NameCensus.

UK surname

Macadam

A Scottish surname derived from the Gaelic "mac Adhamh" meaning "son of Adam."

In the 1881 census there were 287 people recorded with the Macadam surname, ranking it #10,014 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 373, ranked #12,515, down from #10,014 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Darlington, Drymen and Govan Combination. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Pendle, Gedling and North Norfolk.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Macadam is 373 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 30.0%.

1881 census count

287

Ranked #10,014

Modern count

373

2016, ranked #12,515

Peak year

2016

373 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Macadam had 287 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,014 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 373 in 2016, ranked #12,515.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 364 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Macadam surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Macadam surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Macadam 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 134 #14,033
1861 historical 135 #16,651
1881 historical 287 #10,014
1891 historical 246 #12,912
1901 historical 364 #10,128
1911 historical 148 #18,023
1997 modern 340 #12,428
1998 modern 351 #12,511
1999 modern 334 #13,022
2000 modern 338 #12,877
2001 modern 314 #13,318
2002 modern 310 #13,697
2003 modern 308 #13,587
2004 modern 309 #13,618
2005 modern 323 #13,133
2006 modern 327 #13,092
2007 modern 325 #13,291
2008 modern 324 #13,437
2009 modern 330 #13,513
2010 modern 357 #13,036
2011 modern 349 #13,108
2012 modern 358 #12,724
2013 modern 361 #12,861
2014 modern 365 #12,853
2015 modern 367 #12,696
2016 modern 373 #12,515

Geography

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Where Macadams are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Darlington, Drymen, Govan Combination, Watten and Edinburgh. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Pendle, Gedling, North Norfolk and Sedgemoor. 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 Darlington Durham
2 Drymen Stirling
3 Govan Combination Lanark
4 Watten Caithness
5 Edinburgh Edinburgh

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Pendle 012 Pendle
2 Gedling 002 Gedling
3 Pendle 008 Pendle
4 North Norfolk 005 North Norfolk
5 Sedgemoor 007 Sedgemoor

Forenames

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First names often paired with Macadam

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Macadam

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Macadam, 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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Macadam surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Macadam household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Macadam 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

Macadam is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Macadam falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Macadam

The surname MACADAM has its origins in Scotland, dating back to the late 12th century. It is derived from the Gaelic words "Mac" meaning "son of" and "Adam", a personal name. The earliest recorded spelling of the name was "MacAdam" in the 13th century.

The MACADAM surname is believed to have originated in the county of Ayrshire, Scotland, where the family held lands and estates. The name is also associated with the Scottish Clan Alpin, one of the oldest and most powerful clans in the region.

Historical records show that the MACADAM name appeared in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a list of Scottish landowners who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England during the Scottish Wars of Independence.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the MACADAM surname was Sir John MACADAM (c. 1350-1420), a Scottish knight who fought alongside King Robert II during the Battle of Otterburn in 1388.

Another notable bearer of the MACADAM name was John Loudon MACADAM (1756-1836), a Scottish engineer and road builder who pioneered the use of macadamized road construction, a technique that involves layering crushed stone and compacting it to create a smooth surface.

In the 17th century, the MACADAM family held lands in the parish of Kilwinning, Ayrshire, where they were influential landowners and members of the local gentry.

Other notable individuals with the MACADAM surname include:

1. William MACADAM (1770-1841), a Scottish merchant and shipowner who founded the city of Belfast, Maine, in the United States. 2. Stevenson MACADAM (1829-1901), a Scottish-born American journalist and editor who founded the Philadelphia Evening Bulletin. 3. George MACADAM (1886-1964), a Canadian lawyer and politician who served as a member of the House of Commons of Canada. 4. Ivison MACADAM (1894-1983), a British-born Canadian architect who designed several notable buildings in Toronto, Ontario. 5. Elizabeth MACADAM (1905-1994), a Scottish-born American attorney and civil rights activist who worked closely with the NAACP.

The MACADAM surname has a rich history and is deeply rooted in Scottish heritage, with many notable individuals bearing this name throughout the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Macadam families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Macadam 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. Midlothian leads with 44 Macadams recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.95x.

County Total Index
Midlothian 44 12.95x
Lanarkshire 38 4.63x
Lancashire 30 1.00x
Stirlingshire 25 26.73x
Argyllshire 10 14.16x
Fife 10 6.66x
Warwickshire 9 1.41x
Caithness 8 23.04x
Dunbartonshire 8 11.74x
Durham 8 1.06x
Isle of Man 8 16.99x
Kirkcudbrightshire 7 19.07x
Middlesex 7 0.28x
Renfrewshire 7 3.56x
Surrey 7 0.57x
Ayrshire 6 3.16x
Perthshire 5 4.39x
Banffshire 3 5.70x
Bedfordshire 3 2.28x
Angus 2 0.85x
Buteshire 2 13.01x
East Lothian 2 5.95x
Hampshire 2 0.38x
Kent 2 0.23x
Morayshire 2 5.08x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.43x
Cornwall 1 0.35x
Dumfriesshire 1 1.79x
Roxburghshire 1 2.18x
Westmorland 1 1.79x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Drymen in Stirlingshire leads with 24 Macadams recorded in 1881 and an index of 1920.00x.

Place Total Index
Drymen 24 1920.00x
Barony 20 9.64x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 20 14.63x
Duddingston 12 175.95x
Dunoon Kilmun 10 181.49x
Scoonie 10 307.69x
Aston 9 5.11x
Glasgow 9 6.18x
Govan 9 4.44x
Darlington 8 27.46x
Gorton 8 28.28x
Onchan 8 58.95x
Watten 8 655.74x
Halliwell 7 63.93x
Lambeth 7 3.17x
Girthon 6 487.80x
Salford 6 6.78x
Liberton 5 95.42x
Old Kilpatrick 5 62.11x
Perth West Church 5 92.59x
Edinburgh Greenside 4 89.09x
Islington London 4 1.63x
Toxteth Park 4 3.93x
Aberlour 3 179.64x
Bedford St Paul 3 33.30x
Straiton 3 277.78x
West Derby 3 3.41x
West Greenock 3 8.50x
Eaglesham 2 166.67x
Edinburgh Old Church 2 73.26x
Inverkip 2 43.20x
Kirkintilloch 2 21.60x
Kirkoswald 2 129.03x
Liff Benvie 2 5.61x
Margate St John Baptist 2 12.63x
Rothesay 2 26.88x
St George In East London 2 8.39x
Yester 2 246.91x
Balfron 1 86.96x
Dallas 1 125.00x
Dalmellington 1 17.92x
Dalton 1 200.00x
Edinburgh St Georges 1 14.18x
Eling 1 18.98x
Kelso 1 21.83x
Kilmaronock 1 123.46x
Kirkdale 1 1.98x
North Meols 1 3.39x
Peterhead 1 8.05x
Portsea 1 0.98x
St Andrews Lhanbryd 1 81.97x
St Botolph Aldersgate 1 34.36x
St Clement 1 33.33x
Temple Sowerby 1 277.78x
Troqueer 1 20.75x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 5
Elizabeth 3
Jessie 3
Anna 2
Eliza 2
Hannah 2
Isabella 2
Martha 2
Ada 1
Agnes 1
Alice 1
Annie 1
Christian 1
Edith 1
Ellen 1
Esther 1
Florence 1
Frances 1
Grace 1
Jane 1
Laura 1
Lizzie 1
Louisa 1
Margaret 1
Margt.E. 1
Marrion 1
Miranda 1
Rosalie 1
Sarah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Alexander 3
Charles 2
Ernest 2
Herbert 2
James 2
John 2
Thomas 2
William 2
Albert 1
Alfred 1
Allan 1
Allen 1
Anstruther 1
Cheneley 1
David 1
Frederick 1
George 1
Henry 1
Joseph 1
Malcolm 1
Norman 1
Peter 1
Philip 1
Robert 1
Samuel 1
Thos.Wm. 1
Wm.M. 1

FAQ

Macadam surname: questions and answers

How common was the Macadam surname in 1881?

In 1881, 287 people were recorded with the Macadam surname. That placed it at #10,014 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Macadam surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 373 in 2016. That gives Macadam a modern rank of #12,515.

What does the Macadam surname mean?

A Scottish surname derived from the Gaelic "mac Adhamh" meaning "son of Adam."

What does the Macadam map show?

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