NameCensus.

UK surname

Macken

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic name Mac Cana meaning "son of Cana".

In the 1881 census there were 143 people recorded with the Macken surname, ranking it #15,955 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 521, ranked #9,701, up from #15,955 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St Mary, London parishes and Llanstadwell. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Pembrokeshire, Leicester and Powys.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Macken is 527 in 2011. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 264.3%.

1881 census count

143

Ranked #15,955

Modern count

521

2016, ranked #9,701

Peak year

2011

527 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Macken had 143 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #15,955 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 521 in 2016, ranked #9,701.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 172 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Macken surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Macken surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Macken 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 84 #19,067
1861 historical 172 #13,619
1881 historical 143 #15,955
1891 historical 132 #19,976
1901 historical 108 #21,836
1911 historical 164 #16,879
1997 modern 431 #10,410
1998 modern 463 #10,192
1999 modern 487 #9,866
2000 modern 483 #9,891
2001 modern 475 #9,827
2002 modern 487 #9,820
2003 modern 489 #9,646
2004 modern 477 #9,833
2005 modern 491 #9,566
2006 modern 471 #9,907
2007 modern 472 #9,978
2008 modern 473 #10,056
2009 modern 481 #10,148
2010 modern 513 #9,853
2011 modern 527 #9,584
2012 modern 507 #9,761
2013 modern 512 #9,847
2014 modern 521 #9,788
2015 modern 525 #9,669
2016 modern 521 #9,701

Geography

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Where Mackens are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St Mary, London parishes, Llanstadwell, Gateshead and Liverpool. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Pembrokeshire, Leicester, Powys, Burnley and Shropshire. 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 St Mary Pembrokeshire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Llanstadwell Pembrokeshire
4 Gateshead Durham
5 Liverpool Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Pembrokeshire 013 Pembrokeshire
2 Leicester 036 Leicester
3 Powys 010 Powys
4 Burnley 001 Burnley
5 Shropshire 022 Shropshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Macken

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Macken

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Macken surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Macken household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Macken 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

Macken is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Macken falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Macken is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Macken

The surname Macken is of Irish and Scottish origin, with roots dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Gaelic personal name "Mac Con," which means "son of the hound." The earliest recorded spelling of the name was found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it was listed as "Macchen."

The name Macken was predominantly found in the counties of Donegal, Derry, and Tyrone in Ulster, Ireland, as well as in the Highlands of Scotland. It is thought that the name may have originated from a clan or family that played a significant role in the region during the medieval period.

One of the earliest recorded bearers of the name was Thorfinn Macken, a Scottish nobleman who lived in the 13th century and was known for his involvement in the Wars of Scottish Independence. Another notable figure was Angus Macken, a 16th-century Scottish clan chief who was renowned for his military prowess and leadership during the Anglo-Scottish Wars.

In Ireland, the name Macken has been associated with several prominent individuals throughout history. One such individual was Seán Macken (1604-1678), an Irish soldier and landowner who fought for the Confederation of Kilkenny during the Irish Confederate Wars. Additionally, Patrick Macken (1683-1755) was a renowned Irish architect and engineer who designed several notable buildings, including parts of Trinity College Dublin.

Another significant bearer of the name was John Macken (1779-1853), an Irish politician and lawyer who served as a Member of Parliament for the Clogher constituency in the early 19th century. He was known for his advocacy of Catholic Emancipation and his efforts to reform the Irish legal system.

The name Macken has also been associated with various place names in Ireland and Scotland, such as Mackens Falls in County Donegal, Ireland, and Macken's Castle in Argyll, Scotland. These place names further highlight the historical significance and geographical distribution of the surname.

It is worth noting that the name Macken has undergone various spellings throughout history, including Mackens, MacKen, and McKen, among others. These variations often reflect regional dialects and linguistic influences over time.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Macken families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Macken 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. Durham leads with 24 Mackens recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.51x.

County Total Index
Durham 24 6.51x
Lancashire 18 1.22x
Middlesex 15 1.21x
Pembrokeshire 14 35.56x
Kent 11 2.60x
Yorkshire 10 0.81x
Glamorgan 6 2.78x
Northumberland 5 2.71x
Cumberland 4 3.75x
Lanarkshire 4 1.00x
Gloucestershire 3 1.23x
Kirkcudbrightshire 3 16.73x
Sussex 3 1.44x
Staffordshire 2 0.48x
Cambridgeshire 1 1.27x
Devon 1 0.39x
Flintshire 1 3.00x
Midlothian 1 0.60x
Surrey 1 0.17x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Gateshead in Durham leads with 12 Mackens recorded in 1881 and an index of 43.49x.

Place Total Index
Gateshead 12 43.49x
Wortley In Bramley 8 82.30x
Bootle Cum Linacre 7 59.98x
Pembroke St Mary 7 138.07x
Woolwich 7 44.84x
Cardiff St Mary 6 50.51x
Jeffreston 6 2857.14x
Oldham 6 12.65x
St Giles In Fields 5 117.10x
Barony 4 3.95x
Cowpen Bewley 4 952.38x
Everton 4 8.54x
Heworth 4 55.10x
Newcastle On Tyne St 4 41.88x
St Pancras London 4 4.01x
Whitehaven 4 70.42x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 3 13.12x
Ramsgate 3 43.48x
Urr 3 128.76x
Eastbourne 2 20.81x
Eldon 2 344.83x
Hammersmith London 2 6.56x
Old Artillery Ground 2 186.92x
Bilston 1 12.35x
Chelsea London 1 2.68x
Deptford St Nicholas 1 29.85x
Edinburgh Lady Yesters 1 86.96x
Hove 1 10.92x
Mold 1 33.11x
Monkwearmouth Shore 1 13.91x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 1 9.08x
Plymstock 1 74.07x
Ripon 1 35.09x
Sheffield 1 2.56x
Southwark St John 1 26.39x
St Andrewthe Less 1 11.16x
St Florence 1 714.29x
St George Bloomsbury 1 14.06x
Stockton On Tees 1 5.63x
West Derby 1 2.33x
Wolverhampton 1 3.11x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 11
Ann 3
Catherine 3
Elizabeth 3
Margaret 3
Alice 2
Bridget 2
Maria 2
Martha 2
Ada 1
Adaline 1
Agnes 1
Annie 1
Clara 1
Dorothy 1
Eliza 1
Elizth. 1
Ellen 1
Emma 1
Florence 1
Harriett 1
Jane 1
Josephine 1
Julia 1
Kate 1
Lizzie 1
Maud 1
Maude 1
Pat 1
R. 1
Sarah 1
Sophia 1
Susan 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 9
John 7
Patrick 6
George 4
William 3
Arthur 2
Christopher 2
Francis 2
Henry 2
Joseph 2
Peter 2
Terrence 2
Thomas 2
W. 2
Alfred 1
Daniel 1
Ellen 1
Eric 1
Evan 1
Falconer 1
Fred 1
G. 1
Lucias 1
Luke 1
Michael 1
Owen 1
Pat. 1
Richard 1
T. 1
Willia 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Macken surname: questions and answers

How common was the Macken surname in 1881?

In 1881, 143 people were recorded with the Macken surname. That placed it at #15,955 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Macken surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 521 in 2016. That gives Macken a modern rank of #9,701.

What does the Macken surname mean?

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic name Mac Cana meaning "son of Cana".

What does the Macken map show?

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