NameCensus.

UK surname

Strachan

A Scottish locational surname derived from Gaelic meaning "valley of the stream" or "place of the streams."

In the 1881 census there were 5,170 people recorded with the Strachan surname, ranking it #861 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 7,729, ranked #859, up from #861 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Arbroath and St. Vigeans, Edinburgh and Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Peterhead Harbour, Peterhead Ugieside and Rosehearty and Strathbeg.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Strachan is 7,830 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 49.5%.

1881 census count

5,170

Ranked #861

Modern count

7,729

2016, ranked #859

Peak year

2010

7,830 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Strachan had 5,170 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #861 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 7,729 in 2016, ranked #859.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 6,474 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Strachan surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Strachan surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Strachan 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 3,447 #827
1861 historical 3,351 #853
1881 historical 5,170 #861
1891 historical 5,573 #844
1901 historical 6,474 #860
1911 historical 1,125 #4,136
1997 modern 7,134 #910
1998 modern 7,460 #903
1999 modern 7,481 #908
2000 modern 7,420 #911
2001 modern 7,223 #915
2002 modern 7,403 #909
2003 modern 7,214 #912
2004 modern 7,268 #904
2005 modern 7,333 #883
2006 modern 7,364 #883
2007 modern 7,480 #876
2008 modern 7,603 #868
2009 modern 7,727 #876
2010 modern 7,830 #882
2011 modern 7,625 #890
2012 modern 7,530 #881
2013 modern 7,566 #894
2014 modern 7,680 #884
2015 modern 7,645 #880
2016 modern 7,729 #859

Geography

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Where Strachans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Arbroath and St. Vigeans, Edinburgh, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry, Glasgow and Aberdeen and Old Machar. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Peterhead Harbour, Peterhead Ugieside, Rosehearty and Strathbeg, Longside and Rattray and Peterhead Links. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Arbroath and St. Vigeans Forfar
2 Edinburgh Edinburgh
3 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar
4 Glasgow Lanark
5 Aberdeen and Old Machar Aberdeen

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Peterhead Harbour Aberdeenshire
2 Peterhead Ugieside Aberdeenshire
3 Rosehearty and Strathbeg Aberdeenshire
4 Longside and Rattray Aberdeenshire
5 Peterhead Links Aberdeenshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Strachan

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Strachan

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

Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities

Nationally, the Strachan surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Strachan household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Households in these areas often include divorced or separated parents and commonly include children and young adults. The age structure is heavily skewed towards the most advanced age groups. Individuals identifying as members of ethnic minorities are not present in large numbers. Flats predominate, with some terraced, semi-detached, and detached units. Multiple car ownership is low, and housing is predominantly in the private and social rented sectors. Employment is less skewed towards traditional routine industrial occupations. Levels of educational attainment are generally low. The Group occurs principally in the Central Lowlands of Scotland and other Scottish towns.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Strachan 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

Strachan 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

Strachan falls in decile 8 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.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Strachan

The surname Strachan is of Scottish origin and dates back to the 16th century. It is derived from the Gaelic phrase 'strath an', meaning 'valley dweller'. This name was likely adopted by early bearers who lived in the valley regions of Scotland, particularly in areas such as Kincardineshire and Aberdeenshire.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland from 1538, which mention a person named Alexander Strachan. The name also appears in the Scottish Ecclesiastical Records, with a record from 1593 referring to a John Strachan who was a minister in the parish of Arbuthnott, Kincardineshire.

The Strachan name has a strong connection to the town of Banchory in Aberdeenshire, where a prominent family bearing the name resided for several generations. Sir John Strachan (1778-1867), a Scottish Anglican bishop and educator, was born in Banchory and played a significant role in the establishment of educational institutions in Upper Canada (now Ontario, Canada).

Another notable figure with the Strachan surname was Sir Richard Strachan (1772-1828), a British naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars. He was born in Wiltshire, England, and is remembered for his victories in the Battle of Cape Ortegal in 1805 and the Battle of Les Sables-d'Olonne in 1808.

In the 19th century, William Strachan (1814-1890), a Scottish engraver and artist, gained recognition for his work on the illustrations for Sir Walter Scott's novels. He was born in Edinburgh and contributed to the revival of wood engraving as an art form.

Another notable bearer of the name was James Strachan (1832-1897), a Scottish businessman and philanthropist who made his fortune in the textile industry. He was born in Dunfermline and was known for his charitable contributions to educational institutions and hospitals in his hometown.

The Strachan name has also been associated with several place names in Scotland, such as Strachan in Aberdeenshire, which was derived from the Gaelic phrase 'strath an' and likely served as the origin for the surname.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Strachan families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Strachan 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 1,378 Strachans recorded in 1881 and an index of 29.54x.

County Total Index
Aberdeenshire 1,378 29.54x
Angus 1,006 21.56x
Lanarkshire 425 2.61x
Midlothian 348 5.16x
Ayrshire 290 7.69x
Middlesex 170 0.34x
Kincardineshire 162 26.41x
Fife 156 5.23x
Banffshire 145 13.88x
Perthshire 109 4.82x
Durham 105 0.70x
Renfrewshire 100 2.56x
Surrey 80 0.33x
Northumberland 66 0.88x
Dunbartonshire 60 4.43x
Yorkshire 58 0.12x
Stirlingshire 55 2.96x
Lancashire 49 0.08x
Morayshire 46 5.88x
Kinross-shire 22 17.28x
Sussex 22 0.26x
Gloucestershire 20 0.20x
Kent 18 0.10x
West Lothian 17 2.24x
Shetland 16 3.11x
Clackmannanshire 15 3.61x
Ross-shire 14 1.01x
Selkirkshire 14 3.07x
Essex 13 0.13x
Northamptonshire 12 0.25x
Cheshire 11 0.10x
Staffordshire 11 0.06x
Hertfordshire 10 0.29x
Norfolk 9 0.12x
Buteshire 8 2.62x
Roxburghshire 8 0.88x
Royal Navy 8 1.33x
Argyllshire 7 0.50x
Buckinghamshire 7 0.23x
Denbighshire 7 0.37x
Kirkcudbrightshire 7 0.96x
Sutherland 7 1.81x
Berwickshire 6 0.98x
Derbyshire 6 0.08x
Glamorgan 6 0.07x
Hampshire 6 0.06x
East Lothian 5 0.75x
Inverness-shire 4 0.27x
Lincolnshire 4 0.05x
Nairnshire 4 2.60x
Oxfordshire 4 0.13x
Wigtownshire 4 0.60x
Huntingdonshire 3 0.30x
Shropshire 3 0.07x
Somerset 3 0.04x
Cambridgeshire 2 0.06x
Dorset 2 0.06x
Flintshire 2 0.15x
Monmouthshire 2 0.05x
Berkshire 1 0.03x
Brecknockshire 1 0.10x
Cornwall 1 0.02x
Herefordshire 1 0.05x
Orkney 1 0.18x
Wiltshire 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. Dundee in Angus leads with 272 Strachans recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.61x.

Place Total Index
Dundee 272 15.61x
Aberdeen Old Machar 249 25.56x
Peterhead 195 79.04x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 175 6.45x
Montrose 173 61.17x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 163 18.67x
Govan 131 3.25x
Barony 117 2.84x
Rathen 113 231.13x
Liff Benvie 92 12.99x
St Vigeans 88 34.93x
Forfar 76 30.08x
Lonmay 70 165.29x
Fyvie 67 88.01x
Fraserburgh 59 44.93x
Brechin 57 31.08x
Monifieth 49 29.72x
South Leith 48 6.32x
Glasgow 47 1.62x
Dunfermline 46 10.03x
Dreghorn 44 64.47x
Fetteresso 40 41.61x
Kilmaurs 38 59.24x
Islington London 34 0.70x
Banchory Ternan 32 60.33x
Kilmarnock 31 6.91x
Kirriemuir 31 26.92x
Paisley High Church 30 9.65x
West Greenock 28 4.00x
Hamilton 27 5.94x
Hetton Le Hole 27 14.22x
Monymusk 27 135.07x
Tarves 27 61.18x
Banff 26 28.65x
Galston 26 25.22x
Kintore 26 64.13x
Leeds 26 0.92x
Maybole 25 21.78x
Pitsligo 25 56.07x
Towie 24 183.35x
New Deer 23 27.23x
Battersea 22 1.19x
Kirkcaldy 22 14.87x
Kirkden 22 75.37x
Arbroath 21 13.58x
Blantyre 21 12.38x
Coylton 21 39.26x
Kilwinning 21 17.25x
Gamrie 20 17.15x
St Fergus 20 75.76x
Laurencekirk 19 53.46x
Barry 18 32.14x
Stevenston 18 18.32x
Strichen 18 44.40x
Tynemouth 18 4.48x
Westoe 18 2.12x
Errol 17 40.59x
Bishop Auckland 16 7.96x
Keith 16 14.36x
Midmar 16 88.89x
Sculcoates 16 2.02x
Falkirk 15 3.45x
Hove 15 4.03x
Meldrum 15 38.17x
North Leith 15 4.80x
Orwell 15 42.72x
Bonhill 14 6.44x
Dumbarton 14 7.43x
Edinburgh Old Church 14 25.84x
Edinburgh St Stephens 14 10.54x
Forres 14 17.02x
Inveravon 14 31.43x
Larbert 14 12.61x
Panbride 14 57.59x
Perth West Church 14 13.05x
Port Glasgow 14 7.42x
Shoreditch London 14 0.64x
St Martins 14 108.95x
Westminster St James 14 2.70x
Maryhill 13 4.08x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 51
John 43
James 39
George 18
Alexander 17
Henry 15
Robert 14
Charles 12
Thomas 12
David 8
Frederick 8
Arthur 6
Edward 6
Richard 5
Walter 5
Andrew 4
Frank 4
Joseph 4
Alfred 3
Francis 3
Geo. 3
Harry 3
Herbert 3
A. 2
Albert 2
Alexr. 2
Archibald 2
Douglas 2
Fredrick 2
Peter 2
Samuel 2
Tom 2
Wm. 2
Benjamin 1
Bernard 1
Bertie 1
Bertram 1
Edwin 1
Elliott 1
Ellison 1
Frederic 1
Fredk. 1
J. 1
J.E. 1
Jas. 1
Jno 1
Josiah 1
Kenneth 1
L. 1
Yeaman 1

FAQ

Strachan surname: questions and answers

How common was the Strachan surname in 1881?

In 1881, 5,170 people were recorded with the Strachan surname. That placed it at #861 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Strachan surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 7,729 in 2016. That gives Strachan a modern rank of #859.

What does the Strachan surname mean?

A Scottish locational surname derived from Gaelic meaning "valley of the stream" or "place of the streams."

What does the Strachan map show?

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