NameCensus.

UK surname

Cathcart

A Scottish habitational surname derived from a place in Renfrewshire, meaning "wild cat enclosure" in Gaelic.

In the 1881 census there were 459 people recorded with the Cathcart surname, ranking it #7,225 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 967, ranked #5,950, up from #7,225 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Hamilton, Girvan and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wigan, Annbank, Mossblown and Tarbolton - the Coalfields and West Arthurlie and North Neilston.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cathcart is 967 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 110.7%.

1881 census count

459

Ranked #7,225

Modern count

967

2016, ranked #5,950

Peak year

2016

967 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Cathcart had 459 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,225 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 967 in 2016, ranked #5,950.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 688 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Cathcart surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Cathcart surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Cathcart 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 225 #9,509
1861 historical 292 #8,626
1881 historical 459 #7,225
1891 historical 588 #6,497
1901 historical 688 #6,370
1911 historical 246 #13,054
1997 modern 875 #6,097
1998 modern 926 #6,018
1999 modern 938 #6,008
2000 modern 939 #5,983
2001 modern 895 #6,112
2002 modern 930 #6,034
2003 modern 920 #5,978
2004 modern 918 #5,993
2005 modern 895 #6,053
2006 modern 896 #6,068
2007 modern 908 #6,044
2008 modern 891 #6,172
2009 modern 903 #6,247
2010 modern 925 #6,245
2011 modern 916 #6,244
2012 modern 928 #6,106
2013 modern 953 #6,065
2014 modern 964 #6,052
2015 modern 957 #6,035
2016 modern 967 #5,950

Geography

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Where Cathcarts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Hamilton, Girvan, Edinburgh, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wigan, Annbank, Mossblown and Tarbolton - the Coalfields, West Arthurlie and North Neilston, Greenock West and Central and Carntyne West and Haghill. 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 Hamilton Lanark
2 Girvan Ayr
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wigan 017 Wigan
2 Annbank, Mossblown and Tarbolton - the Coalfields South Ayrshire
3 West Arthurlie and North Neilston East Renfrewshire
4 Greenock West and Central Inverclyde
5 Carntyne West and Haghill Glasgow City

Forenames

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First names often paired with Cathcart

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Cathcart

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

Cathcart 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

Cathcart 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 Cathcart 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 - Irish

This describes the area pattern most associated with Cathcart, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Cathcart

The surname Cathcart is a Scottish locational name derived from the lands of Cathcart, situated within the former county of Renfrewshire, Scotland. The name is believed to have originated from the Gaelic words "cath," meaning "battle," and "ceart," meaning "tax" or "tribute," suggesting a connection to a battle or military engagement in the area.

The earliest recorded instance of the name Cathcart can be traced back to the 12th century, when Rainaldus de Kethcart witnessed a charter granted by Walter Fitzalan, the High Steward of Scotland, in the year 1160. This suggests that the Cathcart family held land in the region during this period.

In the 13th century, the Cathcarts were well-established landowners in Renfrewshire, and their name appeared in various charters and legal documents. One notable figure was Sir Alan Cathcart, who served as a Scottish ambassador to England in the late 13th century.

During the Scottish Wars of Independence, the Cathcarts played a significant role in supporting the cause of Robert the Bruce. Sir Alan Cathcart fought alongside Bruce at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314 and was later rewarded with additional lands for his loyalty.

In the 15th century, the Cathcarts gained prominence through their service to the Scottish crown. William Cathcart was appointed Lord Treasurer of Scotland in 1436, while his son, Alan Cathcart, served as Lord Chancellor of Scotland from 1484 to 1493.

The Cathcart family continued to hold significant influence in Scotland throughout the centuries, with many members serving in various military and political roles. Notable individuals include:

1. Sir John Cathcart (1562-1651), a Scottish soldier who fought in the Thirty Years' War and served as a Privy Councillor to King Charles I. 2. Charles Cathcart, 9th Lord Cathcart (1686-1740), a Scottish nobleman and military officer who served as Governor of Gibraltar and fought in the War of the Spanish Succession. 3. William Schaw Cathcart, 1st Earl Cathcart (1755-1843), a British Army officer who served in the American Revolutionary War and the Napoleonic Wars. 4. Sir George Cathcart (1794-1854), a British Army officer who served in the Crimean War and was killed during the Battle of Inkerman. 5. Charles Murray Cathcart, 2nd Earl Cathcart (1783-1859), a British politician and diplomat who served as Governor-General of British North America (Canada) from 1846 to 1847.

The Cathcart surname has also been associated with several place names, including Cathcart Castle, an ancient fortification located near Glasgow, and the town of Cathcart, which is now a suburban area within the city of Glasgow.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Cathcart families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Cathcart 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 85 Cathcarts recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.86x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 85 5.86x
Ayrshire 56 16.68x
Renfrewshire 50 14.38x
Middlesex 47 1.05x
Lancashire 45 0.85x
Essex 24 2.71x
Fife 21 7.91x
Wigtownshire 18 30.21x
Midlothian 17 2.83x
Somerset 10 1.38x
Sussex 10 1.32x
Angus 9 2.17x
Yorkshire 9 0.20x
Leicestershire 7 1.41x
Northumberland 6 0.90x
Surrey 6 0.27x
Berkshire 4 1.19x
Devon 4 0.43x
Dunbartonshire 4 3.32x
Durham 4 0.30x
Kent 4 0.26x
Lincolnshire 4 0.56x
Channel Islands 3 2.26x
Hampshire 3 0.33x
Isle of Man 3 3.60x
Staffordshire 2 0.13x
Stirlingshire 2 1.21x
Berwickshire 1 1.84x
Cheshire 1 0.10x
Warwickshire 1 0.09x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hamilton in Lanarkshire leads with 22 Cathcarts recorded in 1881 and an index of 54.35x.

Place Total Index
Hamilton 22 54.35x
Barony 21 5.72x
Panfield 21 4285.71x
Glasgow 19 7.37x
Windle 16 53.40x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 15 6.20x
Dysart 14 78.26x
Ayr 13 82.02x
Eastwood 13 60.69x
Liverpool 11 3.40x
Govan 10 2.79x
Bedminster 9 13.26x
Cathcart 9 47.85x
Leswalt 9 220.59x
St Marylebone London 9 3.76x
Paisley Middle Church 8 39.51x
St Quivox 8 70.48x
Glassford 7 312.50x
Hastings St Mary 7 37.17x
Kirkby Malzeard 7 721.65x
Leicester St Mary 7 17.41x
Abbey 6 11.31x
Dundee 6 3.87x
Girvan 6 71.17x
Islington London 6 1.38x
Kilbirnie 6 74.44x
Newburgh 6 178.04x
North Sunderland 6 392.16x
St George Hanover Square 6 7.59x
St Pancras London 6 1.66x
Dailly 5 145.77x
Dalserf 5 34.53x
Eaglesham 5 234.74x
Mile End Old Town London 5 5.24x
Newton On Ayr 5 49.70x
Chorlton On Medlock 4 4.73x
Ilfracombe 4 41.58x
Lambeth 4 1.02x
Paisley High Church 4 14.45x
Row 4 25.64x
Ardrossan 3 25.82x
Beckenham 3 14.99x
Boston 3 13.78x
Dalry 3 18.99x
East Greenock 3 9.14x
Everton 3 1.77x
Fulwood 3 52.17x
Hackney London 3 1.19x
Kirkcolm 3 104.90x
Lancaster 3 9.47x
Maughold 3 46.66x
Maybole 3 29.33x
St Peter Port 3 12.20x
Tottenham 3 4.20x
West Ham 3 1.53x
Brighton 2 1.31x
Colmonell 2 59.17x
Cookham 2 19.05x
Liff Benvie 2 3.17x
Manchester 2 0.84x
Mile End New Town London 2 22.55x
Mochrum 2 56.18x
St Andrew Holborn London 2 10.29x
St Paul Covent Garden 2 44.54x
Stirling 2 9.58x
Sunninghill 2 42.83x
Sutton 2 12.64x
Westoe 2 2.64x
Wigtown 2 58.82x
Aldershot 1 3.25x
Cleckheaton 1 6.11x
Fogo 1 138.89x
Gainsborough 1 5.91x
Hampstead London 1 1.43x
Laughton En Le Morthen 1 98.04x
Leamington Priors 1 3.59x
Mains 1 28.33x
Port Glasgow 1 5.95x
Preston 1 0.70x
West Kilbride 1 31.25x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 11
Jane 7
Agnes 4
Annie 4
Martha 4
Emily 3
Emma 3
Fanny 3
Alice 2
Amelia 2
Ann 2
Catherine 2
Eliza 2
Elizabeth 2
Ellen 2
Harriet 2
Louisa 2
Maggie 2
Margaret 2
Sarah 2
Beatrice 1
Catharine 1
Cathe. 1
Celilia 1
Charlotte 1
Christina 1
Clara 1
Constance 1
Edith 1
Elizb. 1
Elizth. 1
Ethel 1
Eva 1
Frances 1
Helen 1
Hilda 1
Ida 1
Jeane 1
Jenny 1
Jessie 1
Katharine 1
Lady 1
Lily 1
Marion 1
Matilda 1
Maud 1
Priscilla 1
Rebbecca 1
Rosa 1
Rose 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 19
John 13
Robert 7
Andrew 5
George 5
Charles 4
David 3
Ernest 3
Alexander 2
Arthur 2
Augustus 2
Frederick 2
Henry 2
Percy 2
Reginald 2
Samuel 2
Thomas 2
Alan 1
Archbald 1
Archibald 1
Clifford 1
Daniel 1
Edw. 1
Elijah 1
Ferderick 1
Frederic 1
Fredk. 1
Geo. 1
Herbert 1
James 1
Jonathan 1
Joseph 1
Malcolm 1
Nassam 1
Nixon 1
Patrick 1
Percival 1
Robt. 1
Rolleston 1
Walter 1
Weir 1

FAQ

Cathcart surname: questions and answers

How common was the Cathcart surname in 1881?

In 1881, 459 people were recorded with the Cathcart surname. That placed it at #7,225 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Cathcart surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 967 in 2016. That gives Cathcart a modern rank of #5,950.

What does the Cathcart surname mean?

A Scottish habitational surname derived from a place in Renfrewshire, meaning "wild cat enclosure" in Gaelic.

What does the Cathcart map show?

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