The Aitken surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 4,347 people carried this name — #7,638 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 68,000 people counted. That is up 5% from 4,150 in 2000.

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What the name means

The meaning of the Aitken surname

Variant of Aitkin.

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary (en.wiktionary.org) — entry «Aitken» (English), by Wiktionary contributors · licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0) · excerpt, lightly adapted.

As an English and Welsh surname

Bardsley classes it as a baptismal name, from a given name: ‘the son of Adam’.

His entry covers Aitken, Aitkin and Aitkens.

From Charles W. Bardsley, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, with Special American Instances (London: Henry Frowde, 1901), p. 43 · public domain.

In Scotland, 1880s

Aitken was 20 in every 10,000 names in Scotland.

That is about 1 in 500. Its home there, in Guppy’s words: “Lanarkshire and counties adjacent.” He counted the more than 20,000 names in Halliburton’s County Directory of Scotland, taking Scotland as a whole, and listed only the names that reached 10 in every 10,000.

H. B. Guppy, «Homes of Family Names in Great Britain» (London, 1890), appendix: alphabetical list of the most frequent Scottish names, p. 586 — public domain · names in Halliburton’s County Directory of Scotland, per 10,000 for the whole country.

In Scotland’s registers today

Aitken was recorded 187 times in Scotland’s registers of births, marriages and deaths in 2025.

That made it the 110th most common name in those registers, shared with others on the same count. In 1975, the first year of the series, the count was 328. Each birth counts the child’s surname, each marriage both partners’ and each death the surname of the person who died — a yearly count of registrations, not of the people who live in Scotland.

National Records of Scotland, «Most Common Surnames, 2025» (published 26 May 2026): every surname recorded 10 or more times in the 2025 registers, and the series from 1975 · different spellings are counted separately — © Crown copyright 2026. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

In print

Aitken in American newspapers,
1879.

Newspaper page from Lyon County Times carrying the name Aitken
Lyon County Times 1879-02-19
Newspaper page from Lyon County Times carrying the name Aitken
Lyon County Times 1879-02-22
Newspaper page from Lyon County Times carrying the name Aitken
Lyon County Times 1879-02-15

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 26,053 pages in all carry the name.

In print

Aitken in Australian newspapers,
1820s–2000s.

60,144 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Aitken. The most, 8,735, date from the 1930s. Weighed against how much of each state’s press from the same decades has been digitised, it stands out most in Victoria, at 1.9 times its expected share.

Articles, by state

Victoria 24,929
New South Wales 13,505
Queensland 7,216
Western Australia 6,402
South Australia 4,600
Tasmania 3,060
ACT (Canberra) 277
Northern Territory 54

Trove, National Library of Australia (trove.nla.gov.au) · articles in its digitised newspapers that name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Aitken.

Who carried it

People named Aitken,
with a public archive behind them.

  • Robert Aitken
    Robert Aitken 1735–1802 · printer
  • John B. Aitken d. 1939 · zoologist
  • John Aitken d. 1790 · physician
  • William Aitken d. 1869
  • Katherine Margaret McAffee d. 1954
  • Mary Ann Katharine Armstrong d. 1954

Wikidata (CC0) · portraits via Wikimedia Commons, shown cropped, in the public domain or CC0 · 10 lives in all are documented under this name.

In the public record

People named Aitken,
in the records of 7 countries.

Soldiers, farmers, migrants and neighbours who carried the name and left a trace in public archives. Everyone shown here died long ago or was born more than a century ago.

United States1,217 records

1,217 records of the Aitken name in the United States
  • Passenger arrivals in the United States, 1820–1912 317
  • U.S. alien registration index, 1940–1955 295
  • Other U.S. records 605
  1. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record George A. Aitken

    Born 1923 in New York. Enlisted 1942 at New York City; office clerk from Nassau County. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 1973, buried at Long Island National Cemetery, New York.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  2. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record George Aitken

    Arrived at New York in 1892 aboard the Ethiopia from Moville, aged 20; blacksmith. From Glasgow, Ireland; bound for New York.

    U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted)
  3. Names engraved on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C.
    Example: U.S. war memorial
    War record Dean L. Aitken

    Born 1950; from Vernal, Utah. U.S. Army, aircraft maintenance apprentice; died in an accident 1970 in Thua Thien, South Vietnam.

    U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain)

Showing 3 of 1,217 records for Aitken in the United States.

Counts: U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index · Sacramento County, Historic Burials (CC BY 4.0) · U.S. National Archives, Famine Irish Passenger Records (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: U.S. Selective Service registration card, 1942 (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Vietnam Veterans Memorial, photo by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden, 2009 (public domain).

Australia2,441 records

2,441 records of the Aitken name in Australia
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 1,431
  • Victoria wills and probate, deaths to 2001 521
  • Other Australian records 489
  1. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Margaret Aitken

    Died 1924 in Thirlstane, Tasmania. Will registered in Tasmania in 1924.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record James Aitken

    Arrived in Victoria in 1857 aboard the Great Britain, aged 30; Scottish.

    Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)
  3. An 1829 etching of convicts being rowed out to the prison ship York in Portsmouth Harbour
    Pictured: convicts going on board a prison ship, 1829
    Transportation record Robert Aitken

    Transported to New South Wales aboard the Caledonia, arriving 1838; ticket of leave 1843.

    Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY)

Showing 3 of 2,441 records for Aitken in Australia.

Counts: Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0) · Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) · Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY) · State Library of Western Australia (CC BY 4.0) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · ACT Government, Transport Canberra and City Services (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Prison-ship in Portsmouth Harbour, with the convicts going on board, etching by Edward William Cooke, 1829, Royal Museums Greenwich (public domain).

United Kingdom254 records

254 records of the Aitken name in the United Kingdom
  • Stirling Council burial records 197
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 30
  • Other British records 27
  1. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record Thomas Aitken

    Born 1900 at St. Monans; baker. Served in the First World War. Named in the Morayshire roll of honour (1921).

    National Library of Scotland, Rolls of Honour (public domain)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Thomas Aitken

    Buried in 1912 at Ballengeich Cemetery, Stirling, Scotland, aged 32.

    Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
  3. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Robert Munsie Aitken

    Will proved in 1935; of Saint Asaph, Flint.

    National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0)

Showing 3 of 254 records for Aitken in the United Kingdom.

Counts: Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · National Library of Scotland, Rolls of Honour (public domain) · National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: C. & E. Morton Ltd roll of honour, 1914–1919, photo by Adrian S Pye via Geograph (CC BY-SA 2.0); Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain).

Canada178 records

178 records of the Aitken name in Canada
  • Nova Scotia Archives name indexes 46
  • Mountain View Cemetery, Vancouver 41
  • Other Canadian records 91
  1. The first page of an emigration file from Gündlingen, Baden, 1883
    Example: German emigration file, 1883
    Emigration record Kassey Aitken

    Left New York in 1783 aboard the Lydia, bound for Annapolis Royal, aged 19.

    Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia.
  2. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record John Aitken

    Came to Ontario in 1881 aboard the Canadian, landing at Quebec, bound for London, Ontario; Scotch.

    Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario.
  3. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Marjorie Dow Aitken

    Buried in 1980 at Queen's Park Cemetery, Calgary, Alberta, aged 65.

    City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary.

Showing 3 of 178 records for Aitken in Canada.

Counts: Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. · City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver. · Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada. · City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg. · City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary. · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · Halifax Regional Municipality. Contains information licenced under the Open Government Licence—Halifax. · Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario. · City of Niagara Falls. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Niagara Falls. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Emigration file, Gündlingen, 1883, Landesarchiv Baden-Württemberg, Staatsarchiv Freiburg B 694/1 Nr. 1389 (CC BY 4.0); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, photo by Edgar El (CC BY 3.0).

New Zealand99 records

99 records of the Aitken name in New Zealand
  • Christchurch City cemetery records 75
  • Thames-Coromandel District cemetery records 15
  • Other New Zealand records 9
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Janet Aitken

    Died 1947, aged 77; buried at Bromley Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Christopher Musgrove Aitken

    Died 1902, aged 78; buried at Omaka Cemetery, Marlborough.

    Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the Livre d’or of the French war dead, Paris
    Example: roll of the war dead
    War record P. Aitken

    New Zealand Infantry. Listed among the dead in the War Office casualty list of 1918.

    National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain)

Showing 3 of 99 records for Aitken in New Zealand.

Counts: Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0) · Thames-Coromandel District Council (CC BY 4.0) · Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0); Livre d’or of the war dead, Paris, Ministère des pensions, Archives nationales (CC0).

Netherlands8 records

8 records of the Aitken name in the Netherlands
  • Dutch population registers 6
  • Dutch church registers before 1811 2
  1. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record William Aitken

    Married in 1734 in Bergen op Zoom; born in Scotland.

    Open Archives, West Brabants Archief (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Malcolm Aitken

    Married in 1645 in Rotterdam.

    Open Archives, Stadsarchief Rotterdam (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the 1910 United States census, Milwaukee
    Example: U.S. census, 1910
    Population register Arthur Hardie Aitken

    In the population register of 's-Gravenhage; born 1909 in Southampton.

    Open Archives, Haags Gemeentearchief (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 8 records for Aitken in the Netherlands.

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain); U.S. census of 1910, Milwaukee (public domain).

France4 records

4 records of the Aitken name in France France's national death register, 1970–2001
  1. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Fernande Aitken

    Born 1901 in Paris; died 1981 in Paris.

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
  2. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Marcel Georges Aitken

    Born 1910 in Paris; died 1985 in Morocco.

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)

Showing 2 of 4 records for Aitken in France.

Counts: Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Death register of Nice, 1930, Archives départementales des Alpes-Maritimes (public domain).

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Aitken.

When the index is not enough

This page says where Aitken is.
A volume says what happened to it.

Every page in the index is free and stays free. The Heritage Volume is the long form: the full paper trail, the arms, the crossing — bound, and yours.

See the Aitken volume
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