NameCensus.

UK surname

Nevin

A surname of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic "Cnaimhín," meaning "little bone" or "small and slender."

In the 1881 census there were 603 people recorded with the Nevin surname, ranking it #5,808 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,493, ranked #4,143, up from #5,808 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Allendale, Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside and Gateshead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include County Durham, Dacorum and Great Yarmouth.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Nevin is 1,509 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 147.6%.

1881 census count

603

Ranked #5,808

Modern count

1,493

2016, ranked #4,143

Peak year

2014

1,509 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Nevin had 603 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,808 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,493 in 2016, ranked #4,143.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 742 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Nevin surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Nevin surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Nevin 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 451 #5,469
1861 historical 353 #7,242
1881 historical 603 #5,808
1891 historical 604 #6,353
1901 historical 718 #6,149
1911 historical 742 #5,785
1997 modern 1,393 #4,155
1998 modern 1,443 #4,185
1999 modern 1,471 #4,151
2000 modern 1,436 #4,210
2001 modern 1,385 #4,253
2002 modern 1,439 #4,207
2003 modern 1,364 #4,309
2004 modern 1,380 #4,281
2005 modern 1,327 #4,363
2006 modern 1,359 #4,295
2007 modern 1,364 #4,321
2008 modern 1,396 #4,268
2009 modern 1,432 #4,264
2010 modern 1,496 #4,193
2011 modern 1,455 #4,241
2012 modern 1,468 #4,156
2013 modern 1,504 #4,145
2014 modern 1,509 #4,158
2015 modern 1,495 #4,151
2016 modern 1,493 #4,143

Geography

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Where Nevins are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Allendale, Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Gateshead, Wigan and Edinburgh. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to County Durham, Dacorum, Great Yarmouth, Warwick and Gwynedd. 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 Allendale Northumberland
2 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
3 Gateshead Durham
4 Wigan Lancashire
5 Edinburgh Edinburgh

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 County Durham 001 County Durham
2 Dacorum 013 Dacorum
3 Great Yarmouth 007 Great Yarmouth
4 Warwick 008 Warwick
5 Gwynedd 013 Gwynedd

Forenames

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First names often paired with Nevin

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Nevin

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Nevin, 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 Nevin surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Nevin 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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Nevin is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Nevin 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

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

Meaning and origin of Nevin

The surname NEVIN is of Scottish origin, derived from the Gaelic personal name Naomhán, meaning "little saint" or "holy one." This name was first recorded in the 12th century and was commonly found in the Ayrshire region of western Scotland.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which documented Scottish landowners who swore fealty to King Edward I of England. The name appears as "Nevyn" in this historical record.

During the Middle Ages, the name was also associated with the village of Nevyn or Nevyn-de-Cree in Wigtownshire, Scotland. This place name likely contributed to the surname's evolution and its various spellings, such as Nevin, Nevyn, Neving, and Niven.

In the 16th century, the surname NEVIN appeared in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland, which recorded government transactions. One notable person mentioned in these rolls was John Nevin, a landowner from Ayrshire, who lived during this time period.

Throughout history, several individuals with the surname NEVIN have achieved notable accomplishments. One example is Paul Nevin (1597-1683), a Scottish minister and theologian who played a significant role in the Church of Scotland during the 17th century.

Another prominent figure was John Williamson Nevin (1803-1886), an American theologian and educator who served as the president of Franklin and Marshall College in Pennsylvania. He was a influential figure in the German Reformed Church and wrote extensively on theology and philosophy.

In the literary world, John Nevin Duffield (1857-1944) was a renowned Scottish-American poet and author, best known for his works that celebrated the beauty of nature and Scottish heritage.

The surname NEVIN has also been associated with notable figures in the arts. One example is John Stevenson Nevin (1808-1891), a Scottish painter and engraver who specialized in portraiture and genre scenes.

Furthermore, the surname has been carried by individuals in various fields, such as John Nevin Sayre (1892-1972), an American diplomat and ambassador to several countries, including Brazil and Portugal.

While the surname NEVIN has its roots in Scotland, it has since spread across the globe, with individuals bearing this name making significant contributions in various domains throughout history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Nevin families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Nevin 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 185 Nevins recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.66x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 185 2.66x
Northumberland 98 11.24x
Yorkshire 57 0.98x
Durham 47 2.69x
Lanarkshire 33 1.74x
Middlesex 33 0.56x
Perthshire 19 7.22x
Midlothian 11 1.40x
Cumberland 8 1.58x
Derbyshire 8 0.87x
Nottinghamshire 8 1.01x
Shetland 8 13.36x
Warwickshire 8 0.54x
Glamorgan 7 0.69x
Angus 6 1.10x
Cheshire 6 0.46x
Cornwall 6 0.90x
Fife 6 1.73x
Aberdeenshire 5 0.92x
Ayrshire 5 1.14x
Argyllshire 4 2.45x
Dumfriesshire 4 3.09x
Morayshire 4 4.39x
Devon 3 0.25x
Kent 3 0.15x
Kirkcudbrightshire 3 3.53x
Staffordshire 3 0.15x
Renfrewshire 2 0.44x
Surrey 2 0.07x
Banffshire 1 0.82x
Berkshire 1 0.23x
Clackmannanshire 1 2.07x
Hampshire 1 0.08x
Hertfordshire 1 0.25x
Peeblesshire 1 3.63x
Royal Navy 1 1.43x
Sussex 1 0.10x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Ince In Makerfield in Lancashire leads with 40 Nevins recorded in 1881 and an index of 123.57x.

Place Total Index
Ince In Makerfield 40 123.57x
Liverpool 29 6.86x
Everton 25 11.28x
Allendale 24 296.66x
Bethnal Green London 18 7.07x
Scone 16 342.61x
Barony 15 3.13x
Govan 13 2.77x
Haydon 13 272.54x
Gateshead 12 9.19x
Hulme 12 8.26x
Oldham 11 4.90x
Heckmondwike 10 53.50x
Blackburn 9 4.86x
Tanfield 9 43.39x
Alnwick 8 53.33x
Ecclesall Bierlow 8 6.77x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 8 10.59x
Hexham 8 59.26x
Hopwood 8 88.01x
Nottingham St Mary 8 3.91x
St George In East 8 20.06x
Toxteth Park 8 3.40x
Unst 8 182.65x
West Derby 8 3.93x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 7 12.93x
Bradford 7 21.50x
Mirfield 7 21.94x
Ovingham Whittle Spital 7 530.30x
Aston 6 1.47x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 6 1.90x
Llanwonno 6 16.36x
Manchester 6 1.92x
Sheffield 6 3.24x
St Just In Roseland 6 206.19x
St Monance 6 144.93x
Chopwell 5 154.32x
Collierley 5 64.35x
Derby St Werburgh 5 9.43x
Dundee 5 2.47x
Pemberton 5 18.02x
Simonburn 5 602.41x
South Leith 5 5.66x
Wallbottle 5 270.27x
Aberdeen Old Machar 4 3.53x
Benwell 4 41.97x
Caldewgate 4 14.46x
Salford 4 1.96x
St Pancras London 4 0.85x
Trewick 4 8000.00x
Crossmichael 3 111.94x
Devonport 3 21.40x
Glasgow 3 0.89x
Holbeck 3 7.79x
Horton In Bradford 3 3.31x
Kilmore Kilbride 3 28.96x
Kirkandrews On Esk 3 175.44x
Knockando 3 81.08x
Leeds 3 0.91x
Longbenton 3 8.12x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 3 5.76x
Sutton In Macclesfield 3 22.34x
Wolverhampton 3 1.97x
Baslow With Bubnell 2 118.34x
Birmingham 2 0.41x
Cheetham 2 3.85x
Eachwick 2 1666.67x
Elswick 2 2.87x
Halifax 2 2.34x
Holy Trinity 2 1.43x
Monk Bretton 2 34.01x
Newbrough 2 129.03x
Newburn Hall 2 121.95x
Newcastle On Tyne St 2 4.42x
Pendleton In Salford 2 2.41x
Penshaw 2 38.17x
Poplar London 2 1.81x
Preston 2 1.07x
Westoe 2 2.02x
Windle 2 5.11x

Top female names

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

FAQ

Nevin surname: questions and answers

How common was the Nevin surname in 1881?

In 1881, 603 people were recorded with the Nevin surname. That placed it at #5,808 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Nevin surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,493 in 2016. That gives Nevin a modern rank of #4,143.

What does the Nevin surname mean?

A surname of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic "Cnaimhín," meaning "little bone" or "small and slender."

What does the Nevin map show?

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