NameCensus.

UK surname

Mackle

A Scottish surname derived from the Gaelic term "mac gille" meaning "son of the servant".

In the 1881 census there were 38 people recorded with the Mackle surname, ranking it #28,285 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 299, ranked #14,770, up from #28,285 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Dunterlie, East Arthurlie and Dovecothall, Motherwell South and Maldon.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mackle is 321 in 2011. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 686.8%.

1881 census count

38

Ranked #28,285

Modern count

299

2016, ranked #14,770

Peak year

2011

321 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mackle had 38 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #28,285 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 299 in 2016, ranked #14,770.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 88 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Mackle surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mackle surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mackle 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 25 #28,853
1861 historical 47 #28,023
1881 historical 38 #28,285
1891 historical 62 #28,991
1901 historical 88 #24,270
1911 historical 29 #30,190
1997 modern 293 #13,736
1998 modern 299 #13,908
1999 modern 305 #13,808
2000 modern 310 #13,618
2001 modern 300 #13,737
2002 modern 308 #13,763
2003 modern 287 #14,219
2004 modern 304 #13,783
2005 modern 290 #14,140
2006 modern 300 #13,911
2007 modern 307 #13,822
2008 modern 301 #14,107
2009 modern 311 #14,069
2010 modern 312 #14,314
2011 modern 321 #13,940
2012 modern 307 #14,288
2013 modern 300 #14,744
2014 modern 302 #14,772
2015 modern 293 #15,005
2016 modern 299 #14,770

Geography

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Where Mackles are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Dunterlie, East Arthurlie and Dovecothall, Motherwell South, Maldon, Manchester and Merrylee and Braidbar. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Dunterlie, East Arthurlie and Dovecothall East Renfrewshire
2 Motherwell South North Lanarkshire
3 Maldon 007 Maldon
4 Manchester 030 Manchester
5 Merrylee and Braidbar East Renfrewshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mackle

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mackle

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Mackle is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Mackle 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

Mackle 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 Mackle 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 - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Mackle

The surname MACKLE is of Scottish origin, tracing its roots back to the 13th century. It is a variation of the name "MacAll" or "MacCail," derived from the Gaelic personal name "Cathal," meaning "battle-mighty" or "warrior."

The earliest recorded instances of the MACKLE surname can be found in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland from the late 13th and early 14th centuries, where it appears as "MacCayl" and "MacCale." These records indicate that the name was prevalent in the western regions of Scotland, particularly in Argyllshire and the Hebrides islands.

In the 15th century, the MACKLE name is mentioned in the Black Book of Taymouth, an ancient manuscript containing records of land charters and genealogies of noble families in Perthshire. This suggests that the name had spread to central Scotland by that time.

One notable historical figure bearing the MACKLE surname was Sir John Mackle (c. 1520-1598), a Scottish landowner and member of the Clan Mackle. He was granted lands in Argyllshire by King James VI of Scotland and played a significant role in the local affairs of the region.

In the 17th century, the MACKLE name appeared in various parish records and court documents across Scotland, indicating its continued presence throughout the country. One prominent individual from this period was Robert Mackle (1633-1701), a Scottish Presbyterian minister and author who wrote extensively on religious topics.

During the 18th century, the MACKLE surname gained recognition through the accomplishments of James Mackle (1720-1786), a Scottish surgeon and anatomist who made significant contributions to the field of medicine. His work on the anatomy of the human ear and the lymphatic system earned him widespread acclaim.

Another notable figure from this era was Margaret Mackle (1745-1821), a Scottish poet and writer who published several collections of poetry and prose. Her work often explored themes of nature, love, and Scottish cultural identity.

As the MACKLE surname spread beyond Scotland, it gained a foothold in other parts of the British Isles and eventually in the Americas. One prominent American bearer of the name was John Mackle (1867-1942), a businessman and real estate developer who played a significant role in the growth and development of Miami, Florida, in the early 20th century.

Throughout its history, the MACKLE surname has maintained its Scottish origins and associations, reflecting the rich cultural heritage and legacy of its bearers.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mackle families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mackle 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. Lancashire leads with 16 Mackles recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.46x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 16 3.46x
Lanarkshire 11 8.72x
Northumberland 6 10.34x
Dorset 4 15.63x
Channel Islands 2 17.30x
Surrey 1 0.53x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Barony in Lanarkshire leads with 10 Mackles recorded in 1881 and an index of 31.33x.

Place Total Index
Barony 10 31.33x
Everton 7 47.46x
Barrow In Furness 5 79.49x
Newcastle On Tyne St John 5 657.89x
Loders 4 3076.92x
Kirkdale 2 25.67x
St Lawrence 2 625.00x
West Derby 2 14.77x
Jesmond 1 121.95x
Lambeth 1 2.94x
Lanark 1 99.01x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Catherine 2
Elizabeth 2
Ellen 2
Alice 1
Eliza 1
Hannah 1
Jane 1
Margaret 1
Mary 1
Nancy 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 4
John 3
James 2
Patrick 2
Daniel 1
Fredk. 1
Henry 1
Thomas 1
Thos. 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 Mackle households.

FAQ

Mackle surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mackle surname in 1881?

In 1881, 38 people were recorded with the Mackle surname. That placed it at #28,285 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mackle surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 299 in 2016. That gives Mackle a modern rank of #14,770.

What does the Mackle surname mean?

A Scottish surname derived from the Gaelic term "mac gille" meaning "son of the servant".

What does the Mackle map show?

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