NameCensus.

UK surname

Macgill

Scottish surname derived from the Gaelic "Mac Gille" meaning "son of the servant."

In the 1881 census there were 131 people recorded with the Macgill surname, ranking it #16,824 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 180, ranked #21,022, down from #16,824 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Kilbride, Carsphairn and Govan Combination. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Portobello, Whisky Isles and Kirklees.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Macgill is 185 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 37.4%.

1881 census count

131

Ranked #16,824

Modern count

180

2016, ranked #21,022

Peak year

1998

185 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Macgill had 131 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #16,824 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 180 in 2016, ranked #21,022.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 171 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Student Living and Professional Footholds.

Macgill surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Macgill surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Macgill 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 117 #15,456
1861 historical 103 #20,650
1881 historical 131 #16,824
1891 historical 122 #21,053
1901 historical 171 #16,689
1911 historical 70 #25,853
1997 modern 183 #18,642
1998 modern 185 #18,973
1999 modern 164 #20,621
2000 modern 158 #21,055
2001 modern 155 #21,047
2002 modern 155 #21,431
2003 modern 167 #20,245
2004 modern 160 #20,926
2005 modern 160 #20,899
2006 modern 170 #20,214
2007 modern 177 #19,965
2008 modern 179 #20,015
2009 modern 181 #20,277
2010 modern 177 #21,034
2011 modern 171 #21,337
2012 modern 172 #21,219
2013 modern 177 #21,170
2014 modern 180 #21,115
2015 modern 175 #21,372
2016 modern 180 #21,022

Geography

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Where Macgills are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Kilbride, Carsphairn, Govan Combination, Edinburgh and St Paul Deptford, St Nicholas Deptford. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Portobello, Whisky Isles, Kirklees, Deans Village and Cults, Bieldside and Milltimber West. 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 Kilbride Bute
2 Carsphairn Kirkcudbright
3 Govan Combination Lanark
4 Edinburgh Edinburgh
5 St Paul Deptford, St Nicholas Deptford London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Portobello City of Edinburgh
2 Whisky Isles Argyll and Bute
3 Kirklees 027 Kirklees
4 Deans Village City of Edinburgh
5 Cults, Bieldside and Milltimber West Aberdeen City

Forenames

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First names often paired with Macgill

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Macgill

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

Student Living and Professional Footholds

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

The Group includes many students, some of whom reside in communal residences. Single-person households are the most prevalent and the modal age band is 25 to 44. There are few families with dependent children. A significant number of White residents were born in EU countries (although UK-born residents are more common than in the rest of the Group), and households reflect a diversity of ethnic groups. Residential turnover is exceptionally high and, communal properties aside, flats are the norm. Some properties, including those in the private rental sector, are over-crowded. Many residents are professionals and technicians educated to degree level, and the Group is particularly common near the campuses of established university towns and cities.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Macgill 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

Macgill 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

Macgill 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 Macgill 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 - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Macgill

The surname MACGILL originated in Scotland, with the earliest recorded instances dating back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Gaelic words "mac" meaning "son" and "gill" meaning "servant" or "follower." The name is believed to have been first used to identify someone who was a follower or servant of a prominent clan chief or lord.

In the 13th century, a variant spelling of the name, "MacGyll," appeared in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland, which were financial records kept by the Scottish government. This indicates that the name was in use during that time period and was likely associated with individuals who served in administrative or official capacities.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname MACGILL was John MacGill, who was born around 1300 in Ayrshire, Scotland. He was a notable ecclesiastic and served as the Bishop of Dunkeld from 1347 until his death in 1368.

Another prominent figure was Sir James MacGill, who lived in the 16th century. He was a Scottish lawyer and statesman, serving as Lord Clerk Register of Scotland from 1554 to 1558. He played a significant role in the political and legal affairs of the time.

In the 17th century, Thomas MacGill, born around 1615, was a Presbyterian minister and author. He wrote several religious works and was known for his involvement in the Covenanter movement, a Scottish Presbyterian movement that sought to maintain the independence of the Church of Scotland from the English crown.

Moving forward to the 18th century, Patrick MacGill, born in 1670 in Ayrshire, was a renowned mathematician and astronomer. He made significant contributions to the field of navigation and published works on the calculation of longitude at sea.

In the 19th century, William MacGill, born in 1801 in Lanarkshire, was a prominent Scottish poet and songwriter. He wrote many popular songs and ballads that celebrated Scottish culture and traditions.

Throughout its history, the surname MACGILL has been associated with individuals from various walks of life, including clergy, lawyers, academics, and artists. While the name originated in Scotland, it has since been carried across the globe by those of Scottish descent.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Macgill families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Macgill 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. Lanarkshire leads with 20 Macgills recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.98x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 20 5.98x
Midlothian 15 10.83x
Ayrshire 10 12.92x
Buteshire 10 159.74x
Surrey 10 1.99x
Morayshire 7 43.59x
Stirlingshire 7 18.36x
Middlesex 6 0.58x
Aberdeenshire 5 5.22x
Kent 3 0.85x
Lancashire 3 0.24x
Renfrewshire 3 3.74x
Dunbartonshire 2 7.20x
Argyllshire 1 3.47x
Caernarfonshire 1 2.39x
Fife 1 1.63x
Sussex 1 0.57x
Sutherland 1 12.58x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kilbride in Buteshire leads with 10 Macgills recorded in 1881 and an index of 1298.70x.

Place Total Index
Kilbride 10 1298.70x
Barony 9 10.64x
Bothkennar 7 614.04x
Duffus 7 492.96x
Glasgow 6 10.11x
St George In East London 6 61.73x
Woodmansterne 6 5454.55x
Fraserburgh 5 185.19x
South Leith 5 32.07x
Camberwell 4 6.06x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 4 7.18x
Govan 4 4.84x
Riccarton 4 341.88x
Colinton 3 194.81x
Irvine 3 139.53x
West Greenock 3 20.86x
Didsbury 2 122.70x
Edinburgh St Georges 2 69.69x
Kirkintilloch 2 53.05x
Riccarton Hurlford 2 147.06x
Tonbridge 2 15.72x
Bowmore 1 151.52x
Brighton 1 2.84x
Dalry 1 27.47x
Elie 1 416.67x
Inveresk 1 26.67x
Lairg 1 208.33x
Llanbeblig 1 23.58x
Maryhill 1 15.27x
Minster In Sheppey 1 17.12x
Salford 1 2.77x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Agnes 1
Amelia 1
Catherine 1
Elizabeth 1
Emma 1
Harriet 1
Mary 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Thomas 4
Andrew 2
Edward 2
Eliger 1
Gordon 1
Graham 1
Henery 1
Jacob 1
John 1
Robert 1
Thos. 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 Macgill households.

FAQ

Macgill surname: questions and answers

How common was the Macgill surname in 1881?

In 1881, 131 people were recorded with the Macgill surname. That placed it at #16,824 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Macgill surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 180 in 2016. That gives Macgill a modern rank of #21,022.

What does the Macgill surname mean?

Scottish surname derived from the Gaelic "Mac Gille" meaning "son of the servant."

What does the Macgill map show?

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