NameCensus.

UK surname

Macaulay

Derived from the Gaelic "Mac Amhalghaidh," meaning "son of Amhalghaidh," a personal name meaning "like a prince."

In the 1881 census there were 1,147 people recorded with the Macaulay surname, ranking it #3,487 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 3,400, ranked #2,002, up from #3,487 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lochs, Edinburgh and South Uist. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Lewis, Northwest Lewis and Benbecula and North Uist.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Macaulay is 3,400 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 196.4%.

1881 census count

1,147

Ranked #3,487

Modern count

3,400

2016, ranked #2,002

Peak year

2016

3,400 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Macaulay had 1,147 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,487 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 3,400 in 2016, ranked #2,002.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,056 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Macaulay surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Macaulay surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Macaulay 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 620 #4,170
1861 historical 731 #3,729
1881 historical 1,147 #3,487
1891 historical 1,524 #2,900
1901 historical 2,056 #2,606
1911 historical 311 #11,150
1997 modern 2,939 #2,205
1998 modern 3,034 #2,220
1999 modern 3,079 #2,202
2000 modern 3,123 #2,155
2001 modern 3,062 #2,149
2002 modern 3,143 #2,140
2003 modern 3,067 #2,139
2004 modern 3,020 #2,173
2005 modern 3,041 #2,128
2006 modern 3,083 #2,096
2007 modern 3,095 #2,113
2008 modern 3,119 #2,119
2009 modern 3,189 #2,119
2010 modern 3,248 #2,125
2011 modern 3,195 #2,129
2012 modern 3,241 #2,077
2013 modern 3,327 #2,063
2014 modern 3,380 #2,043
2015 modern 3,382 #2,021
2016 modern 3,400 #2,002

Geography

Back to top

Where Macaulays are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lochs, Edinburgh, South Uist, Glasgow and Stornoway. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Lewis, Northwest Lewis, Benbecula and North Uist, Point and Stornoway West. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Lochs Ross And Cromarty
2 Edinburgh Edinburgh
3 South Uist Inverness
4 Glasgow Lanark
5 Stornoway Ross And Cromarty

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Lewis Na h-Eileanan Siar
2 Northwest Lewis Na h-Eileanan Siar
3 Benbecula and North Uist Na h-Eileanan Siar
4 Point Na h-Eileanan Siar
5 Stornoway West Na h-Eileanan Siar

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Macaulay

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Macaulay

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Macaulay surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Macaulay household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Macaulay is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Macaulay 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

Macaulay falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Macaulay

The surname MACAULAY is a Scottish name that originated in the Highlands of Scotland, likely during the late medieval period. It is derived from the Gaelic words "Mac" meaning "son of" and "Aulay," which is a Gaelic personal name meaning "servant of the Lord."

The earliest recorded use of the name MACAULAY can be traced back to the 16th century in the Scottish Highlands. The name was particularly prevalent in the regions of Argyll and Bute, where it is believed to have originated.

One of the earliest known references to the name MACAULAY can be found in the "Exchequer Rolls of Scotland" from the late 15th century, where the name appears as "MacAuley." This suggests that the name had already been established and in use among Highland clans by that time.

In the 17th century, the MACAULAY name gained prominence through the exploits of Aulay MACAULAY, a Scottish warrior and chief of the MACAULAY clan who played a significant role in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. He was born around 1610 and died in 1669.

Another notable figure bearing the MACAULAY surname was Thomas Babington MACAULAY, a renowned English historian, essayist, and poet. He was born in 1800 and died in 1859. MACAULAY's literary works, including his "History of England," had a profound impact on the historical and literary spheres of his time.

In the 19th century, the MACAULAY name gained further recognition with the birth of John MACAULAY, a Scottish explorer and naturalist. He was born in 1835 and played a crucial role in the exploration of the Pacific Northwest region of North America.

During the same period, John Simmons MACAULAY, a Scottish-American businessman and philanthropist, made significant contributions to the development of New York City. He was born in 1818 and died in 1897.

Another notable figure with the MACAULAY surname was Rose MACAULAY, an English novelist and travel writer. She was born in 1881 and died in 1958, and her works, including "The Towers of Trebizond," are considered literary classics.

While the MACAULAY name has its roots in Scotland, it has since spread across the globe, with individuals bearing this surname making notable contributions in various fields throughout history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Macaulay families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Macaulay 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. Ross-shire leads with 292 Macaulays recorded in 1881 and an index of 102.07x.

County Total Index
Ross-shire 292 102.07x
Inverness-shire 134 43.07x
Lanarkshire 99 2.94x
Renfrewshire 82 10.16x
Midlothian 63 4.51x
Yorkshire 48 0.46x
Caithness 39 27.34x
Surrey 38 0.75x
Middlesex 28 0.27x
Ayrshire 26 3.33x
Lancashire 19 0.15x
Leicestershire 18 1.56x
Wigtownshire 15 10.84x
Fife 14 2.27x
Argyllshire 12 4.14x
Dunbartonshire 11 3.93x
Dumfriesshire 10 4.35x
Aberdeenshire 8 0.83x
Cheshire 8 0.35x
Durham 8 0.26x
Cumberland 7 0.78x
Devon 7 0.32x
Hampshire 7 0.33x
Isle of Man 7 3.62x
Northumberland 7 0.45x
Angus 6 0.62x
Perthshire 6 1.28x
Sutherland 6 7.49x
Stirlingshire 5 1.30x
Kirkcudbrightshire 4 2.65x
Warwickshire 4 0.15x
West Lothian 4 2.55x
Berkshire 3 0.38x
Kincardineshire 3 2.36x
Bedfordshire 2 0.37x
Denbighshire 2 0.51x
Essex 2 0.10x
Glamorgan 2 0.11x
Gloucestershire 2 0.10x
Hertfordshire 2 0.28x
Sussex 2 0.11x
Flintshire 1 0.36x
Kent 1 0.03x
Lincolnshire 1 0.06x
Royal Navy 1 0.81x
Selkirkshire 1 1.06x
Wiltshire 1 0.11x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Uig in Ross-shire leads with 106 Macaulays recorded in 1881 and an index of 817.27x.

Place Total Index
Uig 106 817.27x
Stornoway 76 203.81x
Harris 52 332.48x
South Uist 52 239.52x
Lochs 41 179.98x
Govan 39 4.68x
Barony 36 4.22x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 26 4.63x
Glenshiel 23 1513.16x
Glasgow 22 3.68x
Latheron 18 75.44x
East Greenock 17 22.30x
Leeds 16 2.74x
Lochalsh 16 217.69x
Kintail 15 609.76x
Paisley High Church 14 21.78x
Abernethy Kincardine 13 236.79x
Burntisland 13 75.41x
Sorbie 13 214.88x
Camberwell 12 1.80x
Wick 12 26.04x
Irvine 11 50.78x
Lambeth 11 1.21x
Neilston 11 27.14x
North Uist 11 90.61x
Stanley Cum Wrenthorpe 11 22.94x
West Greenock 11 7.59x
Abbey 10 8.12x
Cramond 9 85.07x
Everton 9 2.28x
Leicester St Mary 9 9.64x
Auckinleck 8 33.14x
Dalkeith 8 29.06x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 8 5.96x
Kibworth Beauchamp 8 200.00x
Southcoates 8 13.96x
Tynron 8 533.33x
Clapham 7 5.37x
Cleator 7 18.75x
Edinburgh Buccleuch 7 21.20x
Gairloch 7 42.45x
Houston Killallan 7 89.63x
Kirkintilloch 7 18.41x
Onchan 7 12.56x
Reay 7 89.51x
St Marylebone London 7 1.26x
Elswick 6 4.85x
Kingston On Thames 6 4.92x
Lairg 6 123.20x
Perth West Church 6 27.04x
Trumisgarry 6 191.08x
Witton Cum Twambrooks 6 29.31x
Contin 5 96.15x
Edinburgh St Marys 5 18.43x
Kilchoman 5 54.95x
Liverpool 5 0.67x
Lochwinnoch 5 41.56x
Paddington London 5 1.31x
Southend 5 146.63x
Boness 4 18.49x
Bonhill 4 8.90x
Bow London 4 3.02x
Dundee 4 1.11x
Girthon 4 78.90x
Headingley Cum Burley 4 6.02x
Kensington London 4 0.69x
South Leith 4 2.55x
Aberdeen Old Machar 3 1.49x
Birmingham 3 0.34x
Fordoun 3 42.19x
Glass 3 81.52x
Hammersmith London 3 1.17x
Honiton 3 25.00x
Paisley Middle Church 3 6.38x
Portsea 3 0.72x
Alva 2 10.91x
Beith 2 8.59x
Littleham 2 12.61x
St Pancras London 2 0.24x
Wilshampstead 2 68.26x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 22
Annie 7
Elizabeth 6
Agnes 4
Emily 4
Anna 3
Catherine 3
Edith 3
Jane 3
Jessie 3
Margaret 3
Maria 3
Matilda 3
Sarah 3
Alice 2
Ann 2
Anne 2
Cathrine 2
Clara 2
Emma 2
Evelyn 2
Florence 2
Grace 2
Hannah 2
Belinda 1
Christina 1
Eliza 1
Elizth. 1
Ellen 1
Euphemia 1
Fanny 1
Flora 1
Georgina 1
Gertrude 1
Harriet 1
Helen 1
Hilda 1
Infant 1
Isabella 1
Janet 1
Jeanie 1
Jemima 1
Kate 1
Lane 1
Margt. 1
Martha 1
Muriel 1
Necia 1
Rebecca 1
Rose 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Macaulay surname: questions and answers

How common was the Macaulay surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,147 people were recorded with the Macaulay surname. That placed it at #3,487 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Macaulay surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 3,400 in 2016. That gives Macaulay a modern rank of #2,002.

What does the Macaulay surname mean?

Derived from the Gaelic "Mac Amhalghaidh," meaning "son of Amhalghaidh," a personal name meaning "like a prince."

What does the Macaulay map show?

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