NameCensus.

UK surname

Obeirne

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic name "Ó Béirne," meaning descendant of Beirne or Beirn.

In the 1881 census there were 48 people recorded with the Obeirne surname, ranking it #26,869 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 396, ranked #11,967, up from #26,869 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Broadwater (incl. Worthing), Nuthurst, Govan Combination and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Babergh, Broadland and Camden.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Obeirne is 413 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 725.0%.

1881 census count

48

Ranked #26,869

Modern count

396

2016, ranked #11,967

Peak year

2014

413 bearers

Map years

5

1891 to 2016

Key insights

  • Obeirne had 48 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #26,869 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 396 in 2016, ranked #11,967.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 107 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Obeirne surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Obeirne surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Obeirne 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 21 #29,550
1861 historical 36 #29,463
1881 historical 48 #26,869
1891 historical 102 #23,719
1901 historical 99 #22,999
1911 historical 107 #21,842
1997 modern 333 #12,615
1998 modern 336 #12,889
1999 modern 340 #12,870
2000 modern 350 #12,564
2001 modern 331 #12,869
2002 modern 359 #12,383
2003 modern 335 #12,815
2004 modern 351 #12,422
2005 modern 357 #12,194
2006 modern 357 #12,253
2007 modern 360 #12,335
2008 modern 366 #12,285
2009 modern 383 #12,125
2010 modern 399 #12,018
2011 modern 386 #12,170
2012 modern 378 #12,216
2013 modern 403 #11,850
2014 modern 413 #11,726
2015 modern 397 #11,973
2016 modern 396 #11,967

Geography

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Where Obeirnes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Broadwater (incl. Worthing), Nuthurst, Govan Combination, Manchester, Brighton and Walcott, Charlcome. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Babergh, Broadland, Camden, Weymouth and Portland and Solihull. 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 Broadwater (incl. Worthing), Nuthurst Sussex
2 Govan Combination Lanark
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 Brighton Sussex
5 Walcott, Charlcome Somerset

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Babergh 007 Babergh
2 Broadland 005 Broadland
3 Camden 007 Camden
4 Weymouth and Portland 003 Weymouth and Portland
5 Solihull 006 Solihull

Forenames

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First names often paired with Obeirne

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Obeirne

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Obeirne surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Obeirne household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Obeirne 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

Obeirne 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

Obeirne 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 Obeirne is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Obeirne

The surname OBEIRNE has its origins in Ireland, and it is believed to have emerged during the Middle Ages, around the 13th or 14th century. It is an anglicized version of the Irish Gaelic name "Ó Béirn," which means "descendant of Béirn."

Béirn is thought to be a personal name derived from the Old Irish word "bern," meaning "gap" or "breach." This name may have been given to someone who lived near a geographical feature such as a gap or pass in a mountain range.

The earliest recorded instances of the name OBEIRNE can be found in ancient Irish annals and manuscripts. For example, the name appears in the "Annals of the Four Masters," a chronicle of medieval Irish history compiled in the 17th century.

One notable figure bearing the OBEIRNE surname was Séamus Ó Béirn, a 16th-century Irish chieftain and leader of the Ó Béirn clan in County Roscommon. He was known for his resistance against English rule in Ireland during the Tudor conquest.

In the 17th century, Owen O'Beirne (1580-1655) was a prominent Irish Catholic priest and scholar. He was born in County Longford and served as the Bishop of Cloyne before being forced into exile during the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland.

Another notable OBEIRNE was Dónall Ó Béirn (1685-1755), an Irish poet and scribe from County Mayo. He is best known for his collection of Irish-language poetry, which provides valuable insights into the language and culture of 18th-century Ireland.

In the 19th century, William Obeirne (1810-1886) was an Irish-born Australian explorer and surveyor. He was instrumental in the exploration and mapping of western Victoria and South Australia, and several geographical features bear his name.

Finally, John O'Beirne (1905-1973) was an Irish-American author and playwright. Born in County Mayo, he immigrated to the United States and became known for his novels and plays depicting the experiences of Irish immigrants in America.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Obeirne families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Obeirne 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 11 Obeirnes recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.44x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 11 2.44x
Cumberland 6 18.32x
Essex 6 7.99x
Lanarkshire 4 3.25x
Somerset 4 6.53x
Middlesex 2 0.53x
Renfrewshire 2 6.78x
Ayrshire 1 3.51x
Berkshire 1 3.50x
Northumberland 1 1.77x
Sussex 1 1.56x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Parr in Lancashire leads with 10 Obeirnes recorded in 1881 and an index of 621.12x.

Place Total Index
Parr 10 621.12x
Cummersdale 6 5454.55x
South Shoebury 6 2000.00x
Govan 4 13.15x
Walcot 4 122.70x
Port Glasgow 2 139.86x
Findon 1 1111.11x
Hexham 1 113.64x
Kensington London 1 4.73x
Kilmarnock 1 29.50x
Old Windsor 1 303.03x
Towerof London London 1 833.33x
Toxteth Park 1 6.54x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 3
Ellen 2
Alice 1
Annie 1
Bridget 1
Catherine 1
Emily 1
Johanna 1
Rosanna 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Francis 2
Owen 2
Alfred 1
Arthur 1
Bernard 1
Cecil 1
Charles 1
Henry 1
Hubert 1
Hugh 1
Ormsby 1
Patrick 1
Peter 1
Richard 1
Stephen 1
Thomas 1
Wm.S. 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 Obeirne households.

FAQ

Obeirne surname: questions and answers

How common was the Obeirne surname in 1881?

In 1881, 48 people were recorded with the Obeirne surname. That placed it at #26,869 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Obeirne surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 396 in 2016. That gives Obeirne a modern rank of #11,967.

What does the Obeirne surname mean?

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic name "Ó Béirne," meaning descendant of Beirne or Beirn.

What does the Obeirne map show?

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