 4.43x
Newington 15 1.55x
Shadwell London 15 20.43x
St George Hanover Square 15 3.24x
Aldershot 14 7.77x
Croydon 14 1.97x
Faversham 14 16.40x
Newton In Makerfield 14 14.68x
Bushey 13 30.19x
Parr 13 11.67x
Bothwell 12 5.21x
Lanark 12 17.57x
Loose 12 91.25x
Maidstone 12 4.50x
Rye 12 28.54x
Workington 12 9.28x
Barking 11 7.26x
Blackburn 11 1.33x
Brighton 11 1.23x
Hastings All Sts 11 26.39x
Hastings St Mary In The 11 11.65x
Hoath 11 361.84x
Preston 11 1.32x
Barony 10 0.47x
Chorlton On Medlock 10 2.02x
Eastham 10 129.03x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 10 2.96x
Minster In Sheppey 10 6.74x
Prescot 10 17.76x
Windle 10 5.71x
Bootle Cum Linacre 9 3.64x
Clerkenwell London 9 1.45x
Glossop Dale 9 4.68x
Paddington London 9 0.93x
West Derby 9 0.99x
Whitburn 9 15.76x
Wimbledon 9 6.27x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 168
William 116
Thomas 104
James 94
George 55
Patrick 51
Henry 47
Edward 45
Michael 42
Charles 36
Joseph 33
Peter 24
Arthur 22
Frederick 22
Alfred 20
Frank 16
Samuel 15
Francis 14
Harry 14
Robert 14
Richard 12
Stephen 12
Herbert 11
Walter 11
Albert 10
Bernard 10
Hugh 10
Thos. 9
Martin 8
Wm. 8
David 7
Ernest 7
Owen 7
Chas. 6
Daniel 6
Edwin 5
Fredk. 5
Jno. 5
Andrew 4
Matthew 4
Percy 4
Benjamin 3
Felix 3
Harold 3
Hy. 3
Lawrence 3
Micheal 3
Pat 3
Earnest 2
Lewis 2

FAQ

Larkin surname: questions and answers

How common was the Larkin surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,685 people were recorded with the Larkin surname. That placed it at #1,655 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Larkin surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 5,587 in 2016. That gives Larkin a modern rank of #1,202.

What does the Larkin surname mean?

Derived from the Gaelic surname O'Lorcain, meaning "descendant of Lorcan," a personal name meaning "little fierce one."

What does the Larkin map show?

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