NameCensus.

UK surname

Mackereth

A Scottish surname derived from the Gaelic personal name "MacDara", meaning son of the oak tree.

In the 1881 census there were 290 people recorded with the Mackereth surname, ranking it #9,946 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 331, ranked #13,735, down from #9,946 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Millom, Muncaster, Dalton-in-Furness and Kirkby Lonsdale. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Lakeland, Lancaster and Kirklees.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mackereth is 468 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 14.1%.

1881 census count

290

Ranked #9,946

Modern count

331

2016, ranked #13,735

Peak year

1911

468 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mackereth had 290 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,946 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 331 in 2016, ranked #13,735.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 468 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Mackereth surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mackereth surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mackereth 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 186 #11,024
1861 historical 175 #13,409
1881 historical 290 #9,946
1891 historical 376 #9,319
1901 historical 454 #8,657
1911 historical 468 #8,247
1997 modern 320 #12,966
1998 modern 332 #12,990
1999 modern 317 #13,473
2000 modern 334 #12,980
2001 modern 319 #13,168
2002 modern 336 #12,992
2003 modern 342 #12,627
2004 modern 339 #12,744
2005 modern 321 #13,195
2006 modern 315 #13,440
2007 modern 315 #13,593
2008 modern 314 #13,720
2009 modern 325 #13,657
2010 modern 337 #13,580
2011 modern 318 #14,023
2012 modern 322 #13,799
2013 modern 343 #13,372
2014 modern 344 #13,426
2015 modern 339 #13,493
2016 modern 331 #13,735

Geography

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Where Mackereths are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Millom, Muncaster, Dalton-in-Furness, Kirkby Lonsdale, Blackburn and Grasmere. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Lakeland, Lancaster and Kirklees. 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 Millom, Muncaster Cumberland
2 Dalton-in-Furness Lancashire
3 Kirkby Lonsdale Westmorland
4 Blackburn Lancashire
5 Grasmere Westmorland

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Lakeland 003 South Lakeland
2 Lancaster 017 Lancaster
3 Lancaster 002 Lancaster
4 Kirklees 020 Kirklees
5 South Lakeland 004 South Lakeland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mackereth

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mackereth

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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Mackereth surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Mackereth household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Mackereth 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

Mackereth 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

Mackereth 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 Mackereth 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 Mackereth, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Mackereth

The surname Mackereth originated in England in the 13th century. It derived from the Old English personal name "Macor" or "Macar," meaning "son of Macar." The name Macar itself was likely derived from the Old English word "mæccea," meaning a maker or builder.

In its earliest recorded form, the surname was spelled "Makerethe" in the Hundred Rolls of Bedfordshire in 1273. Over time, various spellings emerged, such as Mackerath, Mackereth, and Mackrith. These variations were common due to the lack of standardized spelling in medieval times.

The Mackereth surname has ties to several place names in Lancashire and Yorkshire, such as Makerfield and Makerhethe. These place names likely influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname in those regions.

One of the earliest known bearers of the surname was John Mackereth, who was recorded in the Subsidy Rolls of Lancashire in 1332. Another early reference can be found in the Borthwick Wills at York, where a Thomas Makerethe was mentioned in 1471.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have carried the Mackereth surname. One example is Thomas Mackereth (1741-1825), an English dissenting minister and tutor who served as the principal of the Warrington Academy.

Another prominent figure was William Mackereth (1783-1851), a successful merchant and banker from Liverpool. He was a member of the Liverpool Town Council and served as the city's Mayor in 1828.

John Mackereth (1805-1870) was an English cricketer who played for Manchester Cricket Club in the early days of the sport.

In the 19th century, James Mackereth (1821-1884) was a notable architect from Lancashire, known for his work on several churches and public buildings in the region.

Lastly, Thomas Mackereth (1865-1938) was a British engineer and inventor who held several patents related to steam engine design and improvements.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mackereth families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mackereth 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. Westmorland leads with 131 Mackereths recorded in 1881 and an index of 219.03x.

County Total Index
Westmorland 131 219.03x
Lancashire 76 2.35x
Yorkshire 38 1.41x
Cumberland 29 12.38x
Devon 2 0.35x
Essex 1 0.19x
Middlesex 1 0.04x
Worcestershire 1 0.28x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kendal in Westmorland leads with 26 Mackereths recorded in 1881 and an index of 237.44x.

Place Total Index
Kendal 26 237.44x
Ambleside 19 1027.03x
Blackburn 15 17.46x
Kirkby Lonsdale 13 802.47x
Applethwaite 10 561.80x
West Derby 10 10.58x
Grasmere 9 1304.35x
Owthorne 9 1800.00x
Lower Upper Holker 8 1818.18x
Meathop Ulpha 8 5714.29x
Natland 8 2962.96x
Wythburn 7 3684.21x
Bolton 6 1578.95x
Chorlton On Medlock 6 11.70x
Helsington 6 1818.18x
Ashton With Stodday 5 3846.15x
Crosscanonby 5 64.52x
Moston 5 154.32x
Sinnington 5 1724.14x
Troutbeck 5 1190.48x
Bishopthorpe 4 769.23x
Cockermouth 4 81.14x
Millom 4 55.71x
Preston Quarter 4 60.88x
Sharples 4 114.29x
Stainton 4 1111.11x
Ashton Under Lyne 3 4.25x
Dent 3 265.49x
Hedon 3 333.33x
Kirkland 3 234.38x
Levens 3 340.91x
Patrington 3 234.38x
Rickergate 3 60.48x
Satterthwaite 3 714.29x
Ulverston 3 31.88x
Great Little Marsden 2 13.52x
Halifax 2 5.05x
Heversham With Milnthorpe 2 138.89x
Lower Holker 2 322.58x
Pickering 2 58.82x
Pilling 2 131.58x
Ruswarp 2 66.67x
Scarborough 2 8.16x
Tormoham 2 8.34x
Barbon 1 384.62x
Barrow In Furness 1 2.28x
Beetham 1 108.70x
Bethnal Green London 1 0.85x
Bootle 1 131.58x
Chaddesley Corbett 1 75.19x
Crook 1 384.62x
Egton Cum Newland 1 106.38x
Everton 1 0.97x
Fawcett Forest 1 1666.67x
Liverpool 1 0.51x
Marske In Guisbrough 1 20.88x
Nether Staveley 1 333.33x
Normanby In 1 13.87x
Over Wyresdale 1 208.33x
Preston 1 1.16x
Shap 1 75.76x
Underbarrow Bradley 1 232.56x
Undermilbeck 1 50.76x
Upper Holker 1 131.58x
Walthamstow 1 5.17x
Westward 1 102.04x
Whitby 1 11.00x
Whittingham 1 70.42x
Whitwell Selside 1 434.78x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 31
Elizabeth 18
Margaret 15
Jane 10
Ann 8
Sarah 8
Agnes 6
Annie 4
Emma 4
Eliza 3
Grace 3
Dorothy 2
Edith 2
Ellen 2
Esther 2
Eunice 2
Hannah 2
Isabella 2
Maria 2
A. 1
Alice 1
Amy 1
Anne 1
Barbara 1
Bridget 1
Christiana 1
Janie 1
Kate 1
Lavina 1
Lucy 1
Magaret 1
Marian 1
Rachel 1
Rose 1
Ruth 1
Sophia 1
Susanna 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 20
James 18
George 13
William 13
Thomas 12
Joseph 7
Robert 5
Henry 4
Richard 4
Andrew 3
Arthur 3
Benson 3
Alfred 2
Allen 2
Charles 2
David 2
Edward 2
Edwin 2
Thos. 2
Edmund 1
Frederic 1
Gawin 1
Geo.H. 1
Gilbert 1
Hartley 1
Mathew 1
Miles 1
Mossop 1
Peter 1
Philip 1
Richd 1
Sydney 1
T. 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Mackereth surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mackereth surname in 1881?

In 1881, 290 people were recorded with the Mackereth surname. That placed it at #9,946 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mackereth surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 331 in 2016. That gives Mackereth a modern rank of #13,735.

What does the Mackereth surname mean?

A Scottish surname derived from the Gaelic personal name "MacDara", meaning son of the oak tree.

What does the Mackereth map show?

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