NameCensus.

UK surname

Shankland

A locational surname derived from a place name meaning "long stretch of land."

In the 1881 census there were 534 people recorded with the Shankland surname, ranking it #6,436 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 818, ranked #6,782, down from #6,436 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Old Cumnock and Morton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include New Cumnock, Cumnock Rural and Carrick South.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Shankland is 829 in 2015. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 53.2%.

1881 census count

534

Ranked #6,436

Modern count

818

2016, ranked #6,782

Peak year

2015

829 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Shankland had 534 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,436 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 818 in 2016, ranked #6,782.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 718 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Shankland surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Shankland surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Shankland 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 289 #7,860
1861 historical 370 #6,899
1881 historical 534 #6,436
1891 historical 651 #5,962
1901 historical 718 #6,149
1911 historical 279 #12,018
1997 modern 731 #7,000
1998 modern 799 #6,757
1999 modern 792 #6,860
2000 modern 795 #6,807
2001 modern 792 #6,692
2002 modern 786 #6,875
2003 modern 756 #6,975
2004 modern 764 #6,930
2005 modern 772 #6,800
2006 modern 789 #6,706
2007 modern 785 #6,799
2008 modern 803 #6,725
2009 modern 817 #6,762
2010 modern 828 #6,833
2011 modern 806 #6,895
2012 modern 794 #6,874
2013 modern 813 #6,854
2014 modern 823 #6,821
2015 modern 829 #6,722
2016 modern 818 #6,782

Geography

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Where Shanklands are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Old Cumnock, Morton, Govan Combination and Merthyr Tydfil. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to New Cumnock, Cumnock Rural, Carrick South, Mauchline and Cumnock South and Craigens. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 Old Cumnock Ayr
3 Morton Dumfries
4 Govan Combination Lanark
5 Merthyr Tydfil Glamorganshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 New Cumnock East Ayrshire
2 Cumnock Rural East Ayrshire
3 Carrick South South Ayrshire
4 Mauchline East Ayrshire
5 Cumnock South and Craigens East Ayrshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Shankland

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Shankland

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Shankland surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Shankland household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Shankland is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Shankland is most concentrated in decile 2 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Shankland falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Shankland

The surname Shankland has its roots in Scotland, dating back to the early medieval period. The name is believed to be derived from the Scottish Gaelic words "seangan" meaning "ant" and "land" referring to a piece of land or territory. It's likely that the original bearer of this surname lived near an area known for its ant hills or ant colonies.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Shankland can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which was a record of Scottish landowners who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England. The name appears as "Schankland" in this historical document, indicating its early spelling variations.

In the 16th century, the name Shankland was associated with the parish of Ettrick in the Scottish Borders region. The Shankland family held lands in this area, and their name was often recorded in local parish records and court proceedings.

Notably, the renowned Scottish historian and poet, John Shankland (c. 1530-1615), hailed from the village of Shankland in the parish of Ettrick. His works, including "The History of the Parish of Ettrick," provide valuable insights into the cultural and historical significance of this surname in Scotland.

Another notable figure bearing the Shankland surname was Sir Robert Shankland (1762-1843), a Scottish judge and politician who served as Lord President of the Court of Session, the highest civil court in Scotland. His contributions to the legal system and public service in Scotland were highly regarded during his lifetime.

In the 19th century, the Shankland family also had a presence in the United States. One prominent member was Robert Shankland (1809-1887), a Scottish-American businessman and philanthropist who made significant contributions to the development of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He founded the Shankland School, which provided education to underprivileged children.

The Shankland surname has also been associated with various place names in Scotland, such as Shankland Burn, a stream in the Scottish Borders, and Shankland Farm, located in the region of Dumfriesshire. These place names further reinforce the connection between the surname and the geographical areas where it originated.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Shankland families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Shankland 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. Dumfriesshire leads with 123 Shanklands recorded in 1881 and an index of 106.89x.

County Total Index
Dumfriesshire 123 106.89x
Lanarkshire 81 4.81x
Ayrshire 76 19.49x
Glamorgan 47 5.18x
Renfrewshire 38 9.41x
Carmarthenshire 18 8.20x
Monmouthshire 18 4.78x
Lancashire 17 0.28x
Kirkcudbrightshire 16 21.22x
Pembrokeshire 14 8.46x
Dunbartonshire 12 8.57x
Gloucestershire 12 1.17x
Yorkshire 10 0.19x
Angus 7 1.45x
Argyllshire 7 4.83x
Northumberland 7 0.90x
Midlothian 6 0.86x
Durham 5 0.32x
Montgomeryshire 5 4.19x
Leicestershire 3 0.52x
Middlesex 2 0.04x
Caithness 1 1.40x
Cumberland 1 0.22x
Hampshire 1 0.09x
Inverness-shire 1 0.64x
Merionethshire 1 1.05x
Norfolk 1 0.12x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.14x
Somerset 1 0.12x
Stirlingshire 1 0.52x

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 51 Shanklands recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.24x.

Place Total Index
Govan 51 12.24x
Kirkconnell 37 2032.97x
West Greenock 28 38.64x
Merthyr Tydfil 23 26.38x
New Cumnock 22 325.44x
Old Cumnock 16 184.33x
Girvan 14 143.00x
Glasgow 14 4.68x
Barony 13 3.05x
Durrisdeer 13 659.90x
Gelligaer 11 53.11x
Moffat 11 209.52x
Morton 11 287.96x
Sanquhar 11 272.28x
Tarbolton 10 155.76x
Aberdare 9 14.46x
Llanhilleth 8 323.89x
Middlebie 8 231.88x
Awre 7 333.33x
Ayr 7 38.04x
Chorlton On Medlock 7 7.13x
Montrose 7 23.93x
Newcastle On Tyne St John 7 68.69x
Sanguhar 7 457.52x
Urr 7 71.36x
Abbey 6 9.74x
Applegarth 6 342.86x
Cardross 6 35.69x
Hoddam 6 216.61x
Kidwelly 6 133.93x
Laugharne 6 206.19x
Lismore 6 454.55x
Liverpool 6 1.60x
Llanfoist 6 229.89x
Llandysilio 5 458.72x
Lochrutton 5 454.55x
Pembroke St Mary 5 23.45x
Stapleton 5 25.80x
Uzmaston 5 495.05x
Bedwellty 4 6.02x
Bonhill 4 17.80x
Dryfesdale 4 75.47x
Easington 4 177.78x
Begelly 3 303.03x
Cardiff St John 3 10.12x
Ecclesall Bierlow 3 2.86x
Leicester St Margaret 3 2.13x
New Monkland 3 6.02x
Paisley High Church 3 9.33x
Richmond 3 37.22x
St Clears 3 169.49x
West Derby 3 1.66x
Chapel Allerton 2 25.91x
Dumfries 2 17.62x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 2 0.71x
Kensington London 2 0.69x
Kilmarnock 2 4.31x
Llanginning 2 307.69x
Penpont 2 94.79x
South Leith 2 2.55x
St Quivox 2 15.17x
Arrochar 1 108.70x
Balmaclellan 1 59.52x
Carmarthen St Peter 1 5.33x
Cathcart 1 4.58x
Dalrymple 1 40.98x
Dundonald 1 6.95x
Edinburgh St Marys 1 7.37x
Frome 1 4.99x
Great Yarmouth 1 1.51x
Harrington 1 18.48x
Haverfordwest St Martin 1 32.57x
Kilsyth 1 8.16x
Kirkmahoe 1 44.84x
Kirkpatrick Fleming 1 38.02x
North Leith 1 3.10x
Row 1 5.52x
Ruswarp 1 17.42x
Troqueer 1 10.11x
Wick 1 4.34x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 6
Mary 6
Ann 4
Esther 4
Jane 4
Amy 3
Anne 3
Eliza 3
Janet 3
Annie 2
Catherine 2
Frances 2
Hannah 2
Margaret 2
Sarah 2
Alice 1
Barbara 1
Blanch 1
Cathrni 1
Edith 1
Elizh.G. 1
Elizth.J. 1
Emily 1
Emma 1
Eva 1
Fanny 1
Gwenllian 1
Harriet 1
Hilda 1
Jemima 1
Leonoro 1
Lydia 1
Margt.F. 1
Marian 1
Marion 1
Matilda 1
Pheabe 1
Phoebe 1
Rosa 1
Ruth 1
Throby 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Shankland surname: questions and answers

How common was the Shankland surname in 1881?

In 1881, 534 people were recorded with the Shankland surname. That placed it at #6,436 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Shankland surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 818 in 2016. That gives Shankland a modern rank of #6,782.

What does the Shankland surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place name meaning "long stretch of land."

What does the Shankland map show?

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