UK surname
A surname derived from the patronymic "Mackin" or "Mac Khionachain," meaning "son of Khionachan," an anglicized Irish personal name.
In the 1881 census there were 51 people recorded with the Mackinson surname, ranking it #26,428 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 52, ranked #34,780, down from #26,428 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Newcastle St Andrew, South Ronaldsay and Burray and Monkwearmouth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mackinson is 111 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 2.0%.
1881 census count
51
Ranked #26,428
Modern count
52
2016, ranked #34,780
Peak year
1861
111 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Mackinson surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Mackinson surname density by area, 1911 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 38 | #26,502 |
| 1861 | historical | 111 | #19,429 |
| 1881 | historical | 51 | #26,428 |
| 1891 | historical | 67 | #28,424 |
| 1901 | historical | 58 | #27,724 |
| 1911 | historical | 101 | #22,589 |
| 1997 | modern | 86 | #28,876 |
| 1998 | modern | 63 | #31,639 |
| 1999 | modern | 62 | #31,893 |
| 2000 | modern | 47 | #33,358 |
| 2001 | modern | 34 | #34,356 |
| 2002 | modern | 41 | #34,032 |
| 2003 | modern | 41 | #34,113 |
| 2004 | modern | 43 | #34,149 |
| 2005 | modern | 44 | #34,255 |
| 2006 | modern | 45 | #34,491 |
| 2007 | modern | 43 | #34,845 |
| 2008 | modern | 41 | #35,067 |
| 2009 | modern | 43 | #35,088 |
| 2010 | modern | 46 | #35,062 |
| 2011 | modern | 51 | #34,751 |
| 2012 | modern | 43 | #35,224 |
| 2013 | modern | 46 | #35,110 |
| 2014 | modern | 51 | #34,865 |
| 2015 | modern | 50 | #34,886 |
| 2016 | modern | 52 | #34,780 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Newcastle St Andrew, South Ronaldsay and Burray, Monkwearmouth, Edinburgh and Manchester. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Newcastle St Andrew | Northumberland |
| 2 | South Ronaldsay and Burray | Orkney |
| 3 | Monkwearmouth | Durham |
| 4 | Edinburgh | Edinburgh |
| 5 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Mackinson surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Mackinson, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Mackinson surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Mackinson household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Mackinson is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Mackinson is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Mackinson, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname MACKINSON is of English origin, deriving from the medieval name Mackinson, which is a patronymic form meaning "son of Mackin". The name Mackin itself is a diminutive of the personal name Mack, a pet form of the name Matthew.
MACKINSON is believed to have originated in the northern counties of England, particularly in Yorkshire and Lancashire, during the 13th and 14th centuries. It is thought to be related to the place name Mackintosh, which is derived from the Gaelic "mac an toisich", meaning "son of the chief".
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name MACKINSON can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1301, which mention a John Mackynson. The spelling variations included Makinson, Makynson, and Mackinson.
In the 16th century, the MACKINSON name appeared in the parish records of Wigan, Lancashire, with the baptism of William Mackinson in 1582. Another early record is the marriage of Thomas Mackinson and Elizabeth Woodhouse in Gisburn, Yorkshire, in 1598.
Notable individuals bearing the surname MACKINSON include:
1. Sir Edward Mackinson (1670-1745), an English politician and Member of Parliament for Aldborough. 2. Reverend Thomas Mackinson (1718-1789), an English clergyman and author from Warwickshire. 3. John Mackinson (1784-1860), a British artist known for his landscapes and portraits. 4. Mary Mackinson (1808-1882), an English novelist and poet from Cheshire. 5. William Mackinson (1839-1919), a industrialist and philanthropist from Lancashire, who founded the Mackinson Textile Mills.
The MACKINSON surname has been present in various regions of England for centuries, with its origins traced back to the medieval period and the northern counties. Despite spelling variations, the name has retained its distinct patronymic meaning and connection to the English language.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mackinson surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lancashire leads with 15 Mackinsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.54x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 15 | 2.54x |
| Midlothian | 11 | 16.51x |
| Yorkshire | 9 | 1.83x |
| Middlesex | 8 | 1.61x |
| Devon | 3 | 2.90x |
| Surrey | 2 | 0.83x |
| Inverness-shire | 1 | 6.73x |
| Shropshire | 1 | 2.33x |
| Warwickshire | 1 | 0.80x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Carnforth in Lancashire leads with 7 Mackinsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 2187.50x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Carnforth | 7 | 2187.50x |
| Gildersome | 6 | 1016.95x |
| North Leith | 6 | 194.81x |
| Hackney London | 5 | 17.93x |
| Haydock | 4 | 392.16x |
| Warrington | 4 | 57.22x |
| Edinburgh St Cuthberts | 3 | 11.19x |
| Hanwell | 3 | 340.91x |
| Penge | 2 | 62.89x |
| Plympton St Mary | 2 | 333.33x |
| Sheffield | 2 | 12.75x |
| Coventry St Michael | 1 | 24.81x |
| Cramond | 1 | 200.00x |
| Drayton In Hales | 1 | 112.36x |
| East Stonehouse | 1 | 49.02x |
| Inveresk | 1 | 55.56x |
| Inverness | 1 | 26.81x |
| Newington | 1 | 73.53x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Mackinson surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Mackinson surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Mackinson households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 15 |
| Coal Miner | 2 |
| Governess | 2 |
| Commercial Clerk | 1 |
| Dressmaker | 1 |
| Driver | 1 |
| Eng Drivers Wife | 1 |
| Engine Driver Iron Wks | 1 |
| Engine Driver Iron Works | 1 |
| General Serv | 1 |
| Hosier | 1 |
| House Property | 1 |
| J.Peace (Other Local) | 1 |
| Joiner | 1 |
| Joiner Out Of Employ | 1 |
| Laundress Assist In Work | 1 |
| Private R M | 1 |
| Serv Dom | 1 |
| Small Prov Shopkeeper | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 51 people were recorded with the Mackinson surname. That placed it at #26,428 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 52 in 2016. That gives Mackinson a modern rank of #34,780.
A surname derived from the patronymic "Mackin" or "Mac Khionachain," meaning "son of Khionachan," an anglicized Irish personal name.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Mackinson bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.