NameCensus.

UK surname

Orkney

In the 1881 census there were 127 people recorded with the Orkney surname, ranking it #17,166 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 129, ranked #26,270, down from #17,166 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Marykirk, North Bute and Rothesay and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Northumberland, Hounslow and Newcastle upon Tyne.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Orkney is 153 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 1.6%.

1881 census count

127

Ranked #17,166

Modern count

129

2016, ranked #26,270

Peak year

1901

153 bearers

Map years

7

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Orkney had 127 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #17,166 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 129 in 2016, ranked #26,270.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 153 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Small Town Suburbia.

Orkney surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Orkney surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Orkney 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 77 #19,998
1861 historical 103 #20,650
1881 historical 127 #17,166
1891 historical 108 #22,828
1901 historical 153 #17,844
1911 historical 56 #27,216
1997 modern 93 #27,932
1998 modern 101 #27,479
1999 modern 103 #27,305
2000 modern 103 #27,280
2001 modern 109 #26,059
2002 modern 104 #27,303
2003 modern 111 #26,091
2004 modern 106 #27,045
2005 modern 110 #26,430
2006 modern 104 #27,646
2007 modern 108 #27,391
2008 modern 104 #28,341
2009 modern 105 #28,815
2010 modern 105 #29,453
2011 modern 109 #28,653
2012 modern 121 #26,829
2013 modern 125 #26,695
2014 modern 128 #26,490
2015 modern 129 #26,226
2016 modern 129 #26,270

Geography

Back to top

Where Orkneys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Marykirk, North Bute and Rothesay, Edinburgh, Tynemouth (Chirton, Preston, Murton, Whitley, Monkseaton), Earsdon (Earsdon) and Greenock. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Northumberland, Hounslow and Newcastle upon Tyne. 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 Marykirk Kincardine
2 North Bute and Rothesay Bute
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 Tynemouth (Chirton, Preston, Murton, Whitley, Monkseaton), Earsdon (Earsdon) Northumberland
5 Greenock Renfrew

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Northumberland 012 Northumberland
2 Northumberland 010 Northumberland
3 Northumberland 014 Northumberland
4 Hounslow 022 Hounslow
5 Newcastle upon Tyne 001 Newcastle upon Tyne

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Orkney

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Orkney

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

Small Town Suburbia

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group is predominantly comprised of married couples with no resident dependent children, living in areas characterised neither by under-occupancy nor overcrowding throughout the UK in or adjacent to small towns. White ethnic groups and affiliation with Christianity predominates. Housing tends to be predominantly semi-detached or detached and workers are employed principally in managerial and professional occupations, with semi-skilled occupations also in evidence. These areas of the Supergroup are of higher population density.

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

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Orkney is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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

These residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Orkney 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

Orkney falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

1881 census detail

Back to top

Orkney families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Orkney 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. Angus leads with 31 Orkneys recorded in 1881 and an index of 27.45x.

County Total Index
Angus 31 27.45x
Northumberland 23 12.68x
Buteshire 13 175.91x
Renfrewshire 12 12.70x
Midlothian 8 4.90x
Aberdeenshire 6 5.31x
Middlesex 6 0.49x
Durham 5 1.38x
Kincardineshire 5 33.67x
Lancashire 5 0.35x
Essex 4 1.66x
Lanarkshire 3 0.76x
Surrey 2 0.34x
Berwickshire 1 6.78x
Gloucestershire 1 0.42x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Montrose in Angus leads with 29 Orkneys recorded in 1881 and an index of 423.98x.

Place Total Index
Montrose 29 423.98x
Bedlington 18 297.03x
Rothesay 13 363.13x
West Greenock 12 70.75x
Aberdeen Old Machar 6 25.46x
Toxteth Park 5 10.21x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 4 6.09x
Ryton 4 314.96x
Bervie 3 340.91x
Glasgow 3 4.29x
Mason 3 731.71x
South Leith 3 16.32x
Dundee 2 4.74x
Jesmond 2 78.43x
Kensington London 2 2.95x
Lambeth 2 1.88x
Marykirk 2 327.87x
Romford 2 52.63x
St Marylebone London 2 3.07x
Wivenhoe 2 208.33x
Chelsea London 1 2.72x
Cheltenham 1 5.42x
Colinton 1 54.95x
Eyemouth 1 81.30x
Gateshead 1 3.68x
Islington London 1 0.85x

Top female names

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

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 Orkney households.

FAQ

Orkney surname: questions and answers

How common was the Orkney surname in 1881?

In 1881, 127 people were recorded with the Orkney surname. That placed it at #17,166 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Orkney surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 129 in 2016. That gives Orkney a modern rank of #26,270.

What does the Orkney map show?

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