NameCensus.

UK surname

Urie

A Scottish surname derived from the name of the Scottish village Ure.

In the 1881 census there were 290 people recorded with the Urie surname, ranking it #9,946 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 198, ranked #19,713, down from #9,946 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Dundonald, Govan Combination and Rutherglen. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Maybole, Carrick South and Ribble Valley.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Urie is 290 in 1881. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 31.7%.

1881 census count

290

Ranked #9,946

Modern count

198

2016, ranked #19,713

Peak year

1881

290 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Urie had 290 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,946 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 198 in 2016, ranked #19,713.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 290 in 1881.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Urie surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Urie surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Urie 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 224 #9,534
1861 historical 237 #10,359
1881 historical 290 #9,946
1891 historical 273 #11,918
1901 historical 269 #12,518
1911 historical 66 #26,249
1997 modern 183 #18,642
1998 modern 186 #18,918
1999 modern 199 #18,293
2000 modern 197 #18,384
2001 modern 186 #18,773
2002 modern 194 #18,651
2003 modern 181 #19,277
2004 modern 184 #19,183
2005 modern 178 #19,535
2006 modern 184 #19,254
2007 modern 190 #19,088
2008 modern 184 #19,666
2009 modern 199 #19,090
2010 modern 195 #19,762
2011 modern 180 #20,649
2012 modern 183 #20,356
2013 modern 186 #20,502
2014 modern 200 #19,713
2015 modern 195 #19,909
2016 modern 198 #19,713

Geography

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Where Uries are most common

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

The modern local-area list points to Maybole, Carrick South, Ribble Valley, Paisley South West and Ibrox. 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 Dundonald Ayr
2 Govan Combination Lanark
3 Rutherglen Lanark
4 Greenock Renfrew
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Maybole South Ayrshire
2 Carrick South South Ayrshire
3 Ribble Valley 004 Ribble Valley
4 Paisley South West Renfrewshire
5 Ibrox Glasgow City

Forenames

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First names often paired with Urie

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Urie

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

Urie is most concentrated in decile 2 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Urie falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Urie

The surname URIE is of Scottish origin, deriving from the lands of Urr in Kirkcudbrightshire. The earliest recorded instance of this name dates back to the 12th century, when it appeared as "de Vrr" in ancient charters and manuscripts.

The name evolved over time, with various spellings such as "Ure," "Urie," and "Urry" emerging in different regions of Scotland. It is believed to have originated from the Old English word "ure," meaning "our" or "belonging to us," suggesting a connection to a particular clan or community.

One of the earliest documented references to the URIE surname can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a series of instruments recording the homage paid to Edward I of England by Scottish nobles and landowners during the Wars of Scottish Independence. The Ragman Rolls list several individuals with the surname URIE or variations thereof, indicating the name's presence in medieval Scotland.

In the 16th century, the URIE surname gained prominence with the arrival of John Urie (c. 1510-1585), a Scottish Protestant reformer and scholar. Urie played a significant role in the Scottish Reformation and served as the minister of Petty, Moray, and later as the rector of the University of Aberdeen.

Another notable figure bearing the URIE surname was Sir John Urry (1666-1715), a Scottish Jacobite soldier and writer. Urry served as a general in the Duke of Argyll's army during the Jacobite rising of 1715 and was known for his work on editing and publishing the works of Chaucer.

In the 18th century, John Urry (1714-1783), a Scottish divine and writer, made his mark as the author of several theological works, including "A Collection of Hymns and Spiritual Songs" and "The Christian Soldier's Spiritual Companion."

The URIE surname also has connections to various place names in Scotland. For instance, the village of Urr in Dumfries and Galloway is believed to have derived its name from the same root as the surname, reflecting the historical ties between the name and the region.

These are just a few examples of the rich history and notable individuals associated with the surname URIE, which has its roots deeply embedded in the Scottish heritage and has left an indelible mark on various aspects of Scottish culture and society over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Urie families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Urie 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 119 Uries recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.92x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 119 12.92x
Renfrewshire 63 28.54x
Ayrshire 36 16.89x
Lancashire 18 0.53x
Midlothian 17 4.46x
Dunbartonshire 10 13.07x
Middlesex 10 0.35x
Buteshire 6 34.76x
Dumfriesshire 4 6.36x
Surrey 3 0.22x
Essex 2 0.36x
Stirlingshire 2 1.90x
Wigtownshire 2 5.29x

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 57 Uries recorded in 1881 and an index of 25.02x.

Place Total Index
Govan 57 25.02x
Barony 36 15.44x
Glasgow 16 9.78x
Eastwood 15 110.38x
Maybole 13 200.31x
Paisley Middle Church 11 85.60x
West Greenock 11 27.76x
Abbey 10 29.69x
Dundonald 9 114.50x
East Greenock 8 38.39x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 8 5.21x
Inveresk 8 77.44x
Shettleston 8 96.97x
Bonhill 7 56.96x
Great Crosby 7 76.00x
Ayr 6 59.64x
Cathcart 6 50.25x
Hulme 6 8.50x
Rothesay 6 71.77x
St Pancras London 6 2.62x
Morton 4 191.39x
Shoreditch London 4 3.24x
Stevenston 4 71.94x
Caterham 3 48.94x
Kilmarnock 3 11.83x
Row 3 30.30x
Ardwick 2 6.56x
Leswalt 2 77.22x
Neilston 2 18.05x
Rutherglen 2 14.80x
Stirling 2 15.09x
Stretford 2 10.75x
West Ham 2 1.61x
Beith 1 15.72x
Edinburgh St Stephens 1 13.32x
Toxteth Park 1 0.87x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 4
James 3
George 2
Arthur 1
Matthew 1
Robert 1
Samuel 1
Thomas 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 Urie households.

FAQ

Urie surname: questions and answers

How common was the Urie surname in 1881?

In 1881, 290 people were recorded with the Urie surname. That placed it at #9,946 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Urie surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 198 in 2016. That gives Urie a modern rank of #19,713.

What does the Urie surname mean?

A Scottish surname derived from the name of the Scottish village Ure.

What does the Urie map show?

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