NameCensus.

UK surname

Maclaine

A Scottish surname derived from the Gaelic personal name "MacIll'Aine", meaning "son of the servant of St. John".

In the 1881 census there were 45 people recorded with the Maclaine surname, ranking it #27,314 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 131, ranked #26,004, up from #27,314 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Carnwadric West, East Staffordshire and Colchester.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Maclaine is 136 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 191.1%.

1881 census count

45

Ranked #27,314

Modern count

131

2016, ranked #26,004

Peak year

1998

136 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Maclaine had 45 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #27,314 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 131 in 2016, ranked #26,004.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 87 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Maclaine surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Maclaine surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Maclaine 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 16 #30,441
1861 historical 61 #26,170
1881 historical 45 #27,314
1891 historical 87 #25,802
1901 historical 87 #24,386
1911 historical 15 #31,938
1997 modern 129 #23,143
1998 modern 136 #23,013
1999 modern 135 #23,279
2000 modern 133 #23,462
2001 modern 130 #23,457
2002 modern 135 #23,398
2003 modern 126 #24,146
2004 modern 118 #25,317
2005 modern 113 #25,974
2006 modern 116 #25,813
2007 modern 129 #24,503
2008 modern 126 #25,131
2009 modern 124 #25,957
2010 modern 123 #26,728
2011 modern 117 #27,334
2012 modern 127 #25,992
2013 modern 130 #26,074
2014 modern 131 #26,089
2015 modern 135 #25,481
2016 modern 131 #26,004

Geography

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Where Maclaines 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 Carnwadric West, East Staffordshire, Colchester, Derby and Mull, Iona, Coll and Tiree. 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 Carnwadric West Glasgow City
2 East Staffordshire 006 East Staffordshire
3 Colchester 020 Colchester
4 Derby 010 Derby
5 Mull, Iona, Coll and Tiree Argyll and Bute

Forenames

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First names often paired with Maclaine

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Maclaine

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Maclaine 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

Maclaine is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Maclaine

The surname MACLAINE has its origins in Scotland, dating back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Gaelic "MacIll'Athain," meaning "son of the servant of St John." This name was likely given to someone who worked in the service of a church dedicated to St John.

The MACLAINE clan traces its roots to the Hebrides islands off the west coast of Scotland, particularly the island of Mull. The name appears in early records from this region, with variations in spelling such as MacLean, MacLaine, and MacLaine.

One of the earliest documented references to the name can be found in the Register of the Great Seal of Scotland from 1476, which mentions a "Lachlane McGillane." This suggests that the MACLAINE name was already well-established by the late 15th century.

In the 16th century, the MACLAINES were involved in various feuds and battles with neighboring clans, such as the MacDonalds and the Campbells. Notable figures from this period include Lachlan Mor MACLAINE (c. 1570-1635), who was a chief of the clan and played a role in these conflicts.

The MACLAINES were also associated with the island of Coll, where they held land and influence. One prominent member was John MACLAINE (c. 1670-1748), who was known as the "Laird of Coll" and was involved in the Jacobite risings of the early 18th century.

Another notable figure was Gillian MACLAINE (c. 1798-1840), a poet and songwriter from the Isle of Mull. Her works, written in Gaelic, are considered important contributions to Scottish literature and cultural preservation.

In the 19th century, the MACLAINE surname began to spread beyond Scotland as members of the clan emigrated to other parts of the world, particularly North America and Australia. One example is Archibald MACLAINE (1818-1900), a Canadian politician and lawyer who served as a member of parliament.

Overall, the MACLAINE surname has a rich history rooted in the Scottish Highlands and Islands, with connections to various significant events and figures over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Maclaine families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Maclaine 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. Middlesex leads with 14 Maclaines recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.68x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 14 3.68x
Argyllshire 7 66.10x
Lanarkshire 5 4.06x
Gloucestershire 4 5.36x
Yorkshire 4 1.06x
Sussex 3 4.68x
Midlothian 2 3.92x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hackney London in Middlesex leads with 12 Maclaines recorded in 1881 and an index of 56.29x.

Place Total Index
Hackney London 12 56.29x
Govan 5 16.44x
Bradford 4 43.86x
Thornbury 4 784.31x
Kilmore Kilbride 3 447.76x
Eastbourne 2 67.80x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 2 9.76x
Kilfinichen 2 769.23x
St Pancras London 2 6.53x
Torsay 2 20000.00x
Hove 1 35.59x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Amey 2
Isabella 2
Mary 2
Anna 1
Edith 1
Elizabeth 1
Ellen 1
Emelie 1
Ethel 1
Jane 1
Lizzie 1
Nora 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Archibald 2
John 2
Anthony 1
Charles 1
Geo. 1
James 1
William 1
Wm. 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 Maclaine households.

FAQ

Maclaine surname: questions and answers

How common was the Maclaine surname in 1881?

In 1881, 45 people were recorded with the Maclaine surname. That placed it at #27,314 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Maclaine surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 131 in 2016. That gives Maclaine a modern rank of #26,004.

What does the Maclaine surname mean?

A Scottish surname derived from the Gaelic personal name "MacIll'Aine", meaning "son of the servant of St. John".

What does the Maclaine map show?

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