NameCensus.

UK surname

Pitcairn

A Scottish toponymic surname referring to lands located in Perthshire.

In the 1881 census there were 249 people recorded with the Pitcairn surname, ranking it #11,103 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 282, ranked #15,406, down from #11,103 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Kirkintilloch, Rutherglen and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wiltshire, IZ13 and Kirkintilloch West.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Pitcairn is 283 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 13.3%.

1881 census count

249

Ranked #11,103

Modern count

282

2016, ranked #15,406

Peak year

2014

283 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Pitcairn had 249 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,103 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 282 in 2016, ranked #15,406.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 279 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Pitcairn surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Pitcairn surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Pitcairn 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 134 #14,033
1861 historical 167 #13,956
1881 historical 249 #11,103
1891 historical 279 #11,698
1901 historical 274 #12,370
1911 historical 62 #26,622
1997 modern 251 #15,236
1998 modern 255 #15,470
1999 modern 257 #15,506
2000 modern 270 #14,943
2001 modern 266 #14,878
2002 modern 269 #15,044
2003 modern 253 #15,493
2004 modern 262 #15,233
2005 modern 257 #15,365
2006 modern 250 #15,749
2007 modern 258 #15,554
2008 modern 252 #15,984
2009 modern 260 #15,972
2010 modern 279 #15,529
2011 modern 278 #15,390
2012 modern 272 #15,586
2013 modern 268 #16,005
2014 modern 283 #15,495
2015 modern 282 #15,417
2016 modern 282 #15,406

Geography

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Where Pitcairns are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Kirkintilloch, Rutherglen, London parishes, Beath and Edinburgh. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wiltshire, IZ13, Kirkintilloch West, Barlanark and Eaglesham and Waterfoot. 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 Kirkintilloch Dunbarton
2 Rutherglen Lanark
3 London parishes London 3
4 Beath Fife
5 Edinburgh Edinburgh

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wiltshire 054 Wiltshire
2 IZ13 East Lothian
3 Kirkintilloch West East Dunbartonshire
4 Barlanark Glasgow City
5 Eaglesham and Waterfoot East Renfrewshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Pitcairn

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Pitcairn

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Pitcairn, 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 Pitcairn surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Pitcairn 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, Pitcairn 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

Pitcairn is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Pitcairn falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Pitcairn is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Pitcairn

The surname Pitcairn has its origins in Scotland, where it can be traced back to the 12th century. It is a locational name derived from the lands of Pitcairn (or Pitcairne) in the parish of Redgorton, Perthshire. The name is believed to come from the Gaelic words "pit" meaning "hollow" or "valley," and "carn" meaning "cairn" or "rocky hill."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name is in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, where David de Pitkarn is listed as a landowner who swore fealty to King Edward I of England. This suggests that the Pitcairn family held lands in Scotland during this period.

In the 15th century, the Pitcairns were a prominent family in the region of Fife, and several members are mentioned in historical records. One notable figure was Sir Robert Pitcairn, who served as Lord of Session and Lord Privy Seal in the reign of King James IV of Scotland (1488-1513).

The name Pitcairn also appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a survey of landowners in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. However, it is unclear whether this refers to the same family or a different lineage.

One of the most famous individuals with the surname Pitcairn was Midshipman Robert Pitcairn (1768-1854), who was part of the crew of HMS Bounty during the infamous mutiny of 1789. After the mutiny, he settled on Pitcairn Island in the South Pacific, which was named after him.

Other notable Pitcairns include:

1. Archibald Pitcairn (1652-1713), a Scottish physician and writer who is considered one of the founders of the Edinburgh Medical School. 2. David Pitcairn (1749-1809), a Scottish naval officer and hydrographer who surveyed the West Indies and the Gulf of Mexico. 3. Robert Pitcairn (1836-1909), a Scottish-American soldier who served in the Confederate Army during the American Civil War. 4. Raymond Pitcairn (1885-1966), an American businessman and philanthropist who was a prominent supporter of the New Church movement.

The surname Pitcairn continues to be found throughout Scotland, England, and various parts of the world where Scottish and British emigrants settled, such as North America, Australia, and New Zealand.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Pitcairn families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Pitcairn 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 51 Pitcairns recorded in 1881 and an index of 35.47x.

County Total Index
Fife 51 35.47x
Lanarkshire 50 6.37x
Midlothian 26 7.99x
Middlesex 22 0.91x
Angus 15 6.67x
Stirlingshire 15 16.74x
Dunbartonshire 9 13.79x
Clackmannanshire 8 39.88x
Devon 7 1.38x
Kent 7 0.84x
Lancashire 7 0.24x
Surrey 7 0.59x
Roxburghshire 6 13.64x
Hampshire 4 0.80x
Kinross-shire 3 48.86x
Argyllshire 2 2.96x
Essex 2 0.42x
Gloucestershire 2 0.42x
Renfrewshire 2 1.06x
Hertfordshire 1 0.60x
Staffordshire 1 0.12x
Wigtownshire 1 3.10x
Yorkshire 1 0.04x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Barony in Lanarkshire leads with 21 Pitcairns recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.56x.

Place Total Index
Barony 21 10.56x
Dunfermline 20 90.46x
Cadder 15 258.62x
Dundee 13 15.48x
Edinburgh St Marys 10 157.98x
Islington London 9 3.82x
Kirkintilloch 9 101.47x
St Ninians 9 101.35x
Clackmannan 8 211.08x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 8 6.11x
Govan 8 4.12x
Harrow 7 188.68x
Kennoway 7 534.35x
Kinghorn 6 196.72x
Lee 6 49.88x
Slamannan 6 122.20x
West Calder 6 93.60x
Wimbledon 6 45.15x
Barton Upon Irwell 5 23.04x
Hawick 5 50.76x
St Andrews 5 76.45x
St Marylebone London 5 3.86x
Parkham 4 597.01x
Cleish 3 731.71x
Hamilton 3 13.69x
Lyndhurst 3 220.59x
Newburgh 3 163.93x
Rutherglen 3 26.04x
Wemyss 3 49.34x
Abdie 2 243.90x
Blatchinworth 2 30.49x
Chipping Campden 2 129.03x
Dysart 2 20.66x
Kilfinichen 2 119.76x
Maldon All Sts 2 210.53x
Pancrasweek 2 740.74x
St Vigeans 2 16.46x
Aldenham 1 65.79x
Beath 1 22.03x
Bilton Cum Harrogate 1 12.15x
Burntisland 1 24.88x
Castleton 1 52.91x
Edinburgh Buccleuch 1 12.99x
Edinburgh Greenside 1 23.26x
Leswalt 1 45.25x
Leuchars 1 54.95x
Mortlake 1 18.98x
Paisley Middle Church 1 9.12x
Portsea 1 1.02x
St Paul Covent Garden 1 41.15x
St Peters 1 26.11x
Stoke Upon Trent 1 1.15x
Tormoham 1 4.68x
West Greenock 1 2.96x

Top female names

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

Name Count
James 3
John 3
Charles 2
George 2
Robert 2
Thomas 2
William 2
Alec. 1
Alexander 1
Andrew 1
Arthur 1
Augustus 1
Cecil 1
Daniel 1
David 1
Douglas 1
Franc 1
Hugh 1
Stephen 1

FAQ

Pitcairn surname: questions and answers

How common was the Pitcairn surname in 1881?

In 1881, 249 people were recorded with the Pitcairn surname. That placed it at #11,103 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Pitcairn surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 282 in 2016. That gives Pitcairn a modern rank of #15,406.

What does the Pitcairn surname mean?

A Scottish toponymic surname referring to lands located in Perthshire.

What does the Pitcairn map show?

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