NameCensus.

UK surname

Nairn

A locational surname derived from the town of Nairn in Scotland.

In the 1881 census there were 1,485 people recorded with the Nairn surname, ranking it #2,815 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,744, ranked #3,592, down from #2,815 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Govan Combination, Arbroath and St. Vigeans and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cheviot East, Dunblane West and Mid Nithsdale.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Nairn is 1,809 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 17.4%.

1881 census count

1,485

Ranked #2,815

Modern count

1,744

2016, ranked #3,592

Peak year

2010

1,809 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Nairn had 1,485 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,815 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,744 in 2016, ranked #3,592.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,609 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Nairn surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Nairn surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Nairn 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 916 #3,010
1861 historical 1,028 #2,725
1881 historical 1,485 #2,815
1891 historical 1,438 #3,044
1901 historical 1,609 #3,217
1911 historical 385 #9,551
1997 modern 1,567 #3,763
1998 modern 1,705 #3,627
1999 modern 1,694 #3,671
2000 modern 1,683 #3,671
2001 modern 1,659 #3,649
2002 modern 1,728 #3,606
2003 modern 1,685 #3,604
2004 modern 1,680 #3,619
2005 modern 1,669 #3,601
2006 modern 1,693 #3,559
2007 modern 1,704 #3,565
2008 modern 1,693 #3,610
2009 modern 1,742 #3,592
2010 modern 1,809 #3,547
2011 modern 1,774 #3,572
2012 modern 1,728 #3,595
2013 modern 1,755 #3,599
2014 modern 1,751 #3,620
2015 modern 1,736 #3,615
2016 modern 1,744 #3,592

Geography

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Where Nairns are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Govan Combination, Arbroath and St. Vigeans, Edinburgh, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry and Scoonie. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cheviot East, Dunblane West, Mid Nithsdale, Aberuthven and Almondbank and Coupar Angus and Meigle. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Govan Combination Lanark
2 Arbroath and St. Vigeans Forfar
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar
5 Scoonie Fife

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cheviot East Scottish Borders
2 Dunblane West Stirling
3 Mid Nithsdale Dumfries and Galloway
4 Aberuthven and Almondbank Perth and Kinross
5 Coupar Angus and Meigle Perth and Kinross

Forenames

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First names often paired with Nairn

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Nairn

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

Nairn 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

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

Meaning and origin of Nairn

The surname Nairn originates from Scotland, dating back to the 12th century. It is derived from the town of Nairn, located in the Highlands region of Scotland. The name is believed to have evolved from the Gaelic words "an Earrann," meaning "the territory" or "the share," referring to the land granted to the progenitors of the Nairn family.

The earliest recorded use of the surname Nairn can be traced back to a charter from King William the Lion of Scotland in 1189, where a person named William de Nairn is mentioned. This suggests that the Nairn family had established itself as landowners in the area by the late 12th century.

In the 13th century, the Nairn family played a significant role in the Wars of Scottish Independence against England. One notable figure was Sir Robert Nairn, who fought alongside William Wallace and Robert the Bruce. Sir Robert Nairn's name is documented in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a record of Scottish noblemen who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England.

During the 14th century, the Nairn family continued to hold lands and influence in the Highlands. In 1368, a charter from King David II mentions a John de Nairn as the owner of the lands of Nairn.

In the 16th century, the Nairn family produced several notable figures. One of the most prominent was Sir Thomas Nairn (c. 1520-1590), who served as the Lord Provost of Edinburgh and played a crucial role in the Reformation in Scotland.

Another influential Nairn was Sir Robert Nairn (1628-1683), a Scottish politician and judge who served as Lord Provost of Edinburgh and Lord of Session. He was also a member of the Scottish Parliament and played a significant role in the negotiations that led to the Act of Union in 1707.

In the 18th century, the Nairn family continued to hold positions of influence. Sir William Nairn (1755-1828) was a Scottish politician and Member of Parliament for the Burgh of Nairn.

The 19th century saw several notable Nairns, including Sir Michael Nairn (1804-1858), a Scottish lawyer and judge who served as Lord Advocate of Scotland, and Sir Charles Nairn (1808-1882), a British naval officer and colonial administrator who served as the Lieutenant Governor of the Cape Colony in South Africa.

Throughout history, the surname Nairn has been associated with Scotland, particularly the Highlands region, and has been carried by individuals who have made significant contributions to various fields, including politics, law, and military service.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Nairn families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Nairn 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. Fife leads with 245 Nairns recorded in 1881 and an index of 28.63x.

County Total Index
Fife 245 28.63x
Lanarkshire 189 4.04x
Angus 184 13.74x
Ayrshire 150 13.86x
Perthshire 98 15.10x
Midlothian 73 3.77x
Renfrewshire 73 6.52x
Lancashire 57 0.33x
Durham 49 1.14x
Northumberland 44 2.05x
Middlesex 36 0.25x
Berwickshire 27 15.42x
Dunbartonshire 27 6.95x
Morayshire 27 12.02x
Buteshire 23 26.26x
Kent 20 0.41x
Wigtownshire 19 9.90x
Inverness-shire 18 4.17x
Essex 13 0.46x
Stirlingshire 13 2.44x
Cumberland 11 0.88x
Nottinghamshire 11 0.56x
Roxburghshire 11 4.20x
Aberdeenshire 10 0.75x
Sussex 8 0.33x
Herefordshire 6 1.01x
Argyllshire 5 1.24x
Kincardineshire 5 2.84x
Pembrokeshire 4 0.87x
Surrey 4 0.06x
Banffshire 3 1.00x
Ross-shire 3 0.76x
Westmorland 3 0.94x
Yorkshire 3 0.02x
Nairnshire 2 4.53x
Royal Navy 2 1.16x
Warwickshire 2 0.05x
Berkshire 1 0.09x
Hampshire 1 0.03x
Suffolk 1 0.06x
West Lothian 1 0.46x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Govan in Lanarkshire leads with 60 Nairns recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.19x.

Place Total Index
Govan 60 5.19x
Stewarton 53 247.55x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 42 5.39x
Glasgow 41 4.94x
Newburgh 41 377.18x
St Vigeans 41 56.72x
Barony 40 3.38x
Scoonie 39 210.47x
Dundee 30 6.00x
Kilwinning 28 80.14x
Cupar 22 59.11x
Brechin 20 38.00x
Dysart 20 34.70x
Mauchline 20 160.77x
Kirkcaldy 17 40.06x
Montrose 17 20.94x
Kilconquhar 16 157.17x
Monkwearmouth Shore 16 19.06x
Liverpool 15 1.44x
South Leith 15 6.88x
Abbey 14 8.19x
Arbroath 14 31.55x
Neilston 14 24.89x
West Greenock 14 6.96x
Penninghame 13 66.39x
Perth East Church 13 21.25x
Ince In Makerfield 12 15.03x
Kilmory 12 94.04x
Kinghorn 12 66.04x
Paisley High Church 12 13.45x
Avondale 11 40.23x
Edzell 11 268.95x
Forres 11 46.59x
Inverarity 11 255.81x
Logie 11 47.25x
Radford 11 11.11x
Abdie 10 205.34x
Elswick 10 5.83x
Hammersmith London 10 2.81x
Hetton Le Hole 10 18.35x
Irvine 10 33.28x
Abbotshall 9 28.14x
Bothal Demesne 9 87.46x
Burntisland 9 37.61x
Carnbee 9 172.08x
Cromdale 9 49.81x
Dalserf 9 19.29x
Deptford St Paul 9 2.37x
Fogo 9 387.93x
Kinnoull 9 52.76x
Monikie 9 128.21x
Carluke 8 18.85x
Crimond 8 194.17x
Dores 8 138.65x
Dunbarney 8 213.90x
Eccles 8 104.30x
Kilbride 8 74.14x
Liff Benvie 8 3.93x
Old Kilpatrick 8 17.43x
Sorn 8 37.65x
Aberdour 7 81.21x
Alva 7 27.53x
Cathcart 7 11.55x
Fenwick 7 122.16x
Gateshead 7 2.17x
Glassford 7 97.09x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 7 3.76x
Kettle 7 68.16x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 7 5.45x
Berwick Upon Tweed 6 13.16x
Bury 6 3.06x
Crossgate 6 31.91x
Forfar 6 8.27x
Kilmaurs 6 32.59x
Logierait 6 52.54x
Lyonshall 6 139.53x
Markinch 6 20.65x
Mid Calder 6 71.51x
Muthill 6 70.84x
St George In East 6 6.10x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 15
Jane 8
Margaret 8
Elizabeth 6
Isabella 5
Agnes 4
Alice 4
Ann 4
Sarah 4
Edith 3
Eleanor 3
Janet 3
Jessie 3
Maria 3
Anne 2
Annie 2
Cath. 2
Catherine 2
Christina 2
Clara 2
Ellen 2
Fanny 2
Hannah 2
Harriett 2
Martha 2
Matilda 2
Minnie 2
Rebecca 2
Violet 2
Adelaide 1
Bella 1
Bessie 1
Betsy 1
Caroline 1
Elizath. 1
Elizth 1
Emily 1
Ethel 1
Evelyn 1
Florence 1
Frances 1
Grace 1
Jemima 1
Kate 1
Lillie 1
Louisa 1
Lucy 1
Marg. 1
Margt. 1
Wilhemia 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 22
William 15
James 13
George 11
Alexander 8
Charles 8
Thomas 8
David 6
Robert 6
Joseph 5
Benjamin 3
Alfred 2
Andrew 2
Arthur 2
Cuthbert 2
Henry 2
Allan 1
Archibald 1
Chas. 1
Clifford 1
Daniel 1
Edward 1
F.C.R. 1
Frank 1
Frederick 1
Fredrick 1
Harold 1
Heugh 1
Hugh 1
Moses 1
Ogilvie 1
Pet. 1
Peter 1
Philip 1
Richard 1
Stephen 1
Thos. 1
Victor 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Nairn surname: questions and answers

How common was the Nairn surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,485 people were recorded with the Nairn surname. That placed it at #2,815 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Nairn surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,744 in 2016. That gives Nairn a modern rank of #3,592.

What does the Nairn surname mean?

A locational surname derived from the town of Nairn in Scotland.

What does the Nairn map show?

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