NameCensus.

UK surname

Murnin

An Irish topographic surname referring to someone who lived on a hill or marsh.

In the 1881 census there were 25 people recorded with the Murnin surname, ranking it #30,077 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 103, ranked #30,515, down from #30,077 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Maxwell Park, Stewarton West and Strathbungo.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Murnin is 103 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 312.0%.

1881 census count

25

Ranked #30,077

Modern count

103

2016, ranked #30,515

Peak year

2010

103 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • Murnin had 25 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #30,077 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 103 in 2016, ranked #30,515.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 49 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Murnin surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Murnin surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Murnin 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 8 #31,867
1861 historical 11 #32,452
1881 historical 25 #30,077
1891 historical 49 #30,349
1901 historical 37 #30,009
1911 historical 22 #31,030
1997 modern 89 #28,490
1998 modern 96 #28,188
1999 modern 88 #29,287
2000 modern 89 #29,173
2001 modern 84 #29,508
2002 modern 82 #30,181
2003 modern 86 #29,752
2004 modern 90 #29,481
2005 modern 92 #29,271
2006 modern 91 #29,725
2007 modern 93 #29,777
2008 modern 101 #28,825
2009 modern 97 #30,076
2010 modern 103 #29,780
2011 modern 97 #30,552
2012 modern 98 #30,612
2013 modern 101 #30,591
2014 modern 103 #30,539
2015 modern 103 #30,444
2016 modern 103 #30,515

Geography

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Where Murnins 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 Maxwell Park, Stewarton West, Strathbungo, Drumgelloch and Ayr South Harbour and Town Centre. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Maxwell Park Glasgow City
2 Stewarton West East Ayrshire
3 Strathbungo Glasgow City
4 Drumgelloch North Lanarkshire
5 Ayr South Harbour and Town Centre South Ayrshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Murnin

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Murnin

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Murnin surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Murnin household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Murnin 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

Murnin is most concentrated in decile 2 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Murnin falls in decile 7 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Murnin 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 - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Murnin

The surname Murnin has its origins in Ireland, emerging in the late medieval period. It is derived from the Irish Gaelic word "muirneach," meaning "belonging to the sea" or "maritime." This suggests that the name's earliest bearers may have lived near the coast or had occupations related to the sea.

The Murnin surname is predominantly found in County Down, particularly in the areas around Newcastle and Kilkeel. Some of the earliest recorded instances of the name appear in the Diocesan Records of Down and Connor from the 16th century, with variations such as Murnyn, Murnyn, and Murnyne.

One notable historical reference to the name Murnin can be found in the Hearth Money Rolls of 1663-1665, which were tax records compiled during the reign of King Charles II. These records list several individuals with the surname Murnin residing in County Down.

The earliest known bearer of the Murnin surname was John Murnin, who was born around 1560 in County Down. He is mentioned in the Diocesan Records of Down and Connor as owning land near Kilkeel.

Another prominent individual with the Murnin surname was Patrick Murnin (1680-1754), a landowner and farmer from Newcastle, County Down. His descendants continued to reside in the area for several generations.

In the 19th century, James Murnin (1820-1892) was a notable figure from County Down. He was a successful businessman and philanthropist who contributed to the development of the town of Newcastle.

The Murnin surname has also been associated with several place names in County Down, such as Murnin's Hill and Murnin's Brae, further reinforcing its historical ties to the region.

Another noteworthy individual was Mary Murnin (1878-1957), a teacher and author from Downpatrick, County Down. She wrote several books on Irish history and folklore, preserving the cultural heritage of the area.

Throughout the centuries, the Murnin surname has maintained a strong presence in County Down, with many families tracing their ancestry back to the early bearers of the name in the region.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Murnin families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Murnin 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. West Lothian leads with 14 Murnins recorded in 1881 and an index of 381.47x.

County Total Index
West Lothian 14 381.47x
Lanarkshire 7 8.88x
Lancashire 3 1.04x
Ayrshire 1 5.49x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Whitburn in West Lothian leads with 14 Murnins recorded in 1881 and an index of 2641.51x.

Place Total Index
Whitburn 14 2641.51x
Glasgow 4 28.59x
Cadder 3 517.24x
Everton 3 32.57x
Ayr 1 116.28x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Martha 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Frederick 1
James 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 Murnin households.

FAQ

Murnin surname: questions and answers

How common was the Murnin surname in 1881?

In 1881, 25 people were recorded with the Murnin surname. That placed it at #30,077 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Murnin surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 103 in 2016. That gives Murnin a modern rank of #30,515.

What does the Murnin surname mean?

An Irish topographic surname referring to someone who lived on a hill or marsh.

What does the Murnin map show?

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