NameCensus.

UK surname

Thain

An ancient Scottish surname referring to one who served as the chief of a clan or district.

In the 1881 census there were 968 people recorded with the Thain surname, ranking it #4,014 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,940, ranked #3,299, up from #4,014 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wick, Aberdeen and Old Machar and Rathven. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Buckie West and Mains of Buckie, Buckie Central East and Cullen, Portknockie, Findochty, Drybridge and Berryhillock.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Thain is 1,998 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 100.4%.

1881 census count

968

Ranked #4,014

Modern count

1,940

2016, ranked #3,299

Peak year

2010

1,998 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Thain had 968 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,014 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,940 in 2016, ranked #3,299.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,285 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Thain surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Thain surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Thain 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 503 #4,971
1861 historical 464 #5,600
1881 historical 968 #4,014
1891 historical 1,012 #4,106
1901 historical 1,285 #3,873
1911 historical 666 #6,318
1997 modern 1,886 #3,193
1998 modern 1,932 #3,241
1999 modern 1,940 #3,257
2000 modern 1,931 #3,255
2001 modern 1,877 #3,271
2002 modern 1,939 #3,253
2003 modern 1,877 #3,270
2004 modern 1,910 #3,223
2005 modern 1,890 #3,226
2006 modern 1,883 #3,256
2007 modern 1,906 #3,250
2008 modern 1,932 #3,224
2009 modern 1,976 #3,241
2010 modern 1,998 #3,287
2011 modern 1,956 #3,296
2012 modern 1,916 #3,305
2013 modern 1,932 #3,337
2014 modern 1,960 #3,311
2015 modern 1,951 #3,298
2016 modern 1,940 #3,299

Geography

Back to top

Where Thains are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wick, Aberdeen and Old Machar, Rathven, St Mary Islington and Boyndie. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Buckie West and Mains of Buckie, Buckie Central East, Cullen, Portknockie, Findochty, Drybridge and Berryhillock, Peterhead Harbour and Wick North. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Wick Caithness
2 Aberdeen and Old Machar Aberdeen
3 Rathven Banff
4 St Mary Islington London (North Districts)
5 Boyndie Banff

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Buckie West and Mains of Buckie Moray
2 Buckie Central East Moray
3 Cullen, Portknockie, Findochty, Drybridge and Berryhillock Moray
4 Peterhead Harbour Aberdeenshire
5 Wick North Highland

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Thain

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Thain

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

Thain 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

Thain falls in decile 5 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Thain

The surname THAIN has its origins in Scotland, dating back to the medieval period. It is derived from the Scottish Gaelic word "tànanach," which means "governor" or "ruler." This suggests that the name may have initially been borne by those holding positions of authority or leadership within their communities.

The earliest recorded instances of the name appear in historical records from the 13th and 14th centuries. One notable example is found in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland, where a "William Thane" is mentioned in an entry from the year 1329. This indicates that the surname was already in use by that time.

During the Middle Ages, the name was often spelled in various ways, including "Thane," "Thain," and "Thaine." These variations likely arose due to regional dialects and the inconsistent spelling conventions of the time.

In the 16th century, the name THAIN gained prominence through its association with the Thanes of Cawdor, a powerful noble family in the Scottish Highlands. The Thanes of Cawdor held significant influence and played a notable role in Scottish history, particularly during the Wars of Scottish Independence.

One of the most famous individuals to bear the surname THAIN was William Thain (1589-1656), a Scottish minister and writer who served as the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 1648. His works, including sermons and theological treatises, were widely published and influential in his time.

Another notable figure was Sir Robert Thain (1720-1801), a Scottish lawyer and judge who served as Lord Advocate of Scotland from 1775 to 1776. He was also appointed as a Lord of Session, taking the judicial title Lord Woodhouselee.

In the literary realm, John Thain (1748-1816) was a Scottish poet and writer who gained recognition for his works celebrating rural life and nature. His collection of poems, "The Blind Bard's Garland," published in 1818, received critical acclaim.

The name THAIN has also been associated with various place names in Scotland, such as Thainstone, a village in Aberdeenshire, and Thaneston, a former parish in Caithness. These place names likely derived from the surname itself, reflecting the historical presence of individuals bearing the name in those regions.

Throughout history, the surname THAIN has been carried by individuals from diverse backgrounds, including clergymen, lawyers, judges, and writers. While not as widely documented as some other Scottish surnames, it has left its mark on the historical records and continues to be a part of the rich tapestry of Scottish heritage.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Thain families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Thain 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 262 Thains recorded in 1881 and an index of 29.99x.

County Total Index
Aberdeenshire 262 29.99x
Banffshire 157 80.24x
Middlesex 98 1.04x
Norfolk 42 2.90x
Suffolk 42 3.66x
Angus 39 4.46x
Caithness 39 30.20x
Northumberland 37 2.64x
Durham 34 1.21x
Yorkshire 23 0.25x
Surrey 22 0.48x
Essex 17 0.91x
Pembrokeshire 13 4.34x
Kincardineshire 12 10.45x
Lanarkshire 11 0.36x
Gloucestershire 10 0.54x
Hampshire 10 0.52x
Huntingdonshire 9 4.81x
Devon 8 0.41x
Midlothian 8 0.63x
Lancashire 7 0.06x
Monmouthshire 6 0.88x
Perthshire 6 1.42x
Shetland 6 6.23x
Glamorgan 5 0.30x
Hertfordshire 5 0.77x
Northamptonshire 5 0.56x
Berwickshire 4 3.50x
Kent 4 0.12x
Fife 3 0.54x
Herefordshire 3 0.78x
Orkney 3 2.89x
Ross-shire 3 1.16x
Carmarthenshire 2 0.50x
Cumberland 2 0.25x
Morayshire 2 1.36x
Stirlingshire 2 0.57x
Berkshire 1 0.14x
Dunbartonshire 1 0.39x
Renfrewshire 1 0.14x
Royal Navy 1 0.89x
Staffordshire 1 0.03x
Wigtownshire 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. Rathven in Banffshire leads with 121 Thains recorded in 1881 and an index of 329.25x.

Place Total Index
Rathven 121 329.25x
Aberdeen Old Machar 40 21.93x
Wick 39 93.48x
Westoe 26 16.34x
Shoreditch London 23 5.62x
Islington London 20 2.19x
Auchindoir Kearn 18 367.35x
Hackney London 18 3.40x
Dundee 17 5.21x
Embleton 16 535.12x
Strichen 16 210.80x
Rathen 15 163.93x
Alvah 14 317.46x
Pitsligo 14 167.66x
West Somerton 14 1842.11x
Walthamstow 13 19.40x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 11 6.73x
Inverurie 11 111.34x
Lambeth 11 1.34x
Lowestoft 11 20.27x
Kincardine O Neil 10 160.26x
New Deer 10 63.21x
Barony 9 1.17x
Huntly 9 63.34x
Logie Coldstone 9 307.17x
Lumphanan 9 245.23x
Rayne 9 216.87x
Bramfield 8 394.09x
Gateshead 8 3.81x
Sheffield 8 2.69x
Beccles 7 37.86x
Coupar Angus 7 84.64x
Fraserburgh 7 28.47x
Gloucester Barton St 7 64.58x
Hemingford Grey 7 243.90x
Holy Trinity 7 3.11x
Kensington London 7 1.33x
Peterhead 7 15.15x
Repps Cum Bastwick 7 813.95x
Rhynie 7 192.31x
South Stoneham 7 16.69x
Toxteth Park 7 1.85x
Acton Old Felton 6 1764.71x
Bolton 6 1333.33x
Camberwell 6 1.00x
Carleton Forehoe 6 1395.35x
Debenham 6 157.48x
Ealing 6 7.12x
Fettercairn 6 122.70x
Kildrummy 6 281.69x
Perth Middle Church 6 37.69x
St Issells 6 94.64x
St Woollos 6 7.88x
Cardiff St John 5 9.32x
Clerkenwell London 5 2.25x
East Barnet 5 38.76x
Gamrie 5 22.89x
Great Yarmouth 5 4.16x
Kirriemuir 5 23.19x
Lerwick 5 806.45x
Montrose 5 9.44x
New Machar 5 101.83x
Old Deer 5 30.21x
Peterborough 5 7.78x
Poplar London 5 2.81x
Stoke Damerel 5 3.64x
Wortham 5 162.87x
Amroth 4 168.78x
Crathie Braemar 4 76.63x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 4 0.79x
Glenmuick Tullich 4 63.49x
Greenlaw 4 99.01x
Keith 4 19.18x
King Edward 4 39.72x
Limehouse London 4 3.86x
Marnoch 4 38.06x
St Marylebone London 4 0.79x
Tyrie 4 36.46x
Wetherby 4 65.68x
Wimbledon 4 7.75x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 26
Elizabeth 16
Sarah 11
Alice 10
Emma 8
Ellen 7
Susannah 6
Agnes 5
Annie 5
Eliza 5
Emily 5
Isabella 5
Jane 5
Louisa 5
Margaret 5
Ann 4
Lydia 4
Martha 4
Hannah 3
Harriett 3
Anna 2
Caroline 2
Catherine 2
Dora 2
Florence 2
Harriet 2
Janet 2
Jessie 2
Julia 2
Minnie 2
Rachel 2
Agusta 1
Alaice 1
Bertha 1
Blanche 1
Clara 1
Constance 1
Dorothy 1
Edith 1
Eleanor 1
Eva 1
Fanny 1
Gertrude 1
Hanah 1
Hilda 1
Jemima 1
Jemimi 1
Kate 1
Lally 1
Violet 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 30
James 24
John 14
George 10
Robert 9
Arthur 8
Charles 7
Thomas 7
Edward 6
Frederick 6
Joseph 6
Samuel 6
Alexander 5
Albert 4
Alfred 4
Edwin 4
Harry 4
Henry 4
Ernest 3
Walter 3
Dionysius 2
Leslie 2
Mark 2
Noah 2
Osborn 2
Alf. 1
Alfd. 1
Augst. 1
Benjamin 1
David 1
Earnest 1
Edmund 1
Francis 1
Frank 1
Fred 1
Fredrick 1
Geo. 1
Herbert 1
Howard 1
Jacob 1
Louis 1
Martha 1
Mortimer 1
Obediah 1
Reuben 1
Robt. 1
Sidney 1
Sydney 1
Tho.Wm. 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Thain surname: questions and answers

How common was the Thain surname in 1881?

In 1881, 968 people were recorded with the Thain surname. That placed it at #4,014 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Thain surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,940 in 2016. That gives Thain a modern rank of #3,299.

What does the Thain surname mean?

An ancient Scottish surname referring to one who served as the chief of a clan or district.

What does the Thain map show?

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