This page needs Javascript enabled in order to work properly. Click here for instructions on how to enable it in your browser.
Surname Header Image
Get access to Cairney family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Cairney Family History

Cairney Surname Meaning

Irish: variant of Kearney. Scottish (Lanarkshire): variant of Cairnie in some cases perhaps a Scottish form of Irish Kearney or a habitational name from Cairnie in Aberdeenshire.

Cairnie in Arbroath (Angus) or Cairnies in Stirlingshire.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: 

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Cairney family from?

You can see how Cairney families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Cairney family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1841 and 1920. The most Cairney families were found in and Scotland in 1841. In 1891 there were 8 Cairney families living in Yorkshire. This was about 36% of all the recorded Cairney's in United Kingdom. Yorkshire had the highest population of Cairney families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Cairney surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
Mapbox
© Mapbox © OpenStreetMap Improve this map

What did your Cairney ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Cairney. 100% of Cairney men worked as a General Labourer and 100% of Cairney women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties.

View Census Data for Cairney | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • General Labourer
    100%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    100%

What Cairney family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 6,000 census records available for the last name Cairney. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Cairney census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Cairney

Passenger Lists

There are 2,000 immigration records available for the last name Cairney. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Cairney immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 987 military records available for the last name Cairney. For the veterans among your Cairney ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Cairney military records

You've only scratched the surface of Cairney family history

Discover More

What is the average Cairney lifespan?

Between 1965 and 2004, in the United States, Cairney life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1988, and highest in 1977. The average life expectancy for Cairney in 1965 was 64, and 67 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Cairney

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Cairney ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Cairney family tree

Explore Your Tree
Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial