NameCensus.

UK surname

Strain

An English occupational surname for a builder or maintainer of roads, from the Old English "stræt" meaning road.

In the 1881 census there were 582 people recorded with the Strain surname, ranking it #5,992 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,345, ranked #4,479, up from #5,992 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to New Monkland, Bothwell and Govan Combination. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bromsgrove, Kilwinning Central and North and Bellshill South.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Strain is 1,363 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 131.1%.

1881 census count

582

Ranked #5,992

Modern count

1,345

2016, ranked #4,479

Peak year

2010

1,363 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Strain had 582 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,992 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,345 in 2016, ranked #4,479.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 855 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Strain surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Strain surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Strain 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 329 #7,079
1861 historical 350 #7,295
1881 historical 582 #5,992
1891 historical 699 #5,606
1901 historical 855 #5,336
1911 historical 345 #10,358
1997 modern 1,235 #4,600
1998 modern 1,250 #4,722
1999 modern 1,282 #4,654
2000 modern 1,305 #4,561
2001 modern 1,264 #4,602
2002 modern 1,279 #4,641
2003 modern 1,263 #4,604
2004 modern 1,246 #4,654
2005 modern 1,235 #4,647
2006 modern 1,264 #4,556
2007 modern 1,276 #4,552
2008 modern 1,264 #4,622
2009 modern 1,325 #4,530
2010 modern 1,363 #4,507
2011 modern 1,317 #4,584
2012 modern 1,315 #4,518
2013 modern 1,337 #4,536
2014 modern 1,358 #4,504
2015 modern 1,352 #4,477
2016 modern 1,345 #4,479

Geography

Back to top

Where Strains are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around New Monkland, Bothwell, Govan Combination, Ipsley and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bromsgrove, Kilwinning Central and North, Bellshill South, Roystonhill, Blochairn, and Provanmill and Govanhill West. 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 Monkland Lanark
2 Bothwell Lanark
3 Govan Combination Lanark
4 Ipsley Warwickshire
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bromsgrove 002 Bromsgrove
2 Kilwinning Central and North North Ayrshire
3 Bellshill South North Lanarkshire
4 Roystonhill, Blochairn, and Provanmill Glasgow City
5 Govanhill West Glasgow City

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Strain

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Strain

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Strain is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Strain 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

Strain falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Strain 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 - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Strain

The surname Strain has its origins in Scotland, tracing back to the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "strind" or the Middle English word "strene," both meaning "stream" or "river." This suggests that the name may have originated as a descriptive surname for someone who lived near a stream or river.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Strain can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which documented Scottish landowners who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England. The name appears as "Strene" in this historical record, indicating its presence in Scotland during that time period.

In the 14th century, the surname Strain appears in various Scottish records, often in reference to individuals from the regions of Ayrshire, Lanarkshire, and Renfrewshire. The name may have been associated with specific places, such as Straiton in Ayrshire or Strathaven in Lanarkshire, further reinforcing its connection to geographical features.

Notable individuals with the surname Strain include Sir John Strain (1619-1687), a Scottish merchant and landowner who served as Lord Provost of Edinburgh from 1665 to 1667. Another prominent figure was Robert Strain (1718-1787), a Scottish philosopher and mathematician who made significant contributions to the field of optics.

In the 19th century, William Strain (1821-1892) was a Scottish-born Canadian businessman and politician who served as a member of the Canadian House of Commons. Additionally, John Strain (1835-1915) was a Scottish-American civil engineer and inventor known for his contributions to the development of early typewriters.

One particularly notable individual was Isabel Strain (1915-2005), a Scottish artist and illustrator renowned for her children's book illustrations, including those for the popular "Babar the Elephant" series by Jean de Brunhoff.

The surname Strain has a rich history rooted in Scotland, with its origins dating back to the 12th century. While it may have initially been a descriptive name related to geographical features, it has since become a prominent surname associated with various notable figures throughout the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Strain families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Strain 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. Lanarkshire leads with 162 Strains recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.87x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 162 8.87x
Ayrshire 65 15.38x
Lancashire 56 0.84x
Warwickshire 56 3.93x
Renfrewshire 28 6.40x
Middlesex 27 0.48x
Dunbartonshire 22 14.49x
Worcestershire 18 2.44x
Durham 14 0.83x
Gloucestershire 14 1.26x
Northumberland 11 1.31x
Yorkshire 11 0.20x
West Lothian 10 11.76x
Wigtownshire 10 13.34x
Cheshire 8 0.64x
Stirlingshire 8 3.84x
Devon 7 0.60x
Midlothian 6 0.79x
Perthshire 6 2.37x
Essex 4 0.36x
Huntingdonshire 4 3.57x
Kirkcudbrightshire 4 4.89x
Leicestershire 4 0.64x
Westmorland 4 3.22x
Angus 3 0.57x
Kent 3 0.16x
Surrey 3 0.11x
Cornwall 2 0.31x
Shropshire 2 0.41x
Somerset 2 0.22x
Staffordshire 2 0.10x
Cumberland 1 0.21x
Derbyshire 1 0.11x
Dumfriesshire 1 0.80x

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 46 Strains recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.18x.

Place Total Index
Glasgow 46 14.18x
Ipsley 30 1149.43x
Barony 28 6.06x
Kilmarnock 26 51.68x
Govan 25 5.53x
Alcester 15 319.15x
New Monkland 15 27.78x
Abbey 13 19.47x
Kilwinning 13 95.24x
Bothwell 12 24.22x
Girvan 12 113.10x
Cambusnethan 11 27.11x
Liverpool 11 2.70x
Westgate 11 21.14x
Mile End Old Town 10 11.22x
Old Monkland 10 13.80x
Worcester St Peter 10 71.63x
Harpurhey 9 96.77x
Old Luce 9 190.27x
Birkenhead 8 8.05x
Birmingham 8 1.69x
Kirkintilloch 8 38.80x
Ayr 7 35.09x
Chorley 7 18.61x
Livingstone 7 241.38x
Row 7 35.66x
Spotland 7 9.39x
Stoke Damerel 7 8.51x
West Rainton 7 134.62x
Kirkdale 6 5.32x
Old Kilpatrick 6 33.44x
Rattray 6 101.69x
Shotts 6 27.45x
St Pancras London 6 1.32x
West Greenock 6 7.64x
Westminster St John 6 8.72x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 5 1.64x
Kilbarchan 5 37.59x
Redditch 5 33.44x
Shettleston 5 30.58x
East Rainton 4 123.08x
Everton 4 1.87x
Ibstock 4 87.91x
Irongray 4 263.16x
Kilsyth 4 30.12x
Morley 4 13.75x
Oldham 4 1.85x
St Ives 4 68.73x
St Quivox 4 27.99x
Stainton 4 533.33x
West Ham 4 1.63x
Cheltenham 3 3.51x
Dundee 3 1.54x
Gloucester Barton St 3 46.23x
Gloucester Barton St Mary 3 14.80x
Gloucester St John Baptist 3 41.96x
Neilston 3 13.66x
Selby 3 25.64x
Sheffield 3 1.68x
Sorn 3 36.14x
Toxteth Park 3 1.32x
Walton On Hill 3 8.26x
Wingate 3 26.04x
Burton Upon Trent 2 4.48x
Campsie 2 17.50x
Feckenham 2 23.70x
Hamilton 2 3.93x
Polmont 2 26.01x
Shrewsbury Holy Cross 2 37.11x
St Gilesin Fields 2 60.79x
Aston 1 0.26x
Bromsgrove 1 4.03x
Darenth 1 33.67x
Gillingham 1 2.52x
Leswalt 1 19.46x
Lewisham 1 0.97x
Redcar 1 22.52x
South Hamlet 1 14.60x
Studley 1 16.42x
Walton In Gordano 1 103.09x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 18
Elizabeth 12
Sarah 9
Ann 8
Jane 7
Eliza 6
Alice 5
Harriet 4
Louisa 4
Margaret 4
Ada 3
Amelia 3
Annie 3
Charlotte 3
Ellen 3
Emily 3
Bertha 2
Clara 2
Eleanor 2
Harriett 2
Rose 2
Sophia 2
Agness 1
Amy 1
Betsy 1
Catharine 1
Catherine 1
Cathrine 1
Deborah 1
Drucilla 1
Elizth. 1
Ella 1
Emma 1
Fanny 1
Florence 1
Gale 1
Hannah 1
Isabella 1
Louise 1
Lucy 1
Maggie 1
Maria 1
Marion 1
Martha 1
Maud 1
Phoebe 1
Rebecca 1
Ruth 1
Sarrah 1
Sybil 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 20
William 11
Alfred 8
Robert 8
George 7
Thomas 7
James 6
Joseph 5
Charles 4
Edward 4
Albert 3
Arthur 3
Ernest 3
Ephraim 2
Frederick 2
Henry 2
Hugh 2
Thos. 2
Walter 2
Wm. 2
Bernard 1
Cornelius 1
Edwin 1
Felix 1
Francis 1
Fredk. 1
Isaac 1
Michael 1
Patrick 1
Reuben 1
Ric. 1
Samuel 1
Tho. 1

FAQ

Strain surname: questions and answers

How common was the Strain surname in 1881?

In 1881, 582 people were recorded with the Strain surname. That placed it at #5,992 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Strain surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,345 in 2016. That gives Strain a modern rank of #4,479.

What does the Strain surname mean?

An English occupational surname for a builder or maintainer of roads, from the Old English "stræt" meaning road.

What does the Strain map show?

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