NameCensus.

UK surname

Pillans

A Scottish surname derived from the word "peilleans" meaning a bald or tonsured person.

In the 1881 census there were 181 people recorded with the Pillans surname, ranking it #13,690 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 221, ranked #18,321, down from #13,690 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanark, Govan Combination and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Glenwood South, Kirkcaldy Central and Carmunnock South.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Pillans is 222 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 22.1%.

1881 census count

181

Ranked #13,690

Modern count

221

2016, ranked #18,321

Peak year

1998

222 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Pillans had 181 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,690 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 221 in 2016, ranked #18,321.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 206 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Routine Occupations or Retirement.

Pillans surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Pillans surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Pillans 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 120 #15,144
1861 historical 172 #13,619
1881 historical 181 #13,690
1891 historical 203 #14,754
1901 historical 206 #14,845
1911 historical 73 #25,541
1997 modern 210 #17,104
1998 modern 222 #16,969
1999 modern 216 #17,364
2000 modern 199 #18,278
2001 modern 207 #17,573
2002 modern 208 #17,848
2003 modern 193 #18,501
2004 modern 188 #18,919
2005 modern 185 #19,051
2006 modern 192 #18,753
2007 modern 201 #18,428
2008 modern 207 #18,243
2009 modern 214 #18,220
2010 modern 212 #18,726
2011 modern 204 #19,040
2012 modern 206 #18,837
2013 modern 200 #19,524
2014 modern 210 #19,064
2015 modern 214 #18,712
2016 modern 221 #18,321

Geography

Back to top

Where Pillans' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanark, Govan Combination, Edinburgh, Carnwath and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Glenwood South, Kirkcaldy Central, Carmunnock South, Toryglen and Oatlands and Sunderland. 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 Lanark Lanark
2 Govan Combination Lanark
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 Carnwath Lanark
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Glenwood South Glasgow City
2 Kirkcaldy Central Fife
3 Carmunnock South Glasgow City
4 Toryglen and Oatlands Glasgow City
5 Sunderland 004 Sunderland

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Pillans

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Pillans

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

Routine Occupations or Retirement

Nationally, the Pillans surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Routine Occupations or Retirement, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Pillans household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods are characterised by high proportions of single, often never-married adults of normal retirement age or older, including many that are in the most advanced age groups. Most adults are UK born and live at high residential densities, and many of the children living with parents are in adulthood. Individuals identifying as members of ethnic minorities are uncommon, but above average proportions of households include individuals that identify with different ethnic groups. Long-term disability is relatively common, and the dominant accommodation type is flats. Unemployment rates are high, with most of those employed working in routine occupations. Few individuals have high level qualifications. Car ownership is not high.

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

Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles

Group

Established Homeowners with Children

Within London, Pillans is most associated with areas classed as Established Homeowners with Children, part of Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles. 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 predominantly British-born residents are typically married/in civil partnerships and own the properties in which they are raising their children. Parents are typically over 45, and many other residents are beyond normal retirement age. Detached and semi-detached houses predominate and multiple car ownership is common.

Wider London pattern

These neighbourhoods house people of all ages, predominantly of White British or European extraction. Resident turnover is low. Religious affiliation is less common than average and tends to be Christian if expressed. Homeownership, typically of terraced houses, is common but use of the social rented sector is not. Employment is typically in professional, managerial and associate professional or technical occupations. There are few full-time students. Level 4 qualifications are common. More households lack dependent children than have them which, considered alongside low levels of crowding and over-all age structure, indicates that many households may be post child-rearing and in late middle age. Incidence of disability is low, as is residence in communal establishments.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Pillans 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

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

Meaning and origin of Pillans

The surname Pillans originated in Scotland during the late Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old Scots word "pillan," meaning "to strip" or "to peel," suggesting that the name may have been an occupational surname for someone who worked as a peeler or stripper of bark or hides.

The earliest known record of the Pillans surname appears in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which lists Scottish nobles who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England. One entry mentions a "Ricardus Pillane" from Berwickshire.

In the 15th century, the Pillans family was well-established in the Scottish Borders region, particularly around Roxburghshire and Berwickshire. Records from this period include a mention of a "William Pillance" in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland in 1456.

One notable figure with the Pillans surname was Robert Pillans (1499-1579), a Scottish churchman who served as the Bishop of Moray from 1548 until his death. He played a significant role in the Scottish Reformation and was known for his support of the Protestant cause.

Another noteworthy individual was James Pillans (1778-1864), a Scottish educator and classical scholar who served as the Rector of the High School of Edinburgh from 1810 to 1838. He was instrumental in reforming the Scottish education system and was a respected author of several educational works.

In the 19th century, the Pillans surname spread beyond Scotland, with families settling in various parts of the British Empire, including Canada and Australia. One notable Australian figure was John Pillans (1857-1919), a politician and businessman who served as a member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly from 1904 to 1919.

Another significant individual was Morice Pillans (1834-1917), a New Zealand politician and lawyer who served as the Mayor of Auckland from 1873 to 1874 and was a member of the New Zealand Legislative Council from 1888 to 1917.

While the Pillans surname has its roots in Scotland, it has since spread globally, with bearers of the name making contributions in various fields throughout history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Pillans families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Pillans 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. Lanarkshire leads with 92 Pillans' recorded in 1881 and an index of 16.29x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 92 16.29x
Midlothian 32 13.68x
Fife 20 19.35x
Lancashire 11 0.53x
Durham 6 1.16x
Kent 6 1.01x
Surrey 3 0.35x
Peeblesshire 2 24.36x
Wiltshire 2 1.30x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.62x
Berwickshire 1 4.73x
Devon 1 0.28x
Middlesex 1 0.06x
Perthshire 1 1.28x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Biggar in Lanarkshire leads with 28 Pillans' recorded in 1881 and an index of 2187.50x.

Place Total Index
Biggar 28 2187.50x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 24 25.50x
Carnwath 21 601.72x
Ferry Port On Craig 9 529.41x
Lesmahagow 9 150.75x
Carluke 8 155.95x
Barony 6 4.20x
Chislehurst 6 188.09x
Kirkcaldy 6 116.96x
Monkwearmouth Shore 6 59.17x
Castleton 5 24.17x
Dalkeith 4 86.77x
Douglas 4 245.40x
Glasgow 4 3.99x
Lanark 4 88.11x
Hulme 3 6.93x
Liberton 3 83.10x
Richmond 3 25.17x
Gorton 2 10.27x
Govan 2 1.43x
Salisbury St Edmund 2 80.65x
Wandell Lamington 2 1052.63x
Aberdour 1 96.15x
Avondale 1 30.30x
Balmerino 1 250.00x
Broughton In Salford 1 5.28x
Cambusnethan 1 7.97x
Cupar 1 22.22x
Dunse 1 49.75x
Dysart 1 14.37x
Huntly 1 38.02x
Innerleithen 1 45.87x
Kensington London 1 1.03x
Kinnoull 1 48.54x
Kirknewton East 1 102.04x
Leuchars 1 76.34x
Libberton 1 270.27x
Tormoham 1 6.50x
Walston 1 500.00x
West Linton 1 149.25x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Fanny 2
Annie 1
Caroline 1
Charlotte 1
Elizabeth 1
Elizeh.Margt. 1
Elizth. 1
Elizth.Margt. 1
Emily 1
Frances 1
Hannah 1
Helen 1
Katie 1
Laura 1
Lilian 1
Louisa 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Craig 2
James 2
Alfred 1
Edward 1
John 1
Percy 1
Robert 1
Thomas 1
Thos.Alexr. 1
Walter 1
William 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 Pillans households.

FAQ

Pillans surname: questions and answers

How common was the Pillans surname in 1881?

In 1881, 181 people were recorded with the Pillans surname. That placed it at #13,690 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Pillans surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 221 in 2016. That gives Pillans a modern rank of #18,321.

What does the Pillans surname mean?

A Scottish surname derived from the word "peilleans" meaning a bald or tonsured person.

What does the Pillans map show?

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