UK surname
In the 1881 census there were 67 people recorded with the Shirras surname, ranking it #24,104 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 19, ranked #36,760, down from #24,104 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Kinellar, Chapel of Garioch and Oyne. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Shirras is 106 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 71.6%.
1881 census count
67
Ranked #24,104
Modern count
19
2016, ranked #36,760
Peak year
1901
106 bearers
Map years
1
1901 to 1901
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Shirras surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Shirras surname density by area, 1901 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 37 | #26,673 |
| 1861 | historical | 54 | #27,127 |
| 1881 | historical | 67 | #24,104 |
| 1891 | historical | 87 | #25,802 |
| 1901 | historical | 106 | #22,076 |
| 1911 | historical | 21 | #31,179 |
| 1997 | modern | 33 | #34,377 |
| 1998 | modern | 34 | #34,433 |
| 1999 | modern | 31 | #34,821 |
| 2000 | modern | 31 | #34,798 |
| 2001 | modern | 30 | #34,753 |
| 2002 | modern | 24 | #35,520 |
| 2003 | modern | 25 | #35,471 |
| 2004 | modern | 27 | #35,444 |
| 2005 | modern | 24 | #35,827 |
| 2006 | modern | 28 | #35,665 |
| 2007 | modern | 28 | #35,801 |
| 2008 | modern | 25 | #36,072 |
| 2009 | modern | 26 | #36,111 |
| 2010 | modern | 26 | #36,220 |
| 2011 | modern | 21 | #36,502 |
| 2012 | modern | 20 | #36,570 |
| 2013 | modern | 21 | #36,561 |
| 2014 | modern | 21 | #36,577 |
| 2015 | modern | 22 | #36,493 |
| 2016 | modern | 19 | #36,760 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Kinellar, Chapel of Garioch, Oyne, Insch and Aberdour. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kinellar | Aberdeen |
| 2 | Chapel of Garioch | Aberdeen |
| 3 | Oyne | Aberdeen |
| 4 | Insch | Aberdeen |
| 5 | Aberdour | Aberdeen |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Shirras surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Shirras, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Shirras surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Shirras household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Shirras is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Shirras is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Shirras, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Shirras surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Aberdeenshire leads with 60 Shirras' recorded in 1881 and an index of 99.14x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Aberdeenshire | 60 | 99.14x |
| Kincardineshire | 5 | 62.81x |
| Banffshire | 2 | 14.75x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Aberdeen Old Machar in Aberdeenshire leads with 18 Shirras' recorded in 1881 and an index of 142.41x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Aberdeen Old Machar | 18 | 142.41x |
| Aberdour | 7 | 1458.33x |
| Chapel Of Garioch | 6 | 1395.35x |
| Foveran | 6 | 1304.35x |
| Dunnottar | 5 | 892.86x |
| Peterhead | 5 | 156.25x |
| Kintore | 4 | 754.72x |
| Kinellar | 3 | 2307.69x |
| Strichen | 3 | 566.04x |
| St Fergus | 2 | 588.24x |
| Aberdeen St Nicholas | 1 | 8.83x |
| Daviot | 1 | 833.33x |
| Insch | 1 | 294.12x |
| Inverurie | 1 | 147.06x |
| Newhills | 1 | 80.65x |
| Old Deer | 1 | 86.96x |
| Oyne | 1 | 454.55x |
| Udny | 1 | 270.27x |
FAQ
In 1881, 67 people were recorded with the Shirras surname. That placed it at #24,104 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 19 in 2016. That gives Shirras a modern rank of #36,760.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Shirras bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.