NameCensus.

UK surname

Stirrat

A Scottish surname possibly derived from "stitere", meaning beekeeper or honey dealer.

In the 1881 census there were 412 people recorded with the Stirrat surname, ranking it #7,814 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 529, ranked #9,589, down from #7,814 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Kilbirnie, Govan Combination and Greenock. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Fauldhouse, Glenfarg, Dunning and Rhynd and Beith West.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Stirrat is 551 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 28.4%.

1881 census count

412

Ranked #7,814

Modern count

529

2016, ranked #9,589

Peak year

2000

551 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Stirrat had 412 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,814 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 529 in 2016, ranked #9,589.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 512 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Stirrat surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Stirrat surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Stirrat 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 345 #6,823
1861 historical 308 #8,233
1881 historical 412 #7,814
1891 historical 460 #7,953
1901 historical 512 #7,918
1911 historical 25 #30,654
1997 modern 498 #9,324
1998 modern 525 #9,254
1999 modern 541 #9,092
2000 modern 551 #8,930
2001 modern 547 #8,833
2002 modern 544 #9,049
2003 modern 538 #8,988
2004 modern 525 #9,184
2005 modern 517 #9,217
2006 modern 512 #9,319
2007 modern 523 #9,238
2008 modern 519 #9,372
2009 modern 515 #9,630
2010 modern 525 #9,692
2011 modern 519 #9,687
2012 modern 505 #9,787
2013 modern 521 #9,722
2014 modern 515 #9,872
2015 modern 518 #9,761
2016 modern 529 #9,589

Geography

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Where Stirrats are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Kilbirnie, Govan Combination, Greenock, Glasgow and Dalry. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Fauldhouse, Glenfarg, Dunning and Rhynd, Beith West, Lesmahagow and Gallowgate North and Bellgrove. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Kilbirnie Ayr
2 Govan Combination Lanark
3 Greenock Renfrew
4 Glasgow Lanark
5 Dalry Ayr

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Fauldhouse West Lothian
2 Glenfarg, Dunning and Rhynd Perth and Kinross
3 Beith West North Ayrshire
4 Lesmahagow South Lanarkshire
5 Gallowgate North and Bellgrove Glasgow City

Forenames

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First names often paired with Stirrat

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Stirrat

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Stirrat, 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 Stirrat surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Stirrat 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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Stirrat is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Stirrat 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

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

Meaning and origin of Stirrat

The surname "STIRRAT" is of Scottish origin, with its earliest known roots dating back to the 14th century in the regions of Renfrewshire and Lanarkshire. The name is believed to be derived from the Old English word "styr," meaning "stirrer" or "agitator," combined with the Scottish diminutive suffix "-at," suggesting a possible occupation or characteristic associated with the name's bearer.

One of the earliest documented references to the name can be found in the records of the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland from the year 1456, where a certain John Stirrat is mentioned as a tenant farmer in the village of Kilbarchan, near Paisley. Additionally, the surname appears in various legal documents and charters throughout the 15th and 16th centuries, indicating its presence among the landed gentry and minor nobility of the region.

During the 16th century, the Stirrat family established themselves as prominent landowners in the parish of Cambuslang, near Glasgow. Records from this period show that in 1558, a William Stirrat was granted a charter for lands in the area, further solidifying the family's influence and status within the local community.

Notable individuals bearing the surname Stirrat include Sir James Stirrat (1687-1752), a renowned Scottish merchant and philanthropist who made significant contributions to the city of Glasgow through his charitable endeavors. Another prominent figure was Robert Stirrat (1742-1813), a Scottish inventor and engineer credited with developing several innovative agricultural implements, including an early version of the threshing machine.

In the literary realm, the name Stirrat is associated with the Scottish poet and dramatist Archibald Stirrat (1812-1891), whose works often explored themes of rural life and the experiences of the Scottish working class. His collection of poems, "The Cottar's Sunday," published in 1855, gained widespread acclaim and cemented his reputation as a distinctive voice in Scottish literature.

Across the Atlantic, one of the earliest documented instances of the Stirrat surname in North America can be traced back to the arrival of John Stirrat in Virginia in 1635. Over the subsequent centuries, the name spread throughout various regions of the United States and Canada, with notable individuals including William Stirrat (1818-1897), a prominent Canadian businessman and co-founder of the Stirrat & Campbell Foundry in Ontario.

While the surname Stirrat may not be among the most common in modern times, its rich history and enduring legacy are deeply rooted in the annals of Scottish heritage, serving as a testament to the resilience and contributions of those who bore this distinguished name throughout the ages.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Stirrat families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Stirrat 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. Ayrshire leads with 164 Stirrats recorded in 1881 and an index of 54.52x.

County Total Index
Ayrshire 164 54.52x
Lanarkshire 130 10.00x
Renfrewshire 53 17.02x
Lancashire 17 0.36x
Stirlingshire 14 9.44x
Buteshire 10 41.07x
West Lothian 6 9.91x
Aberdeenshire 4 1.07x
Argyllshire 4 3.58x
Durham 3 0.25x
East Lothian 2 3.76x
Midlothian 2 0.37x
Cumberland 1 0.29x
Essex 1 0.13x
Middlesex 1 0.02x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Glasgow in Lanarkshire leads with 44 Stirrats recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.06x.

Place Total Index
Glasgow 44 19.06x
Ardrossan 34 326.61x
Dalry 32 226.15x
Govan 25 7.78x
Barony 24 7.30x
Irvine 19 227.54x
Kilbirnie 18 249.31x
Dalserf 17 131.07x
East Greenock 17 57.80x
Falkirk 14 40.35x
Dundonald 13 117.22x
Maryhill 13 51.10x
Lochwinnoch 10 215.52x
Kilwinning 8 82.39x
Stevenston 8 102.04x
Kirkdale 7 8.73x
Maybole 7 76.42x
Linlithgow 6 77.32x
Muirkirk 6 84.99x
Port Glasgow 6 39.84x
Toxteth Park 6 3.72x
Avondale 5 65.79x
Coylton 5 117.10x
Cumbrae 5 195.31x
Neilston 5 31.99x
Ochiltree 5 241.55x
Rothesay 5 42.41x
Aberdeen Old Machar 4 5.15x
Bootle Cum Linacre 4 10.56x
Kilmarnock 4 11.17x
Renfrew 4 38.91x
Abbey 3 6.31x
Campbeltown 3 22.22x
Darlington 3 6.50x
Erskine 3 132.74x
Ayr 2 14.08x
Dalkeith 2 18.83x
Kilmalcolm 2 53.62x
Prestonpans 2 56.02x
Ardrossan West 1 370.37x
Beith 1 11.14x
Dalziel 1 7.15x
Kilbarchan 1 10.57x
Kilfinan 1 33.44x
Old Monkland 1 1.94x
Paisley Middle Church 1 5.52x
Poplar London 1 1.32x
Rickergate 1 13.66x
Stewarton 1 16.81x
West Greenock 1 1.79x
West Ham 1 0.57x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Jane 2
Sarah 2
Elizth. 1
Ellen 1
Emily 1
Harriet 1
Isabella 1
Margaret 1
Martha 1
Mary 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
David 3
John 3
Abraham 1
James 1
Stewart 1
Thomas 1
William 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 Stirrat households.

FAQ

Stirrat surname: questions and answers

How common was the Stirrat surname in 1881?

In 1881, 412 people were recorded with the Stirrat surname. That placed it at #7,814 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Stirrat surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 529 in 2016. That gives Stirrat a modern rank of #9,589.

What does the Stirrat surname mean?

A Scottish surname possibly derived from "stitere", meaning beekeeper or honey dealer.

What does the Stirrat map show?

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