NameCensus.

UK surname

Scullion

An occupational surname referring to a servant working in a kitchen or scullery.

In the 1881 census there were 452 people recorded with the Scullion surname, ranking it #7,304 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,172, ranked #2,979, up from #7,304 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Port Glasgow, Govan Combination and Gateshead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include IZ12, IZ14 and IZ17.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Scullion is 2,228 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 380.5%.

1881 census count

452

Ranked #7,304

Modern count

2,172

2016, ranked #2,979

Peak year

2010

2,228 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Scullion had 452 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,304 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,172 in 2016, ranked #2,979.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 793 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Scullion surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Scullion surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Scullion 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 78 #19,840
1861 historical 141 #16,072
1881 historical 452 #7,304
1891 historical 569 #6,680
1901 historical 793 #5,686
1911 historical 223 #13,951
1997 modern 1,924 #3,142
1998 modern 1,999 #3,160
1999 modern 2,004 #3,174
2000 modern 2,002 #3,166
2001 modern 1,963 #3,155
2002 modern 2,006 #3,164
2003 modern 1,975 #3,146
2004 modern 1,992 #3,126
2005 modern 1,998 #3,093
2006 modern 2,012 #3,076
2007 modern 2,091 #2,992
2008 modern 2,127 #2,970
2009 modern 2,177 #2,977
2010 modern 2,228 #2,983
2011 modern 2,190 #2,985
2012 modern 2,132 #3,001
2013 modern 2,149 #3,034
2014 modern 2,198 #2,988
2015 modern 2,192 #2,962
2016 modern 2,172 #2,979

Geography

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Where Scullions are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Port Glasgow, Govan Combination, Gateshead, Glasgow and Monkwearmouth (Fulwell), Jarrow (Monkton and Jarrow). These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to IZ12, IZ14, IZ17, South Tyneside and Keppochhill. 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 Port Glasgow Renfrew
2 Govan Combination Lanark
3 Gateshead Durham
4 Glasgow Lanark
5 Monkwearmouth (Fulwell), Jarrow (Monkton and Jarrow) Durham

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 IZ12 West Dunbartonshire
2 IZ14 West Dunbartonshire
3 IZ17 West Dunbartonshire
4 South Tyneside 017 South Tyneside
5 Keppochhill Glasgow City

Forenames

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First names often paired with Scullion

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Scullion

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

Spacious Rural Living

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Scullion 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

Scullion 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

Scullion 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 Scullion 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 - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Scullion

The surname Scullion has its origins in Ireland and dates back to the 12th century. It is derived from the old Irish word "sculog" which means a small farm laborer or servant. The name likely emerged as a descriptor for someone who worked in the kitchen or as a servant in a large household.

The earliest known record of the Scullion name appears in the Annals of Ulster from 1182, where it is written as "Sculog". This manuscript provides a detailed account of events in medieval Ireland and serves as an important historical source for that time period.

In the 14th century, the surname is also found in the Annals of Connacht, another significant Irish chronicle, where it is spelled "Scullion". This suggests that the spelling had evolved and become more standardized by that point.

One of the earliest known individuals with the Scullion surname was Tadhg Scullion, a Irish scribe and historian who lived in the late 15th century. He is credited with creating several important manuscripts that documented the history and genealogy of various Irish clans.

During the 16th century, the Scullion name became more widespread in parts of Ulster and Connacht. A notable figure from this time was Séamus Scullion, a soldier who fought in the Nine Years' War against English forces in Ireland.

In the 17th century, the Scullion surname can be found in the Petty Census of 1659, which was a survey of landowners and householders in Ireland. This record provides valuable insights into the distribution of the name across different regions.

One of the most famous individuals with the Scullion surname was Eoghan Ruadh Scullion, a celebrated Irish poet and Gaelic scholar who lived from 1702 to 1787. His works played a significant role in preserving and promoting the Irish language and culture during a period of English dominance.

Another notable Scullion was Maire Scullion, an Irish republican activist who was born in 1876. She was involved in the fight for Irish independence and spent time in prison for her activities during the Irish revolutionary period.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Scullion families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Scullion 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 136 Scullions recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.54x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 136 9.54x
Durham 116 8.84x
Renfrewshire 47 13.75x
Ayrshire 44 13.33x
Dunbartonshire 34 28.69x
Angus 18 4.41x
Yorkshire 12 0.27x
Northumberland 11 1.68x
Aberdeenshire 6 1.47x
Buteshire 5 18.71x
Cheshire 4 0.41x
Inverness-shire 4 3.04x
Stirlingshire 4 2.46x
Cumberland 3 0.79x
Middlesex 3 0.07x
West Lothian 2 3.01x
Fife 1 0.38x
Hampshire 1 0.11x
Midlothian 1 0.17x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Govan in Lanarkshire leads with 54 Scullions recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.31x.

Place Total Index
Govan 54 15.31x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 32 56.33x
Port Glasgow 32 193.70x
Gateshead 30 30.55x
Heworth 25 96.71x
St Quivox 25 224.01x
Barony 23 6.37x
Dundee 18 11.80x
Glasgow 16 6.32x
Dumbarton 14 84.90x
New Monkland 12 28.47x
Old Monkland 11 19.44x
Linthorpe 10 38.36x
Row 9 58.71x
Westoe 9 12.10x
Boldon 8 170.94x
Maryhill 8 28.66x
Cardross 7 49.19x
Shettleston 7 54.82x
Newcastle On Tyne St 6 17.64x
Riccarton Hurlford 6 103.63x
Stockton On Tees 6 9.49x
Auckinleck 5 48.97x
Dundonald 5 41.08x
Houston Killallan 5 151.06x
Rothesay 5 38.64x
Shildon 5 47.44x
Birkenhead 4 5.16x
Kilmorack 4 100.25x
Middle Greenock 4 42.92x
Newcastle On Tyne St John 4 46.35x
Old Kilpatrick 4 28.57x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 3 3.93x
Ardrossan 3 26.27x
Stirling 3 14.63x
Willesden 3 7.22x
Abbey 2 3.84x
Bothwell 2 5.17x
Middlesbrough 2 3.51x
Rutherglen 2 9.56x
Seaton 2 45.15x
Uphall 2 27.40x
Aberdeen Old Machar 1 1.17x
Aldershot 1 3.30x
Bassenthwaite 1 129.87x
Cambuslang 1 6.95x
Cupar 1 8.81x
Drymen 1 45.87x
East Greenock 1 3.10x
Eastwood 1 4.75x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 1 0.42x
Gartly 1 74.63x
Jesmond 1 10.83x
Newhills 1 11.96x
Paisley High Church 1 3.68x
West Greenock 1 1.63x
Winlaton 1 7.95x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 10
Ann 8
Sarah 6
Catherine 5
Elizabeth 5
Margaret 5
Bridget 4
Ellen 2
Marey 2
Winefred 2
Agnes 1
Alice 1
Anne 1
Catharine 1
Cathrine 1
Celilia 1
Eleoner 1
Hannah 1
Jane 1
Margret 1
Margt. 1
Maria 1
Rose 1
Rosey 1
Susanah 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 14
James 12
Patrick 8
Thomas 7
Henry 5
Charles 3
Daniel 3
Felix 3
Joseph 3
Michael 3
Nicholas 3
Peter 3
William 3
Francis 2
Samuel 2
Bernard 1
Dominic 1
Edward 1
Frank 1
George 1
Hugh 1
Luke 1
Mark 1
Partrick 1
Robert 1
Roger 1

FAQ

Scullion surname: questions and answers

How common was the Scullion surname in 1881?

In 1881, 452 people were recorded with the Scullion surname. That placed it at #7,304 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Scullion surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,172 in 2016. That gives Scullion a modern rank of #2,979.

What does the Scullion surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to a servant working in a kitchen or scullery.

What does the Scullion map show?

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