NameCensus.

UK surname

Mackrill

Scottish surname transferred from a Scottish place name derived from Gaelic "magh grill" meaning level plain of the burn or stream.

In the 1881 census there were 269 people recorded with the Mackrill surname, ranking it #10,506 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 355, ranked #13,020, down from #10,506 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Erith, Crayford and Halifax. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bradford, Uttlesford and Basingstoke and Deane.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mackrill is 435 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 32.0%.

1881 census count

269

Ranked #10,506

Modern count

355

2016, ranked #13,020

Peak year

2000

435 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mackrill had 269 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,506 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 355 in 2016, ranked #13,020.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 385 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Mackrill surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mackrill surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mackrill 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 171 #11,730
1861 historical 164 #14,188
1881 historical 269 #10,506
1891 historical 259 #12,399
1901 historical 324 #11,042
1911 historical 385 #9,551
1997 modern 393 #11,144
1998 modern 405 #11,241
1999 modern 412 #11,203
2000 modern 435 #10,720
2001 modern 423 #10,757
2002 modern 434 #10,751
2003 modern 410 #11,061
2004 modern 393 #11,433
2005 modern 391 #11,378
2006 modern 373 #11,854
2007 modern 379 #11,854
2008 modern 380 #11,942
2009 modern 367 #12,501
2010 modern 372 #12,651
2011 modern 375 #12,438
2012 modern 341 #13,217
2013 modern 361 #12,861
2014 modern 364 #12,876
2015 modern 370 #12,596
2016 modern 355 #13,020

Geography

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Where Mackrills are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Erith, Crayford, Halifax, Clee and London parishes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bradford, Uttlesford, Basingstoke and Deane, Bexley and Bolton. 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 Erith Kent
2 Crayford Kent
3 Halifax Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Clee Lincolnshire
5 London parishes London 3

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bradford 058 Bradford
2 Uttlesford 008 Uttlesford
3 Basingstoke and Deane 020 Basingstoke and Deane
4 Bexley 008 Bexley
5 Bolton 018 Bolton

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mackrill

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mackrill

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Mackrill is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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 concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Mackrill 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

Mackrill falls in decile 9 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.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Mackrill 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 Mackrill, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Mackrill

The surname Mackrill originated in Scotland, with the earliest known records dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to be derived from the Gaelic words "mac" meaning "son of" and "rìll" which means "king" or "leader." This suggests that the name may have been bestowed upon the son of a prominent tribal chief or ruler in the Highlands.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a historical document that lists the names of Scottish nobles who pledged allegiance to King Edward I of England. The name appears as "Makryll," which was a common spelling variation during that time period.

In the 15th century, the Mackrill clan was known to have settled in the regions of Argyll and Inverness-shire, where they established themselves as landowners and played a significant role in the clan rivalries that shaped the history of the Scottish Highlands.

The first recorded individual with the surname Mackrill was Angus Mackrill, born in 1412 in Argyll. He was a renowned warrior and is mentioned in several chronicles of the time for his participation in the Battle of Harlaw in 1411, where he fought alongside the Earl of Mar against the forces of Donald of Islay.

Another notable figure was Iain Mackrill, born in 1519 in Inverness-shire. He was a prominent member of the clan and served as a trusted advisor to the Chief of the Clan MacKenzie during the tumultuous years of the Scottish Reformation.

In the late 16th century, a branch of the Mackrill clan migrated to the Orkney Islands, where they adopted the spelling "Mackrill" to distinguish themselves from the mainland clan. One of the earliest recorded individuals with this spelling was Robert Mackrill, born in 1587 on the island of Westray.

During the 17th century, the name Mackrill appeared in various historical records, such as the Bute Manrent Rolls of 1663, which listed several individuals with the surname who pledged allegiance to the Marquess of Bute.

In the 18th century, a notable figure was James Mackrill, born in 1712 in Argyll. He was a skilled shipwright and is credited with the construction of several ships that played a crucial role in the Jacobite Risings of the 1740s.

As the Mackrill clan spread throughout Scotland and beyond, the name underwent various spelling variations, including Makrill, Mackrille, and MacKrille, among others. However, the core meaning and origin of the name remained firmly rooted in the traditions of the Scottish Highlands.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mackrill families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mackrill 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. Lincolnshire leads with 87 Mackrills recorded in 1881 and an index of 20.82x.

County Total Index
Lincolnshire 87 20.82x
Yorkshire 54 2.08x
Middlesex 30 1.15x
Surrey 20 1.57x
Berkshire 19 9.68x
Kent 18 2.02x
Buckinghamshire 9 5.69x
Lancashire 8 0.26x
Hampshire 6 1.12x
Glamorgan 5 1.10x
Essex 3 0.58x
Gloucestershire 3 0.59x
Oxfordshire 2 1.24x
Warwickshire 2 0.30x
Cheshire 1 0.17x
Sussex 1 0.23x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Cleethorpes in Lincolnshire leads with 34 Mackrills recorded in 1881 and an index of 1382.11x.

Place Total Index
Cleethorpes 34 1382.11x
Erith 15 170.65x
Holy Trinity 14 22.47x
Sancton Houghton 14 4242.42x
Lambeth 12 5.26x
Aylesbury 9 128.57x
Welton In The Marsh 8 2352.94x
Willoughby 8 1454.55x
Hipperholme Cum 7 61.51x
Lambourn 7 360.82x
Shoreditch London 7 6.18x
Worlaby 7 1346.15x
Croft 6 882.35x
Alverstoke 5 25.79x
Kingston On Thames 5 16.34x
Sculcoates 5 12.17x
Soyland 5 160.77x
St Clement Danes 5 118.20x
St Giles In Fields 5 55.43x
Swallow 5 2380.95x
Swansea Town 5 13.40x
Broughton In Salford 4 14.10x
Cheetham 4 17.29x
Great Grimsby 4 15.08x
Old Bolingbroke 4 975.61x
Reading St Giles 4 20.78x
Bray 3 51.99x
Crayford 3 76.92x
East Garston 3 731.71x
Islington London 3 1.18x
Orby 3 810.81x
St Marylebone London 3 2.15x
Fulham London 2 5.28x
Hunslet 2 4.95x
Leigh 2 111.73x
Newington 2 28.05x
Skircoat 2 19.57x
Stansfield 2 20.99x
Waltham 2 303.03x
Witney 2 74.07x
Wotton Under Edge 2 66.23x
Alford 1 38.61x
Aston 1 0.55x
Barrow On Humber 1 41.15x
Binbrooke 1 96.15x
Brighton 1 1.12x
Camberwell 1 0.60x
Claughton With Grange 1 38.02x
Clifton 1 3.86x
Faulkbourn 1 625.00x
Godalming 1 12.47x
Hampstead London 1 2.46x
Kensington London 1 0.69x
Louth 1 10.44x
Mortlake 1 17.61x
North Thoresby 1 149.25x
Shadwell London 1 13.68x
Southampton St Mary 1 2.97x
St Pancras London 1 0.48x
Upperthong 1 45.45x
Wantage 1 31.95x
Welford 1 119.05x
Westminster St James 1 3.72x
Wootton 1 192.31x
Wootton Wawen 1 48.08x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 19
William 17
Thomas 8
Charles 7
Edward 7
George 7
James 5
Albert 4
Alfred 4
Robert 4
Samuel 4
Arthur 3
Henry 3
Joseph 3
Frederick 2
Herbert 2
Lawrence 2
Walter 2
Bemjamin 1
Charley 1
Clift 1
Edgar 1
Edwin 1
Elijah 1
Fdk. 1
Fred 1
Hewson 1
Horace 1
Lewis 1
Matthew 1
Philip 1
Thos.Arthur 1
Thos.Wm. 1
Titus 1
Wilfred 1

FAQ

Mackrill surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mackrill surname in 1881?

In 1881, 269 people were recorded with the Mackrill surname. That placed it at #10,506 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mackrill surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 355 in 2016. That gives Mackrill a modern rank of #13,020.

What does the Mackrill surname mean?

Scottish surname transferred from a Scottish place name derived from Gaelic "magh grill" meaning level plain of the burn or stream.

What does the Mackrill map show?

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