NameCensus.

UK surname

Niblo

A medieval surname derived from the Old Norse "nibla", meaning to nibble or bite.

In the 1881 census there were 25 people recorded with the Niblo surname, ranking it #30,077 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 112, ranked #28,844, up from #30,077 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Grangemouth - Newlands, Grangemouth - Bowhouse and Carse and Grangemouth Old Town.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Niblo is 116 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 348.0%.

1881 census count

25

Ranked #30,077

Modern count

112

2016, ranked #28,844

Peak year

1998

116 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Niblo had 25 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #30,077 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 112 in 2016, ranked #28,844.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 34 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Niblo surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Niblo surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Niblo 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 7 #32,070
1861 historical 6 #33,230
1881 historical 25 #30,077
1891 historical 31 #31,820
1901 historical 34 #30,281
1911 historical 7 #33,083
1997 modern 110 #25,529
1998 modern 116 #25,332
1999 modern 115 #25,620
2000 modern 114 #25,717
2001 modern 110 #25,900
2002 modern 103 #27,443
2003 modern 104 #27,101
2004 modern 105 #27,181
2005 modern 105 #27,203
2006 modern 105 #27,479
2007 modern 98 #29,019
2008 modern 100 #29,001
2009 modern 99 #29,754
2010 modern 110 #28,666
2011 modern 104 #29,424
2012 modern 105 #29,362
2013 modern 103 #30,235
2014 modern 108 #29,658
2015 modern 106 #29,895
2016 modern 112 #28,844

Geography

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Where Niblos 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 Grangemouth - Newlands, Grangemouth - Bowhouse, Carse and Grangemouth Old Town, Grangemouth - Kersiebank and Hawick Central. 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 Grangemouth - Newlands Falkirk
2 Grangemouth - Bowhouse Falkirk
3 Carse and Grangemouth Old Town Falkirk
4 Grangemouth - Kersiebank Falkirk
5 Hawick Central Scottish Borders

Forenames

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First names often paired with Niblo

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Niblo

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

Legacy Communities

Group

Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities

Nationally, the Niblo surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Niblo household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Households in these areas often include divorced or separated parents and commonly include children and young adults. The age structure is heavily skewed towards the most advanced age groups. Individuals identifying as members of ethnic minorities are not present in large numbers. Flats predominate, with some terraced, semi-detached, and detached units. Multiple car ownership is low, and housing is predominantly in the private and social rented sectors. Employment is less skewed towards traditional routine industrial occupations. Levels of educational attainment are generally low. The Group occurs principally in the Central Lowlands of Scotland and other Scottish towns.

Wider pattern

These neighbourhoods characteristically comprise pockets of flats that are scattered across the UK, particularly in towns that retain or have legacies of heavy industry or are in more remote seaside locations. Employed residents of these neighbourhoods work mainly in low-skilled occupations. Residents typically have limited educational qualifications. Unemployment is above average. Some residents live in overcrowded housing within the social rented sector and experience long-term disability. All adult age groups are represented, although there is an overall age bias towards elderly people in general and the very old in particular. Individuals identifying as belonging to ethnic minorities or Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups are uncommon.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Niblo 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

Niblo is most concentrated in decile 7 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Niblo falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Niblo

The surname Niblo is believed to have originated in the British Isles, likely in England or Scotland, during the medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "nibbe," which referred to a projecting peak or promontory. This suggests that the name may have initially been used to describe someone who lived near or on a prominent hill or cliff.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landowners and tenants commissioned by William the Conqueror. In this document, the name appears as "Nibbell," possibly referring to a person or a place.

During the 13th and 14th centuries, variations of the name, such as "Nibley" and "Niblett," began appearing in various historical records, including parish registers and tax rolls. These spellings may have been influenced by the presence of place names like Nibley in Gloucestershire, England, and Niblett in Somerset.

One notable figure from history bearing the Niblo surname was Sir John Niblo, a Scottish merchant and politician who lived in the late 16th century. He served as a member of the Scottish Parliament and was known for his involvement in trade and commerce.

In the 17th century, the name Niblo gained some prominence in Ireland, where it may have been adopted by English or Scottish settlers. One such individual was William Niblo, born in 1714, who was a prominent landowner and businessman in County Antrim.

Another historical figure of note was James Niblo, an American theater manager and entrepreneur born in 1790. He established the famous Niblo's Garden in New York City, which was a popular entertainment venue in the mid-19th century.

Other individuals bearing the Niblo surname include Thomas Niblo (1795-1878), an English actor and playwright, and William Niblo (1810-1878), an American architect who designed several notable buildings in New York City.

Throughout its history, the Niblo surname has remained relatively uncommon, but its origins and variations provide a glimpse into the rich linguistic and cultural heritage of the British Isles and the diverse stories of those who carried this name across generations.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Niblo families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Niblo 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 6 Niblos recorded in 1881 and an index of 41.61x.

County Total Index
Fife 6 41.61x
Kirkcudbrightshire 5 141.64x
Stirlingshire 5 55.62x
Lanarkshire 4 5.08x
Lancashire 4 1.38x
Wigtownshire 1 30.86x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Falkirk in Stirlingshire leads with 5 Niblos recorded in 1881 and an index of 238.10x.

Place Total Index
Falkirk 5 238.10x
Lochrutton 5 10000.00x
Inverkeithing 3 1363.64x
Kinghorn 3 967.74x
Kirkdale 3 61.73x
Barony 2 10.03x
Cambusnethan 1 57.14x
Glasgow 1 7.15x
Kirkmaiden 1 500.00x
Liverpool 1 5.69x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Agnes 2
Janet 1
Mary 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 Niblo households.

Occupation Count
Dressmaker 3
Pupil Teacher 1

FAQ

Niblo surname: questions and answers

How common was the Niblo surname in 1881?

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

How common is the Niblo surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 112 in 2016. That gives Niblo a modern rank of #28,844.

What does the Niblo surname mean?

A medieval surname derived from the Old Norse "nibla", meaning to nibble or bite.

What does the Niblo map show?

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