NameCensus.

UK surname

Longmuir

A locational surname indicating someone from a place with a long, marshy area.

In the 1881 census there were 560 people recorded with the Longmuir surname, ranking it #6,184 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 811, ranked #6,830, down from #6,184 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to New Monkland, Edinburgh and Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Friockheim, Brechin East and Kettering.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Longmuir is 836 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 44.8%.

1881 census count

560

Ranked #6,184

Modern count

811

2016, ranked #6,830

Peak year

2010

836 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Longmuir had 560 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,184 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 811 in 2016, ranked #6,830.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 601 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Longmuir surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Longmuir surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Longmuir 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 249 #8,816
1861 historical 273 #9,134
1881 historical 560 #6,184
1891 historical 512 #7,283
1901 historical 601 #7,068
1911 historical 88 #24,041
1997 modern 773 #6,721
1998 modern 801 #6,739
1999 modern 824 #6,644
2000 modern 809 #6,711
2001 modern 794 #6,681
2002 modern 822 #6,627
2003 modern 794 #6,692
2004 modern 775 #6,843
2005 modern 788 #6,681
2006 modern 797 #6,650
2007 modern 800 #6,691
2008 modern 806 #6,705
2009 modern 821 #6,733
2010 modern 836 #6,779
2011 modern 812 #6,848
2012 modern 799 #6,835
2013 modern 812 #6,860
2014 modern 821 #6,832
2015 modern 806 #6,896
2016 modern 811 #6,830

Geography

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Where Longmuirs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around New Monkland, Edinburgh, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry, Glasgow and Irvine. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Friockheim, Brechin East, Kettering, Arbroath Kirkton and Montrose North. 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 New Monkland Lanark
2 Edinburgh Edinburgh
3 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar
4 Glasgow Lanark
5 Irvine Ayr

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Friockheim Angus
2 Brechin East Angus
3 Kettering 002 Kettering
4 Arbroath Kirkton Angus
5 Montrose North Angus

Forenames

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First names often paired with Longmuir

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Longmuir

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Longmuir, 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 Longmuir surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Longmuir 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, Longmuir 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

Longmuir 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

Longmuir falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Longmuir

The surname Longmuir has its origins in Scotland, dating back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Gaelic words "long" meaning "ship" and "muir" meaning "sea," suggesting a connection to maritime activities or coastal settlements.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a historical document containing the names of Scottish landowners who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England. The name appears as "Longmuir" in this record.

The Longmuirs were particularly prominent in the regions of Aberdeenshire and Kincardineshire, where they held lands and established themselves as a notable family. Some notable individuals bearing this surname include:

1. John Longmuir (c. 1470-1548), a Scottish clergyman and scholar who served as the Bishop of Brechin. 2. Robert Longmuir (1821-1891), a Scottish-born American educator and mathematician, known for his contributions to the field of trigonometry. 3. James Longmuir (1852-1933), a Scottish businessman and philanthropist, who donated funds for the establishment of the Longmuir Institute in Aberdeen, a center for adult education. 4. William Longmuir (1861-1937), a Scottish inventor and engineer, known for his work on early aircraft designs and contributions to aeronautics. 5. Margaret Longmuir (1878-1962), a Scottish suffragette and activist, who campaigned for women's rights and played a significant role in the suffrage movement in Scotland.

The name Longmuir has also been associated with various place names in Scotland, such as Longmuir Farm in Aberdeenshire and Longmuir Loch in Fife. These place names likely derived from the surname, reflecting the historical presence of the Longmuir family in these areas.

While the origins of the surname can be traced back to the 12th century, it is worth noting that variations in spelling and pronunciation may have occurred over time, as was common with many Scottish surnames. However, the core meaning and connection to maritime or coastal themes have remained consistent throughout its history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Longmuir families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Longmuir 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. Lanarkshire leads with 192 Longmuirs recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.95x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 192 10.95x
Angus 77 15.32x
Ayrshire 52 12.81x
Midlothian 45 6.19x
Aberdeenshire 34 6.77x
Kincardineshire 32 48.46x
Renfrewshire 24 5.71x
Yorkshire 19 0.35x
Fife 14 4.36x
Lancashire 14 0.22x
West Lothian 7 8.57x
Morayshire 6 7.12x
Northumberland 5 0.62x
Perthshire 5 2.05x
Roxburghshire 5 5.09x
Peeblesshire 4 15.68x
Banffshire 3 2.67x
Essex 3 0.28x
Cheshire 2 0.17x
Dorset 2 0.56x
Dumfriesshire 2 1.67x
Nairnshire 2 12.08x
Cornwall 1 0.16x
Dunbartonshire 1 0.69x
Inverness-shire 1 0.62x
Kent 1 0.05x
Middlesex 1 0.02x
Royal Navy 1 1.55x
Stirlingshire 1 0.50x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Barony in Lanarkshire leads with 56 Longmuirs recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.62x.

Place Total Index
Barony 56 12.62x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 27 9.24x
Aberdeen Old Machar 22 20.98x
Avondale 21 204.68x
Old Monkland 21 30.17x
New Monkland 16 30.86x
Dundee 14 7.46x
Irvine 14 124.22x
Kilwinning 14 106.79x
Cambuslang 12 67.87x
Brechin 11 55.70x
Dun 11 1100.00x
Edinburgh Canongate 11 59.49x
Hamilton 11 22.49x
Sheffield 11 6.43x
Shotts 11 52.41x
Abbey 10 15.59x
Govan 10 2.31x
Anstruther Wester 8 640.00x
Barry 8 132.67x
Forfar 8 29.40x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 7 7.45x
Bathgate 7 39.48x
Bootle Cum Linacre 7 13.70x
Bothwell 7 14.72x
Dalry 7 36.65x
Fettercairn 7 249.11x
Marykirk 7 257.35x
Montrose 7 22.99x
Paisley High Church 7 20.92x
Ardrossan 6 42.70x
Cambusnethan 6 15.40x
Carstairs 6 165.29x
Glasgow 6 1.93x
Arbroath 5 30.03x
Jedburgh 5 51.92x
Kirkdale 5 4.62x
Nigg 5 91.58x
Westgate 5 10.01x
Ayr 4 20.88x
Dundonald 4 26.72x
Elgin 4 24.41x
Innerleithen 4 59.08x
Kinglassie 4 163.27x
Kinneff Catterline 4 215.05x
Paisley Middle Church 4 16.35x
Rutherglen 4 15.55x
Carluke 3 18.83x
Edinburgh St Andrews 3 50.00x
Fearn 3 508.47x
Fetteresso 3 28.99x
Perth East Church 3 13.07x
Rotherham 3 9.90x
South Leith 3 3.67x
Wakefield 3 7.27x
Walthamstow 3 7.79x
Bervie 2 51.15x
Hale 2 48.43x
Inverkeillor 2 64.10x
Inverkip 2 20.18x
Logie Pert 2 108.11x
Rathven 2 9.47x
Sherborne 2 19.08x
St Vigeans 2 7.37x
Aberlemno 1 53.76x
Dailly 1 24.15x
Daviot 1 104.17x
Dunnottar 1 21.51x
Glenbervie 1 55.25x
Grange 1 30.40x
Kintore 1 22.94x
Laurencekirk 1 26.11x
Nairn 1 9.95x
North Meols 1 1.59x
Perth Middle Church 1 10.93x
Poplar London 1 0.98x
Rafford 1 50.76x
Stewarton 1 12.45x
West Greenock 1 1.33x
Westerkirk 1 112.36x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 5
Mary 4
Sarah 3
Catherine 2
Jane 2
Margaret 2
(Mrs) 1
Annie 1
Cecilia 1
Charlotte 1
Emily 1
Georgina 1
Helen 1
Isabella 1
Margt. 1
Winnifred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Alexander 3
Hugh 2
James 2
Robert 2
Andrew 1
David 1
Gabriel 1
George 1
Jas.A. 1
John 1
Patrick 1
Percy 1
Robt. 1
Thomas 1
Wm.F. 1

FAQ

Longmuir surname: questions and answers

How common was the Longmuir surname in 1881?

In 1881, 560 people were recorded with the Longmuir surname. That placed it at #6,184 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Longmuir surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 811 in 2016. That gives Longmuir a modern rank of #6,830.

What does the Longmuir surname mean?

A locational surname indicating someone from a place with a long, marshy area.

What does the Longmuir map show?

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