NameCensus.

UK surname

Queen

A nickname-turned-surname for someone with regal bearing or who played the part of a queen in a pageant.

In the 1881 census there were 1,227 people recorded with the Queen surname, ranking it #3,299 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,900, ranked #3,343, down from #3,299 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Hamilton, New Monkland and Bothwell. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Barlanark, Burnbank Central and Udston and Parkhead East and Braidfauld North.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Queen is 1,900 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 54.8%.

1881 census count

1,227

Ranked #3,299

Modern count

1,900

2016, ranked #3,343

Peak year

2016

1,900 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Queen had 1,227 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,299 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,900 in 2016, ranked #3,343.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,436 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Queen surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Queen surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Queen 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 999 #2,800
1861 historical 997 #2,796
1881 historical 1,227 #3,299
1891 historical 1,436 #3,051
1901 historical 1,179 #4,152
1911 historical 300 #11,441
1997 modern 1,603 #3,696
1998 modern 1,667 #3,697
1999 modern 1,654 #3,753
2000 modern 1,649 #3,743
2001 modern 1,613 #3,745
2002 modern 1,685 #3,671
2003 modern 1,639 #3,686
2004 modern 1,624 #3,723
2005 modern 1,619 #3,699
2006 modern 1,621 #3,701
2007 modern 1,671 #3,625
2008 modern 1,703 #3,597
2009 modern 1,728 #3,612
2010 modern 1,777 #3,602
2011 modern 1,787 #3,552
2012 modern 1,791 #3,496
2013 modern 1,816 #3,511
2014 modern 1,852 #3,471
2015 modern 1,865 #3,418
2016 modern 1,900 #3,343

Geography

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Where Queens are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Hamilton, New Monkland, Bothwell, Govan Combination and Edinburgh. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Barlanark, Burnbank Central and Udston, Parkhead East and Braidfauld North, Braidfauld and Caldercruix and Plains. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Hamilton Lanark
2 New Monkland Lanark
3 Bothwell Lanark
4 Govan Combination Lanark
5 Edinburgh Edinburgh

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Barlanark Glasgow City
2 Burnbank Central and Udston South Lanarkshire
3 Parkhead East and Braidfauld North Glasgow City
4 Braidfauld Glasgow City
5 Caldercruix and Plains North Lanarkshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Queen

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Queen

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Queen is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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 concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Queen 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

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

Meaning and origin of Queen

The surname Queen is an English occupational name derived from the Old English word "cwen" or "cwene," meaning a woman of high rank or the wife of a king. It is believed to have originated in England during the Anglo-Saxon period, around the 5th to 11th centuries.

The earliest recorded instance of the surname Queen can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landholdings and population in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name is mentioned in various forms, such as "Quene" and "Cwen," suggesting its long-standing presence in the region.

During the Middle Ages, the surname Queen was often associated with individuals who held positions of authority or served in royal households. One notable example is Walter Queen, who lived in the 13th century and served as a royal falconer under King Edward I of England.

As the surname spread across England, it also took on variations in spelling, including Queene, Quene, and Quine. These variations were likely influenced by local dialects and scribal practices of the time. Additionally, some variations of the name, such as Queen's and Queenborough, were derived from place names that incorporated the word "queen."

One prominent figure bearing the surname Queen was Walter Queen, a 14th-century English knight who fought in the Hundred Years' War. He was born around 1320 and gained recognition for his valor during the Battle of Crécy in 1346.

In the 16th century, the name Queen gained further prominence with the reign of Queen Elizabeth I of England, who ruled from 1558 to 1603. During her reign, the name became closely associated with royalty and prestige, further solidifying its place in English history.

Another notable individual with the surname Queen was John Queen, a 17th-century English clergyman and author. Born in 1609, he served as the Rector of Thurcaston in Leicestershire and published several religious works, including "The Doctrine of the New Testament" in 1670.

As the surname Queen spread across the English-speaking world, it also found its way to other countries, such as the United States and Canada, where it continued to be used by families of English descent. Some notable Americans with the surname include William Queen, a Revolutionary War soldier born in 1753, and James Queen, a 19th-century politician and judge in Illinois.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Queen families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Queen 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 587 Queens recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.16x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 587 15.16x
Renfrewshire 131 14.12x
Angus 51 4.60x
Dunbartonshire 45 13.99x
Cumberland 44 4.27x
Durham 41 1.15x
Midlothian 40 2.49x
Lancashire 33 0.23x
Kent 32 0.78x
Ayrshire 27 3.01x
Yorkshire 21 0.18x
Middlesex 20 0.17x
Northumberland 18 1.01x
Stirlingshire 16 3.62x
Channel Islands 12 3.38x
Dumfriesshire 12 4.54x
Roxburghshire 10 4.61x
Kirkcudbrightshire 9 5.19x
Perthshire 9 1.68x
Inverness-shire 8 2.24x
West Lothian 8 4.44x
East Lothian 6 3.78x
Morayshire 6 3.23x
Argyllshire 5 1.50x
Cheshire 5 0.19x
Aberdeenshire 4 0.36x
Nottinghamshire 4 0.25x
Buteshire 3 4.14x
Devon 3 0.12x
Surrey 3 0.05x
Gloucestershire 2 0.09x
Hampshire 2 0.08x
Bedfordshire 1 0.16x
Cornwall 1 0.07x
Fife 1 0.14x
Kincardineshire 1 0.69x
Leicestershire 1 0.08x
Monmouthshire 1 0.12x
Norfolk 1 0.05x
Orkney 1 0.76x
Selkirkshire 1 0.92x
Sussex 1 0.05x

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 126 Queens recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.86x.

Place Total Index
Barony 126 12.86x
Glasgow 99 14.40x
Govan 74 7.73x
Hamilton 60 55.58x
Old Monkland 58 37.76x
Eastwood 31 54.26x
Dundee 28 6.76x
Rutherglen 28 49.30x
Bothwell 26 24.77x
Neilston 24 51.55x
Paisley Middle Church 18 33.33x
West Greenock 18 10.81x
East Kilbride 17 102.53x
Carnwath 16 66.83x
Caldewgate 14 24.80x
Cambuslang 13 33.32x
Dumbarton 13 29.04x
Barrow In Furness 12 6.21x
Cumbernauld 12 68.07x
Shotts 12 25.91x
St Helier 12 10.39x
Cambusnethan 11 12.80x
Gateshead 11 4.13x
Dalserf 10 25.89x
Edinburgh Canongate 10 24.50x
Kilmarnock 10 9.38x
Kirkintilloch 10 22.88x
Montrose 10 14.88x
New Monkland 10 8.74x
Port Glasgow 10 22.30x
South Leith 10 5.54x
St Cuthbert Within 10 83.75x
Annan 9 39.63x
Falkirk 9 8.71x
Lesmahagow 8 19.54x
Shilbottle 8 457.14x
Wye 8 126.58x
Blantyre 7 17.37x
Liberton 7 28.28x
Newabbey 7 188.68x
Paisley High Church 7 9.48x
Rattray 7 56.00x
Ferryhill 6 48.19x
Huyton With Roby 6 36.06x
Liff Benvie 6 3.56x
Old Kilpatrick 6 15.79x
Ormiston 6 142.86x
Pembury 6 103.63x
Preston Next Faversham 6 62.50x
St Cuthbert W O 6 11.95x
Thornaby 6 13.54x
Usworth 6 31.73x
Dawdon 5 11.42x
Dearham 5 36.79x
Irthington 5 204.08x
Kilbarchan 5 17.74x
Leeds 5 0.75x
Linlithgow 5 21.63x
New Spynie 5 74.74x
Cheetham 4 3.78x
Chester St Oswald 4 8.36x
Coundon 4 27.72x
Dalmellington 4 15.19x
Dalziel 4 9.61x
Kelso 4 18.52x
Kirkdale 4 1.67x
Linton 4 176.99x
Mearns 4 24.62x
Middle Greenock 4 15.80x
Poplar London 4 1.77x
Radford Lenton 4 99.50x
Renfrew 4 13.06x
St Andrew Holborn 4 9.86x
Faversham 3 7.70x
Islington London 3 0.26x
Kirknewton East 3 44.78x
Larbert 3 11.37x
Liverpool 3 0.35x
Lochee 3 30.33x
Scarborough 3 2.78x

Top female names

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

FAQ

Queen surname: questions and answers

How common was the Queen surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,227 people were recorded with the Queen surname. That placed it at #3,299 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Queen surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,900 in 2016. That gives Queen a modern rank of #3,343.

What does the Queen surname mean?

A nickname-turned-surname for someone with regal bearing or who played the part of a queen in a pageant.

What does the Queen map show?

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