NameCensus.

UK surname

Strang

A Scottish and English locational surname derived from places meaning "strong" or "strange."

In the 1881 census there were 1,346 people recorded with the Strang surname, ranking it #3,046 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,864, ranked #3,412, down from #3,046 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Govan Combination, Edinburgh and Muiravonside. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Garthamlock, Auchinlea and Gartloch, Auchinairn and Maddiston and Rumford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Strang is 1,879 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 38.5%.

1881 census count

1,346

Ranked #3,046

Modern count

1,864

2016, ranked #3,412

Peak year

2010

1,879 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Strang had 1,346 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,046 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,864 in 2016, ranked #3,412.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,601 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Strang surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Strang surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Strang 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 981 #2,847
1861 historical 1,084 #2,591
1881 historical 1,346 #3,046
1891 historical 1,432 #3,055
1901 historical 1,601 #3,227
1911 historical 303 #11,372
1997 modern 1,750 #3,415
1998 modern 1,785 #3,474
1999 modern 1,782 #3,509
2000 modern 1,771 #3,511
2001 modern 1,744 #3,483
2002 modern 1,807 #3,437
2003 modern 1,764 #3,455
2004 modern 1,758 #3,471
2005 modern 1,739 #3,467
2006 modern 1,768 #3,427
2007 modern 1,792 #3,418
2008 modern 1,800 #3,434
2009 modern 1,811 #3,486
2010 modern 1,879 #3,453
2011 modern 1,821 #3,498
2012 modern 1,785 #3,509
2013 modern 1,822 #3,497
2014 modern 1,835 #3,498
2015 modern 1,843 #3,465
2016 modern 1,864 #3,412

Geography

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Where Strangs are most common

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

The modern local-area list points to Garthamlock, Auchinlea and Gartloch, Auchinairn, Maddiston and Rumford, IZ12 and Eaglesham and Waterfoot. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Govan Combination Lanark
2 Edinburgh Edinburgh
3 Muiravonside Stirling
4 Glasgow Lanark
5 Clackmannan Clackmannan

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Garthamlock, Auchinlea and Gartloch Glasgow City
2 Auchinairn East Dunbartonshire
3 Maddiston and Rumford Falkirk
4 IZ12 East Lothian
5 Eaglesham and Waterfoot East Renfrewshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Strang

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Strang

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

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Strang 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

Strang 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

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

Meaning and origin of Strang

The surname Strang originated in Scotland, deriving from the old Scottish word "strang" which means strong or fortified. It is believed to have emerged in the 12th century, referring to someone who lived in or near a fortified place or stronghold.

The earliest recorded instance of the name dates back to the 13th century, when a Robert Strang is mentioned in the records of Lanarkshire, Scotland in 1296. The name is also found in various old Scottish charters and manuscripts from this period.

One notable figure was Sir John Strang, a Scottish knight who fought alongside Robert the Bruce in the Wars of Scottish Independence in the early 14th century. He was awarded lands in Ayrshire for his loyalty and bravery.

Another early bearer of the name was William Strang, a merchant and burgess of Edinburgh, who is recorded in the Burgh Records of Edinburgh in 1428.

In the 16th century, the Strang family held lands in the parish of Galston, Ayrshire, and the nearby village of Strangholm took its name from them.

One of the most famous individuals with this surname was Robert Strang (1859-1918), a Scottish painter and engraver known for his etchings and portraits. He was elected a member of the Royal Academy in 1908.

Another notable figure was William Strang (1877-1934), a British diplomat and civil servant who served as Governor of Nyasaland (now Malawi) from 1923 to 1928.

In the 20th century, Sir William Strang (1893-1978) was a highly respected British diplomat and civil servant who served as Permanent Under-Secretary at the Foreign Office from 1949 to 1953.

The Strang surname has also been well-represented in the field of literature, with writers such as John Strang (1795-1863), a Scottish poet and author, and William Strang (1832-1914), a Scottish author and editor.

While the name has its roots in Scotland, bearers of the Strang surname can now be found throughout the English-speaking world, particularly in countries with significant Scottish immigration.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Strang families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Strang 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 489 Strangs recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.53x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 489 11.53x
Stirlingshire 128 26.47x
Renfrewshire 112 11.02x
Perthshire 106 18.01x
Fife 80 10.31x
Midlothian 70 3.99x
West Lothian 51 25.83x
Dunbartonshire 35 9.93x
Ayrshire 34 3.47x
Middlesex 29 0.22x
Clackmannanshire 26 24.01x
Lancashire 26 0.17x
Angus 22 1.81x
Devon 18 0.66x
Somerset 17 0.81x
Argyllshire 16 4.38x
Yorkshire 10 0.08x
Channel Islands 9 2.32x
Northumberland 9 0.46x
Cheshire 8 0.28x
Kent 8 0.18x
Durham 6 0.15x
Surrey 5 0.08x
Aberdeenshire 4 0.33x
Gloucestershire 4 0.16x
Suffolk 4 0.25x
Kirkcudbrightshire 3 1.58x
Sussex 3 0.14x
Cumberland 2 0.18x
Peeblesshire 2 3.24x
Shropshire 2 0.18x
East Lothian 1 0.58x
Essex 1 0.04x
Hampshire 1 0.04x
Oxfordshire 1 0.12x
Roxburghshire 1 0.42x
Royal Navy 1 0.64x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Govan in Lanarkshire leads with 128 Strangs recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.21x.

Place Total Index
Govan 128 12.21x
Barony 81 7.55x
Glasgow 62 8.23x
Dunfermline 59 49.44x
East Kilbride 50 275.33x
Falkirk 35 30.92x
Eastwood 31 49.54x
Bathgate 27 63.00x
Cathcart 25 45.48x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 25 3.54x
Muiravonside 25 203.58x
Clackmannan 22 107.53x
Hamilton 22 18.60x
Carmunnock 21 646.15x
Dalserf 21 49.63x
Avondale 19 76.64x
Slamannan 17 64.20x
Kilmadock 16 118.26x
Shotts 16 31.53x
Bothwell 15 13.04x
Rutherglen 15 24.11x
Tulliallan 15 150.45x
Forfar 14 21.29x
Scone 14 133.97x
Somerton 14 162.41x
South Leith 14 7.08x
Eaglesham 13 209.00x
Kirkintilloch 13 27.16x
Torphichen 13 188.95x
Mearns 12 67.42x
Riccarton Hurlford 12 69.73x
Denny 11 42.77x
Perth East Church 11 19.83x
Callander 10 103.09x
New Monkland 10 7.98x
Whitburn 10 35.06x
Beath 9 36.69x
St Helier 9 7.12x
Toxteth Park 9 1.71x
Auchterderran 8 41.00x
Cambuslang 8 18.71x
Campbeltown 8 18.17x
Everton 8 1.61x
Hackney London 8 1.09x
New Kilpatrick 8 23.87x
Newcastle On Tyne St John 8 31.19x
Dunblane 7 49.72x
Edinburgh St Marys 7 20.50x
Kilmarnock 7 5.99x
Lee 7 10.78x
Lesmahagow 7 15.61x
Neilston 7 13.73x
Plymouth Charles The 7 5.82x
Stirling 7 11.48x
West Calder 7 20.22x
Killearn 6 118.11x
Liversedge 6 10.38x
Old Monkland 6 3.57x
St Pancras London 6 0.57x
Bowdon 5 43.55x
Cardross 5 11.82x
Carluke 5 12.99x
Drymen 5 77.16x
Islington London 5 0.39x
Kettins 5 122.85x
Logie 5 23.69x
Muirkirk 5 21.70x
St George In East 5 5.61x
St Giles 5 20.53x
St Ninians 5 10.43x
Tottington Lower End 5 6.76x
West Greenock 5 2.74x
Alloa 4 7.62x
Ayr 4 8.64x
Bonhill 4 7.07x
Edinburgh Greenside S 4 62.79x
Killin 4 69.69x
Lochwinnoch 4 26.42x
Middlesbrough 4 2.36x
Perth West Church 4 14.33x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 9
Jane 8
Mary 7
Margaret 6
Alice 4
Ellen 3
Florence 3
Isabella 3
Agnes 2
Ann 2
Charlotte 2
Christina 2
Louisa 2
Martha 2
Sarah 2
A.R. 1
Almena 1
Anne 1
Annie 1
Augusta 1
Catherine 1
Edith 1
Eliza 1
Emily 1
Emma 1
Euphemia 1
Helen 1
Helena 1
Isabelle 1
Janet 1
Julia 1
Maggie 1
Marrian 1
Roselna 1
Sophia 1
Susan 1
Sybil 1
Therza 1
Wilhamina 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 9
William 9
James 8
Robert 5
Henry 4
Matthew 4
George 3
Andrew 2
Joseph 2
Mathew 2
Thomas 2
Walter 2
A.K. 1
Agnes 1
Albert 1
Alexander 1
Arthur 1
Benjamin 1
Charles 1
Christopher 1
D.W. 1
Daniel 1
Davey 1
David 1
E. 1
Edgar 1
Edward 1
Edwin 1
Ernest 1
Frank 1
Frederick 1
Hugh 1
J.H.P. 1
Jna. 1
Jno. 1
Louis 1
Peter 1
Richard 1
Tom 1
Willm. 1
Wm.H. 1

FAQ

Strang surname: questions and answers

How common was the Strang surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,346 people were recorded with the Strang surname. That placed it at #3,046 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Strang surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,864 in 2016. That gives Strang a modern rank of #3,412.

What does the Strang surname mean?

A Scottish and English locational surname derived from places meaning "strong" or "strange."

What does the Strang map show?

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