NameCensus.

UK surname

Maclachlan

A Scottish surname meaning "son of the servant of Lochlann" (an old name for Norway).

In the 1881 census there were 320 people recorded with the Maclachlan surname, ranking it #9,298 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,681, ranked #3,722, up from #9,298 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Govan Combination, Edinburgh and Kilmichael Glassary. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Lochaber East and North, Oban North and Oban South.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Maclachlan is 1,681 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 425.3%.

1881 census count

320

Ranked #9,298

Modern count

1,681

2016, ranked #3,722

Peak year

2016

1,681 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Maclachlan had 320 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,298 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,681 in 2016, ranked #3,722.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 594 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Maclachlan surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Maclachlan surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Maclachlan 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 383 #6,247
1861 historical 272 #9,167
1881 historical 320 #9,298
1891 historical 469 #7,813
1901 historical 594 #7,127
1911 historical 162 #17,003
1997 modern 1,498 #3,912
1998 modern 1,559 #3,918
1999 modern 1,607 #3,855
2000 modern 1,637 #3,772
2001 modern 1,577 #3,826
2002 modern 1,618 #3,810
2003 modern 1,586 #3,798
2004 modern 1,603 #3,777
2005 modern 1,570 #3,796
2006 modern 1,577 #3,776
2007 modern 1,606 #3,756
2008 modern 1,595 #3,806
2009 modern 1,603 #3,871
2010 modern 1,620 #3,914
2011 modern 1,645 #3,827
2012 modern 1,628 #3,781
2013 modern 1,647 #3,812
2014 modern 1,673 #3,775
2015 modern 1,671 #3,744
2016 modern 1,681 #3,722

Geography

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Where Maclachlans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Govan Combination, Edinburgh, Kilmichael Glassary, Kilmore and Kilbride and Kilninian and Kilmore. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Lochaber East and North, Oban North, Oban South, Lochaber West and Fort William North. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Govan Combination Lanark
2 Edinburgh Edinburgh
3 Kilmichael Glassary Argyll
4 Kilmore and Kilbride Argyll
5 Kilninian and Kilmore Argyll

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Lochaber East and North Highland
2 Oban North Argyll and Bute
3 Oban South Argyll and Bute
4 Lochaber West Highland
5 Fort William North Highland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Maclachlan

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Maclachlan

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

Legacy Communities

Group

Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities

Nationally, the Maclachlan surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Maclachlan household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Households in these areas often include divorced or separated parents and commonly include children and young adults. The age structure is heavily skewed towards the most advanced age groups. Individuals identifying as members of ethnic minorities are not present in large numbers. Flats predominate, with some terraced, semi-detached, and detached units. Multiple car ownership is low, and housing is predominantly in the private and social rented sectors. Employment is less skewed towards traditional routine industrial occupations. Levels of educational attainment are generally low. The Group occurs principally in the Central Lowlands of Scotland and other Scottish towns.

Wider pattern

These neighbourhoods characteristically comprise pockets of flats that are scattered across the UK, particularly in towns that retain or have legacies of heavy industry or are in more remote seaside locations. Employed residents of these neighbourhoods work mainly in low-skilled occupations. Residents typically have limited educational qualifications. Unemployment is above average. Some residents live in overcrowded housing within the social rented sector and experience long-term disability. All adult age groups are represented, although there is an overall age bias towards elderly people in general and the very old in particular. Individuals identifying as belonging to ethnic minorities or Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups are uncommon.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Maclachlan 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

Maclachlan 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

Maclachlan falls in decile 10 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.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Maclachlan

The surname MACLACHLAN is of Scottish origin, deriving from the Gaelic "Mac Lachlainn" which translates to "son of Lachlann". The name Lachlann itself is believed to have Norse roots, stemming from the Old Norse name "Lochlan" or "Lochlanach" meaning "Norwegian".

The clan MACLACHLAN has its ancestral roots in the region of Argyll, on the west coast of Scotland. They were a powerful family in the medieval period, with their seat at Castle Lachlan on the shores of Loch Fyne. The earliest recorded mention of the name dates back to the 12th century, with Lachlann Mor being the progenitor of the clan.

In the 13th century, the MACLACHLAN chiefs were recorded as witnesses to several charters granted by the Lords of the Isles. This indicates their influential position among the West Highland clans of the time. The name also appears in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland from the 14th century onwards.

One of the most notable figures in the clan's history was Lachlan Mor MACLACHLAN, who lived in the 15th century. He was a prominent warrior and chieftain, known for his involvement in the feuds between the clans of the west coast of Scotland. Another notable member was Archibald MACLACHLAN (1666-1744), a Scottish antiquarian and historian.

Other notable individuals with the surname MACLACHLAN include:

1. Ewen MACLACHLAN (1775-1822), a Scottish poet and songwriter. 2. Robert MACLACHLAN (1837-1904), a Canadian entomologist and naturalist. 3. Angus MACLACHLAN (1849-1930), a Scottish-born Canadian politician and lawyer. 4. Patricia MACLACHLAN (born 1938), an American author of children's books, best known for her novel "Sarah, Plain and Tall". 5. Kyle MACLACHLAN (born 1959), an American actor, known for his roles in films such as "Dune", "Blue Velvet", and the television series "Twin Peaks".

The MACLACHLAN name has also been associated with various place names in Scotland, such as Kilmorie and Strathlachlan, reflecting the clan's historical territories and influence in the region.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Maclachlan families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Maclachlan 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. Lanarkshire leads with 45 Maclachlans recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.15x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 45 5.15x
Dunbartonshire 29 39.94x
Midlothian 25 6.91x
Middlesex 24 0.89x
Argyllshire 21 27.92x
Perthshire 15 12.37x
Selkirkshire 15 61.35x
Renfrewshire 14 6.69x
Lancashire 13 0.41x
Surrey 12 0.91x
Ayrshire 9 4.45x
Warwickshire 8 1.17x
Angus 7 2.80x
Fife 7 4.38x
Roxburghshire 7 14.30x
Inverness-shire 5 6.20x
Nairnshire 5 60.61x
Ross-shire 3 4.04x
Devon 2 0.36x
Gloucestershire 2 0.38x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.61x
Buteshire 1 6.11x
Clackmannanshire 1 4.48x
Cornwall 1 0.33x
Hampshire 1 0.18x
Morayshire 1 2.38x
Northumberland 1 0.25x
Somerset 1 0.23x
Staffordshire 1 0.11x

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 15 Maclachlans recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.78x.

Place Total Index
Barony 15 6.78x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 15 10.30x
Galashiels 15 165.93x
Govan 14 6.48x
Glasgow 13 8.38x
Row 12 127.80x
Barrow In Furness 10 22.93x
Kilmallie 10 258.40x
West Greenock 10 26.60x
New Kilpatrick 9 130.25x
Coventry Holy Trinity 8 39.31x
Dumbarton 8 79.13x
Hawick 7 63.93x
Irvine 7 124.56x
Kennoway 7 482.76x
Perth East Church 7 61.24x
Kilninian Kilmore 6 259.74x
Ardclach 5 485.44x
Barnes 5 89.77x
Edmonton 5 22.97x
Logie 5 114.94x
Monifieth 5 56.56x
Ardnamurchan 4 104.71x
Edinburgh St Stephens 4 56.10x
Kensington London 4 2.66x
Lambeth 4 1.70x
Westminster St John 4 12.15x
Bethnal Green London 3 2.56x
Callander 3 150.00x
Paisley Middle Church 3 24.61x
South Leith 3 7.37x
Tain 3 106.76x
Toxteth Park 3 2.76x
Beith 2 33.17x
Blantyre 2 21.98x
Cheltenham 2 4.89x
Dalkeith 2 28.01x
Hammersmith London 2 3.00x
Inverness 2 9.85x
Newington 2 2.00x
St Marylebone London 2 1.39x
Cadder 1 15.50x
Cathcart 1 8.83x
Cheam 1 70.92x
Dartmouth Townstall 1 43.67x
Dores 1 92.59x
Duddingston 1 13.76x
Edinkillie 1 91.74x
Eton 1 27.03x
Holdenhurst 1 6.88x
Islington London 1 0.38x
Kilfinan 1 49.75x
Kilmonivaig 1 55.87x
Longbenton 1 5.87x
Montrose 1 6.59x
Panbride 1 76.92x
Plymouth St Andrew 1 2.31x
Rothesay 1 12.61x
Snizort 1 49.75x
St George Hanover 1 2.84x
St Giles In Fields 1 10.73x
St Pancras London 1 0.46x
Tillicoultry 1 20.16x
Tregoney St James 1 175.44x
Walcot 1 4.32x
Walsall Borough 1 14.12x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 3
Alice 2
Emma 2
Helen 2
Mary 2
Violet 2
Ann 1
Annie 1
Arabella 1
Ethel 1
Gladys 1
Harriet 1
Isabella 1
Jane 1
Jessie 1
Katherine 1
Mabel 1
Margaret 1
Marion 1
Martha 1
May 1
Sarah 1
Susan 1
Vava 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 5
Charles 3
Alfred 2
Andrew 2
James 2
William 2
Allen 1
Archibald 1
Crawford 1
David 1
Donald 1
Dougal 1
Dugold 1
Duncan 1
Edward 1
Henry 1
Herbert 1
Hubert 1
Hugh 1
Kenneth 1
Lachlan 1
Nevil 1
Robert 1
Roderick 1
Roy 1
Walter 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 Maclachlan households.

FAQ

Maclachlan surname: questions and answers

How common was the Maclachlan surname in 1881?

In 1881, 320 people were recorded with the Maclachlan surname. That placed it at #9,298 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Maclachlan surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,681 in 2016. That gives Maclachlan a modern rank of #3,722.

What does the Maclachlan surname mean?

A Scottish surname meaning "son of the servant of Lochlann" (an old name for Norway).

What does the Maclachlan map show?

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