NameCensus.

UK surname

Shirran

In the 1881 census there were 101 people recorded with the Shirran surname, ranking it #19,636 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 108, ranked #29,578, down from #19,636 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to New Deer, Auchterless and Udny. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Torry East, Luton and Torry West.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Shirran is 135 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 6.9%.

1881 census count

101

Ranked #19,636

Modern count

108

2016, ranked #29,578

Peak year

1901

135 bearers

Map years

5

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Shirran had 101 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #19,636 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 108 in 2016, ranked #29,578.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 135 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Routine Occupations or Retirement.

Shirran surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Shirran surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Shirran 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 18 #30,094
1861 historical 63 #25,901
1881 historical 101 #19,636
1891 historical 99 #24,200
1901 historical 135 #19,203
1911 historical 10 #32,609
1997 modern 122 #23,917
1998 modern 124 #24,316
1999 modern 125 #24,366
2000 modern 128 #24,015
2001 modern 126 #23,883
2002 modern 129 #24,021
2003 modern 125 #24,265
2004 modern 125 #24,443
2005 modern 122 #24,817
2006 modern 120 #25,269
2007 modern 119 #25,747
2008 modern 126 #25,131
2009 modern 126 #25,686
2010 modern 129 #25,900
2011 modern 123 #26,512
2012 modern 117 #27,394
2013 modern 118 #27,686
2014 modern 115 #28,439
2015 modern 113 #28,645
2016 modern 108 #29,578

Geography

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Where Shirrans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around New Deer, Auchterless, Udny, Fyvie and Fraserburgh. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Torry East, Luton, Torry West, Auchnagatt and Balmedie and Potterton. 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 New Deer Aberdeen
2 Auchterless Aberdeen
3 Udny Aberdeen
4 Fyvie Aberdeen
5 Fraserburgh Aberdeen

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Torry East Aberdeen City
2 Luton 020 Luton
3 Torry West Aberdeen City
4 Auchnagatt Aberdeenshire
5 Balmedie and Potterton Aberdeenshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Shirran

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Shirran

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Shirran, 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 Shirran surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Routine Occupations or Retirement, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Shirran 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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Shirran is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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 neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Shirran is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Shirran falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Shirran 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 - British

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

1881 census detail

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Shirran families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Shirran 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. Aberdeenshire leads with 99 Shirrans recorded in 1881 and an index of 108.52x.

County Total Index
Aberdeenshire 99 108.52x
Kincardineshire 1 8.33x
Lancashire 1 0.09x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Fraserburgh in Aberdeenshire leads with 13 Shirrans recorded in 1881 and an index of 505.84x.

Place Total Index
Fraserburgh 13 505.84x
Peterhead 13 269.71x
Udny 12 2181.82x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 11 64.44x
Tyrie 11 956.52x
Fyvie 10 671.14x
New Deer 8 484.85x
Monquhitter 7 744.68x
Turriff 3 204.08x
Rathen 2 208.33x
Aberdeen Old Machar 1 5.25x
Auchterless 1 138.89x
Belhelvie 1 161.29x
Glenbervie 1 303.03x
Inverurie 1 97.09x
Keithhall 1 333.33x
Kenyon 1 1250.00x
Methlick 1 136.99x
Pitsligo 1 114.94x
Slains 1 232.56x
Strichen 1 126.58x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Jessie 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 Shirran households.

Occupation Count
Housekeeper 1

FAQ

Shirran surname: questions and answers

How common was the Shirran surname in 1881?

In 1881, 101 people were recorded with the Shirran surname. That placed it at #19,636 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Shirran surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 108 in 2016. That gives Shirran a modern rank of #29,578.

What does the Shirran map show?

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