NameCensus.

UK surname

Macewan

A Scottish surname meaning "son of Evan" or "descendant of Evan".

In the 1881 census there were 74 people recorded with the Macewan surname, ranking it #23,062 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 359, ranked #12,898, up from #23,062 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Govan Combination, Edinburgh and Kilmichael Glassary. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Oban South, Luncarty and Dunkeld and Cheshire East.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Macewan is 368 in 2015. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 385.1%.

1881 census count

74

Ranked #23,062

Modern count

359

2016, ranked #12,898

Peak year

2015

368 bearers

Map years

5

1891 to 2016

Key insights

  • Macewan had 74 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #23,062 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 359 in 2016, ranked #12,898.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 196 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Macewan surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Macewan surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Macewan 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 60 #22,584
1861 historical 90 #22,312
1881 historical 74 #23,062
1891 historical 114 #22,006
1901 historical 196 #15,329
1911 historical 40 #28,913
1997 modern 331 #12,668
1998 modern 335 #12,915
1999 modern 303 #13,873
2000 modern 310 #13,618
2001 modern 299 #13,758
2002 modern 326 #13,241
2003 modern 309 #13,559
2004 modern 328 #13,058
2005 modern 306 #13,657
2006 modern 306 #13,724
2007 modern 307 #13,822
2008 modern 323 #13,462
2009 modern 338 #13,302
2010 modern 338 #13,550
2011 modern 354 #12,982
2012 modern 355 #12,816
2013 modern 358 #12,952
2014 modern 364 #12,876
2015 modern 368 #12,661
2016 modern 359 #12,898

Geography

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Where Macewans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Govan Combination, Edinburgh, Kilmichael Glassary, North Knapdale and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Oban South, Luncarty and Dunkeld, Cheshire East, Lochaber East and North and Test Valley. 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 Govan Combination Lanark
2 Edinburgh Edinburgh
3 Kilmichael Glassary Argyll
4 North Knapdale Argyll
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Oban South Argyll and Bute
2 Luncarty and Dunkeld Perth and Kinross
3 Cheshire East 026 Cheshire East
4 Lochaber East and North Highland
5 Test Valley 009 Test Valley

Forenames

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First names often paired with Macewan

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Macewan

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

Legacy Communities

Group

Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities

Nationally, the Macewan surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Macewan household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Households in these areas often include divorced or separated parents and commonly include children and young adults. The age structure is heavily skewed towards the most advanced age groups. Individuals identifying as members of ethnic minorities are not present in large numbers. Flats predominate, with some terraced, semi-detached, and detached units. Multiple car ownership is low, and housing is predominantly in the private and social rented sectors. Employment is less skewed towards traditional routine industrial occupations. Levels of educational attainment are generally low. The Group occurs principally in the Central Lowlands of Scotland and other Scottish towns.

Wider pattern

These neighbourhoods characteristically comprise pockets of flats that are scattered across the UK, particularly in towns that retain or have legacies of heavy industry or are in more remote seaside locations. Employed residents of these neighbourhoods work mainly in low-skilled occupations. Residents typically have limited educational qualifications. Unemployment is above average. Some residents live in overcrowded housing within the social rented sector and experience long-term disability. All adult age groups are represented, although there is an overall age bias towards elderly people in general and the very old in particular. Individuals identifying as belonging to ethnic minorities or Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups are uncommon.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

Senior Professionals

Within London, Macewan is most associated with areas classed as Senior Professionals, part of Central Connected Professionals and Managers. 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

These very central neighbourhoods house residents whose ages are more skewed towards older age cohorts than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Few households have young children. Rates of illness are low. Indian ethnicity is rare compared to the Supergroup mean. Property under occupation is more common, despite the centrality of neighbourhoods, and more residents live in communal establishments than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Adult residents of these neighbourhoods are typically aged 25 to 44, working full-time in professional, managerial or associate professional occupations. There are few families with dependent children. The predominantly Inner London neighbourhoods have an international character, including many residents born elsewhere in Europe alongside high numbers of individuals identifying as of Chinese ethnicity. Many individuals are never married, childless and/or living alone. Above average numbers of individuals, likely to be full-time students, live in communal establishments. Elsewhere, privately rented flats are the dominant housing type. Residents of these areas are well-qualified, with a significant number holding Level 4 or above qualifications. There is a correspondingly high level of individuals employed full-time in professional, managerial and associated professional or technical occupations. Employing industries are financial, real estate, professional, administration, and, to a lesser degree, transport and communications. Unemployment is uncommon.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Macewan 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

Macewan falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Macewan is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Macewan

The surname MACEWAN has its origins in Scotland, dating back to the 13th century. It is derived from the Gaelic words "mac" meaning "son" and "Eoghain" which is the Gaelic form of the name Ewen or Evan. The name essentially means "son of Ewen" or "son of Evan."

The earliest recorded instance of the MACEWAN surname can be found in the Ragman Rolls, a collection of instruments of homage and fealty to King Edward I of England in the late 13th century. The document lists several individuals with variations of the name, such as Makeuan and Makewan.

In the 16th century, the name MACEWAN appeared in various Scottish records, including the Register of the Privy Seal of Scotland. One notable individual from this period was John Macewan, a merchant and burgess of Glasgow, who lived in the late 16th century.

During the 17th century, the MACEWAN surname was well-established in various parts of Scotland, particularly in the counties of Ayrshire, Lanarkshire, and Renfrewshire. One of the earliest recorded examples from this period is Robert Macewan, a writer and notary public in Glasgow, who was born in 1600.

In the 18th century, the MACEWAN name appeared in several historical documents, such as the Old Parochial Registers of Scotland. One notable bearer of the name from this period was John Macewan, a Scottish minister and author who lived from 1733 to 1803.

In the 19th century, the MACEWAN surname continued to be prominent in Scotland, with several individuals making significant contributions to various fields. One such individual was John Macewan, a Scottish entrepreneur and philanthropist who lived from 1848 to 1920. He founded the Macewan Trust, which provided educational opportunities for underprivileged children in Glasgow.

Another notable bearer of the MACEWAN surname from the 19th century was James Macewan, a Scottish poet and writer who lived from 1854 to 1923. He is best known for his works celebrating the Scottish rural life and landscapes.

As the MACEWAN surname spread beyond Scotland, it also gained prominence in other parts of the world. One notable example is John Macewan, a Canadian politician and lawyer who lived from 1891 to 1969. He served as a member of the Canadian House of Commons and played a significant role in the development of labor laws in Canada.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Macewan families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Macewan 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. Argyllshire leads with 11 Macewans recorded in 1881 and an index of 72.37x.

County Total Index
Argyllshire 11 72.37x
Renfrewshire 10 23.64x
Lanarkshire 9 5.10x
East Lothian 7 96.82x
Buteshire 5 151.06x
Angus 3 5.93x
Midlothian 3 4.10x
Middlesex 2 0.37x
Warwickshire 2 1.45x
Dumfriesshire 1 8.29x
Fife 1 3.09x
Inverness-shire 1 6.13x
Stirlingshire 1 4.97x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Paisley Low Church in Renfrewshire leads with 9 Macewans recorded in 1881 and an index of 671.64x.

Place Total Index
Paisley Low Church 9 671.64x
Barony 7 15.66x
Gladsmuir 7 2187.50x
Dalavich 6 15000.00x
Bowmore 5 1428.57x
Rothesay 5 312.50x
Dundee 3 15.89x
Birmingham 2 4.36x
Cadder 1 76.92x
Cupar 1 70.92x
Ealing 1 20.49x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 1 3.40x
Edinburgh St Georges 1 65.79x
Edinburgh St Stephens 1 69.44x
Fort Augustusor 1 10000.00x
Govan 1 2.29x
Larbert 1 83.33x
Moffat 1 181.82x
St George Hanover 1 14.03x
West Greenock 1 13.16x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 1
Julianna 1
Sarah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Thomas 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 Macewan households.

Occupation Count
Nurse 1
Sawyer 1

FAQ

Macewan surname: questions and answers

How common was the Macewan surname in 1881?

In 1881, 74 people were recorded with the Macewan surname. That placed it at #23,062 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Macewan surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 359 in 2016. That gives Macewan a modern rank of #12,898.

What does the Macewan surname mean?

A Scottish surname meaning "son of Evan" or "descendant of Evan".

What does the Macewan map show?

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