NameCensus.

UK surname

Macfadyen

An old Scottish surname derived from the Gaelic 'Mac Phàidein' meaning 'son of the little pale one'.

In the 1881 census there were 112 people recorded with the Macfadyen surname, ranking it #18,501 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 757, ranked #7,230, up from #18,501 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Govan Combination, Kilfinichen and Iona and Barra. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Mull, Iona, Coll and Tiree, Benderloch Trail and Skye South.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Macfadyen is 776 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 575.9%.

1881 census count

112

Ranked #18,501

Modern count

757

2016, ranked #7,230

Peak year

2014

776 bearers

Map years

6

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Macfadyen had 112 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #18,501 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 757 in 2016, ranked #7,230.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 225 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Macfadyen surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Macfadyen surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Macfadyen 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 67 #21,440
1861 historical 64 #25,747
1881 historical 112 #18,501
1891 historical 197 #15,101
1901 historical 225 #14,047
1911 historical 88 #24,041
1997 modern 693 #7,306
1998 modern 721 #7,307
1999 modern 712 #7,422
2000 modern 700 #7,492
2001 modern 710 #7,286
2002 modern 746 #7,140
2003 modern 732 #7,137
2004 modern 723 #7,205
2005 modern 725 #7,131
2006 modern 719 #7,210
2007 modern 729 #7,222
2008 modern 750 #7,104
2009 modern 765 #7,136
2010 modern 767 #7,267
2011 modern 759 #7,232
2012 modern 742 #7,288
2013 modern 767 #7,209
2014 modern 776 #7,172
2015 modern 762 #7,210
2016 modern 757 #7,230

Geography

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Where Macfadyens are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Govan Combination, Kilfinichen and Iona, Barra, Kilninian and Kilmore and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Mull, Iona, Coll and Tiree, Benderloch Trail, Skye South, Oban South and Loch Awe. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Govan Combination Lanark
2 Kilfinichen and Iona Argyll
3 Barra Inverness
4 Kilninian and Kilmore Argyll
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Mull, Iona, Coll and Tiree Argyll and Bute
2 Benderloch Trail Argyll and Bute
3 Skye South Highland
4 Oban South Argyll and Bute
5 Loch Awe Argyll and Bute

Forenames

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First names often paired with Macfadyen

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Macfadyen

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

Macfadyen 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

Macfadyen falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Macfadyen

The surname MACFADYEN is of Scottish origin, deriving from the Gaelic Mac Phadain, which translates to "son of the little Patrick." The name first appeared in the Hebrides and the west coast of Scotland in the 13th century.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the MACFADYEN surname can be found in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland, where a John Macfadyane is mentioned in 1476. The name is also found in the Register of the Privy Seal of Scotland, which includes a reference to a Thomas Makfadzeane in 1539.

The MACFADYEN name has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One of the most famous was Dugald MACFADYEN (1776-1847), a Scottish minister and author who wrote extensively on religious topics. Another prominent bearer of the name was John MACFADYEN (1801-1865), a Scottish physician and writer who authored works on medical subjects.

In the 18th century, a notable MACFADYEN was Archibald MACFADYEN (1725-1798), a Scottish merchant and landowner who played a role in the development of the city of Glasgow. Another individual of note was James MACFADYEN (1847-1915), a Scottish architect who designed several notable buildings in the city of Edinburgh.

The MACFADYEN name can also be traced back to the island of Islay, where it was associated with the MACFADYEN clan. One of the earliest recorded individuals from this clan was John MACFADYEN, who was mentioned in the Rental of Islay in 1686.

While the MACFADYEN surname has its roots in Scotland, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly through Scottish emigration. The name can now be found in countries such as Canada, Australia, and the United States, where it has been carried on by the descendants of Scottish settlers.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Macfadyen families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Macfadyen 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 30 Macfadyens recorded in 1881 and an index of 118.81x.

County Total Index
Argyllshire 30 118.81x
Lanarkshire 30 10.23x
Inverness-shire 14 51.68x
Renfrewshire 8 11.38x
Durham 4 1.48x
Midlothian 3 2.47x
Surrey 3 0.68x
Orkney 1 10.02x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kilfinichen in Argyllshire leads with 29 Macfadyens recorded in 1881 and an index of 4677.42x.

Place Total Index
Kilfinichen 29 4677.42x
Govan 18 24.81x
Barra 14 2058.82x
Dalziel 7 221.52x
Abbey 5 46.60x
Barony 4 5.39x
Gateshead 4 19.80x
Camberwell 3 5.18x
Duddingston 3 122.95x
Glasgow 1 1.92x
Kilmalcolm 1 119.05x
Kilninian Kilmore 1 129.87x
Paisley High Church 1 17.86x
Rousay Egilshay 1 285.71x
West Greenock 1 7.92x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 2
Emma 1
Margt. 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 1
John 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 Macfadyen households.

FAQ

Macfadyen surname: questions and answers

How common was the Macfadyen surname in 1881?

In 1881, 112 people were recorded with the Macfadyen surname. That placed it at #18,501 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Macfadyen surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 757 in 2016. That gives Macfadyen a modern rank of #7,230.

What does the Macfadyen surname mean?

An old Scottish surname derived from the Gaelic 'Mac Phàidein' meaning 'son of the little pale one'.

What does the Macfadyen map show?

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