NameCensus.

UK surname

Maccarthy

An Irish surname derived from Mac Carthach, meaning "descendant of Carthach", an ancient Celtic king.

In the 1881 census there were 173 people recorded with the Maccarthy surname, ranking it #14,112 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 260, ranked #16,349, down from #14,112 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Manchester and St George the Martyr, St Andrew Holborn above the Bars, Furnival's Inn. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wycombe, Ealing and Enfield.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Maccarthy is 433 in 1997. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 50.3%.

1881 census count

173

Ranked #14,112

Modern count

260

2016, ranked #16,349

Peak year

1997

433 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Maccarthy had 173 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #14,112 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 260 in 2016, ranked #16,349.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 224 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Maccarthy surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Maccarthy surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Maccarthy 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 108 #16,308
1861 historical 151 #15,209
1881 historical 173 #14,112
1891 historical 124 #20,818
1901 historical 164 #17,144
1911 historical 224 #13,914
1997 modern 433 #10,375
1998 modern 372 #12,008
1999 modern 262 #15,308
2000 modern 274 #14,796
2001 modern 258 #15,194
2002 modern 244 #16,085
2003 modern 228 #16,663
2004 modern 231 #16,591
2005 modern 230 #16,583
2006 modern 240 #16,177
2007 modern 250 #15,901
2008 modern 250 #16,065
2009 modern 255 #16,183
2010 modern 284 #15,312
2011 modern 288 #15,009
2012 modern 263 #15,954
2013 modern 265 #16,138
2014 modern 261 #16,421
2015 modern 253 #16,669
2016 modern 260 #16,349

Geography

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Where Maccarthys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Manchester, St George the Martyr, St Andrew Holborn above the Bars, Furnival's Inn and Cardiff St John and St Mary. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wycombe, Ealing, Enfield and Haringey. 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 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 St George the Martyr, St Andrew Holborn above the Bars, Furnival's Inn London (Central Districts)
5 Cardiff St John and St Mary Glamorganshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wycombe 021 Wycombe
2 Ealing 005 Ealing
3 Enfield 033 Enfield
4 Haringey 002 Haringey
5 Haringey 025 Haringey

Forenames

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First names often paired with Maccarthy

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Maccarthy

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Maccarthy surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Maccarthy household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Maccarthy 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

Maccarthy 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

Maccarthy falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Maccarthy is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Maccarthy

The surname MacCarthy originates from Ireland and dates back to the 12th century. It is an anglicized form of the Gaelic name "Mac Carthaigh," which means "son of Carthach." The name Carthach itself is derived from the Old Irish words "carth" meaning "loving" and "ach" meaning "having the quality of."

The MacCarthys were one of the most powerful and influential families in the province of Munster, particularly in the counties of Cork and Kerry. They were descendants of the Eóganacht Chaisil dynasty, which ruled Munster from the 4th to the 12th century.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the MacCarthy name can be found in the Annals of Inisfallen, a chronicle of medieval Irish history, which dates back to the 12th century. The annals mention Cárthach, the progenitor of the MacCarthy clan, who was the King of Desmond (present-day Cork and Kerry) in the 12th century.

Another notable historical reference to the MacCarthy name is the Book of Munster, a medieval Irish manuscript from the 16th century, which contains genealogies and histories of the prominent families of Munster, including the MacCarthys.

Some of the notable individuals with the MacCarthy surname throughout history include:

1. Donal Gott MacCarthy (c. 1594 - 1665), an Irish soldier and landowner who fought for the Catholic Confederation of Kilkenny during the Irish Confederate Wars.

2. Justin MacCarthy (1830 - 1892), an Irish novelist, biographer, and historian who wrote extensively about the history of Ireland and the Irish people.

3. Denis Florence MacCarthy (1817 - 1882), an Irish poet and writer who was a prominent figure in the Young Ireland movement.

4. Cormac MacCarthy (c. 1459 - 1494), the King of Desmond from 1487 until his death, who was known for his resistance against English rule in Ireland.

5. Fineen MacCarthy (c. 1505 - 1572), an Irish nobleman and Lord of Muskerry, who was a prominent figure in the Second Desmond Rebellion against English rule.

The MacCarthy surname has also been associated with various place names in Ireland, such as Ballymacarthy (meaning "the town of the MacCarthys") and Kinsale (derived from the Irish "Cion tSáile," meaning "the headland of the sea," which was once a MacCarthy stronghold).

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Maccarthy families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Maccarthy 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. Middlesex leads with 23 Maccarthys recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.99x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 23 2.99x
Yorkshire 18 2.36x
Glamorgan 13 9.69x
Warwickshire 8 4.12x
Cornwall 6 6.88x
Surrey 6 1.60x
Buckinghamshire 1 2.15x
Kent 1 0.38x
Monmouthshire 1 1.80x
Royal Navy 1 10.89x
Staffordshire 1 0.38x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Leeds in Yorkshire leads with 12 Maccarthys recorded in 1881 and an index of 27.84x.

Place Total Index
Leeds 12 27.84x
Ystradyfodwg 10 84.96x
St Andrew Holborn London 7 209.58x
St Endellion 6 2000.00x
St Anne Soho London 5 113.64x
St Martin In Fields 5 108.46x
Aston 4 7.48x
Edgbaston 4 66.45x
Nether Hallam 4 38.72x
St Clement Danes London 4 251.57x
Lambeth 2 2.98x
Alverthorpe Cum Thornes 1 36.10x
Banstead 1 98.04x
Bedwellty 1 10.17x
Bradford 1 5.41x
Eton 1 94.34x
Folkestone 1 19.61x
Llanilterne 1 3333.33x
Newington 1 3.51x
Peterstone Super Ely 1 1666.67x
Reigate Foreign 1 24.63x
Royal Navy 1 12.74x
Southwark St George Martyr 1 6.45x
St John Near Swansea 1 60.24x
Stoke Upon Trent 1 3.63x
Westminster St James 1 12.63x
Willesden 1 13.77x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 5
Ellen 4
Ann 2
Catherine 2
Elizabeth 2
Johanna 2
Laura 2
Margaret 2
Alice 1
Annie 1
Edith 1
Eedith 1
Emily 1
Florence 1
Frances 1
Hanna 1
Joannah 1
Lizzie 1
Louise 1
Mabel 1
May 1
Sarah 1
Susan 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 8
Charles 6
Daniel 4
Patrick 3
Timothy 3
Egerton 2
Jeremiah 2
William 2
Alfred 1
Cornelius 1
D. 1
Denis 1
Edward 1
Francis 1
James 1
Mathew 1
Michael 1
Richard 1
Velbore 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Maccarthy surname: questions and answers

How common was the Maccarthy surname in 1881?

In 1881, 173 people were recorded with the Maccarthy surname. That placed it at #14,112 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Maccarthy surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 260 in 2016. That gives Maccarthy a modern rank of #16,349.

What does the Maccarthy surname mean?

An Irish surname derived from Mac Carthach, meaning "descendant of Carthach", an ancient Celtic king.

What does the Maccarthy map show?

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