NameCensus.

UK surname

Macdermid

A Scottish surname meaning "son of the tawny one" or "son of the brown man".

In the 1881 census there were 36 people recorded with the Macdermid surname, ranking it #28,559 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 141, ranked #24,753, up from #28,559 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Skye South, Harris and Selby.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Macdermid is 141 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 291.7%.

1881 census count

36

Ranked #28,559

Modern count

141

2016, ranked #24,753

Peak year

2016

141 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Macdermid had 36 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #28,559 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 141 in 2016, ranked #24,753.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 69 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Macdermid surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Macdermid surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Macdermid 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 40 #26,118
1861 historical 69 #25,057
1881 historical 36 #28,559
1891 historical 46 #30,657
1901 historical 49 #28,696
1911 historical 9 #32,754
1997 modern 109 #25,650
1998 modern 120 #24,793
1999 modern 121 #24,855
2000 modern 130 #23,785
2001 modern 128 #23,665
2002 modern 127 #24,267
2003 modern 118 #25,146
2004 modern 109 #26,607
2005 modern 108 #26,736
2006 modern 109 #26,872
2007 modern 117 #26,066
2008 modern 118 #26,212
2009 modern 116 #27,062
2010 modern 123 #26,728
2011 modern 127 #25,926
2012 modern 128 #25,852
2013 modern 135 #25,395
2014 modern 134 #25,711
2015 modern 136 #25,352
2016 modern 141 #24,753

Geography

Back to top

Where Macdermids are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Skye South, Harris, Selby, IZ07 and Harrogate. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Skye South Highland
2 Harris Na h-Eileanan Siar
3 Selby 001 Selby
4 IZ07 West Dunbartonshire
5 Harrogate 014 Harrogate

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Macdermid

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Macdermid

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Macdermid, 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 Macdermid surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Macdermid 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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Macdermid 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

Macdermid is most concentrated in decile 2 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Macdermid 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 Macdermid is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Macdermid

The surname MacDermid has its origins in the Scottish Highlands and is believed to date back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Gaelic "Mac Dhiarmaid," meaning "son of Diarmaid." Diarmaid was a personal name that was common in ancient Scotland, particularly in the western regions such as Argyll and the Isles.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a collection of Scottish nobles who pledged allegiance to King Edward I of England. The document lists a "John MacDermid" from Argyllshire. This suggests that the name was well-established in the region by the late 13th century.

In the 16th century, the MacDermids were recorded as a clan in the Scottish Highlands, with their territories centered around the Isle of Arran and parts of Kintyre. The clan was said to have been involved in various feuds and conflicts with neighboring clans, such as the MacDonalds and the Campbells.

One notable figure from this period was Sir John MacDermid, who was appointed as the Keeper of the Royal Castle on the Isle of Arran in the early 1500s. He played a significant role in defending the island against English and Irish raiders.

In the 17th century, the MacDermids were among the clans that supported the Royalist cause during the English Civil War. Several members of the clan fought alongside the Marquis of Montrose, a renowned Scottish Royalist commander. One such individual was Captain Angus MacDermid, who was killed in battle at Inverlochy in 1645.

As the clan system began to decline in the 18th century, many MacDermids left their traditional territories in search of new opportunities. Some settled in other parts of Scotland, while others emigrated to countries like the United States, Canada, and Australia.

One notable figure from this period was William MacDermid (1725-1796), a Scottish soldier and explorer who served in the British Army during the French and Indian War. He later became a fur trader and explorer in the American Midwest, documenting his travels and encounters with Native American tribes.

Throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries, the MacDermid surname continued to be found across Scotland, as well as in various parts of the British Empire and beyond. Individuals with this name contributed to various fields, including politics, academia, and the arts.

One example is Sir Archibald MacDermid (1834-1908), a Scottish-born Australian politician and businessman who served as the Mayor of Melbourne and played a significant role in the development of the city's infrastructure and public works.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Macdermid families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Macdermid 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 17 Macdermids recorded in 1881 and an index of 39.45x.

County Total Index
Midlothian 17 39.45x
Inverness-shire 6 62.44x
Lanarkshire 4 3.85x
Perthshire 2 13.85x
Ross-shire 2 22.65x
Staffordshire 2 1.84x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Edinburgh Old Church in Midlothian leads with 9 Macdermids recorded in 1881 and an index of 2571.43x.

Place Total Index
Edinburgh Old Church 9 2571.43x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 8 46.14x
South Uist 5 746.27x
Glasgow 3 16.24x
Auchtergaven 2 833.33x
Wolstanton 2 60.61x
Barony 1 3.80x
Kincardine 1 625.00x
Snizort 1 416.67x
Stornoway 1 86.96x

Top male names

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

Name Count
Chrisr. 1
William 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Macdermid households.

Occupation Count
Iron Worker 1
Scholar 1

FAQ

Macdermid surname: questions and answers

How common was the Macdermid surname in 1881?

In 1881, 36 people were recorded with the Macdermid surname. That placed it at #28,559 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Macdermid surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 141 in 2016. That gives Macdermid a modern rank of #24,753.

What does the Macdermid surname mean?

A Scottish surname meaning "son of the tawny one" or "son of the brown man".

What does the Macdermid map show?

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