NameCensus.

UK surname

Maclaughlin

A Scottish surname meaning "son of the descendant of Loughlinn," from Irish Gaelic.

In the 1881 census there were 34 people recorded with the Maclaughlin surname, ranking it #28,837 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 73, ranked #33,502, down from #28,837 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Dacorum, Ealing and Lunan.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Maclaughlin is 156 in 1997. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 114.7%.

1881 census count

34

Ranked #28,837

Modern count

73

2016, ranked #33,502

Peak year

1997

156 bearers

Map years

1

1998 to 1998

Key insights

  • Maclaughlin had 34 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #28,837 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 73 in 2016, ranked #33,502.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 44 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Maclaughlin surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Maclaughlin surname density by area, 1998 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Maclaughlin 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 15 #30,614
1861 historical 12 #32,329
1881 historical 34 #28,837
1891 historical 44 #30,838
1901 historical 20 #31,803
1911 historical 23 #30,923
1997 modern 156 #20,593
1998 modern 131 #23,495
1999 modern 86 #29,496
2000 modern 91 #28,952
2001 modern 85 #29,396
2002 modern 81 #30,294
2003 modern 81 #30,311
2004 modern 81 #30,569
2005 modern 78 #31,058
2006 modern 78 #31,385
2007 modern 72 #32,397
2008 modern 77 #32,181
2009 modern 76 #32,635
2010 modern 78 #32,848
2011 modern 74 #33,151
2012 modern 71 #33,573
2013 modern 71 #33,693
2014 modern 72 #33,647
2015 modern 74 #33,487
2016 modern 73 #33,502

Geography

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Where Maclaughlins 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 Dacorum, Ealing, Lunan, Badenoch and Strathspey South and Aylesbury Vale. 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 Dacorum 004 Dacorum
2 Ealing 008 Ealing
3 Lunan Angus
4 Badenoch and Strathspey South Highland
5 Aylesbury Vale 009 Aylesbury Vale

Forenames

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First names often paired with Maclaughlin

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Maclaughlin

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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Maclaughlin surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Maclaughlin household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Maclaughlin 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

Maclaughlin 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

Maclaughlin falls in decile 5 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Maclaughlin

The surname MacLaughlin has its origins in Scotland and Ireland, dating back to the medieval period. It is a patronymic name derived from the Gaelic personal name Lochlainn, which means "from Norway." This suggests that the name may have been adopted by descendants of Norwegian Vikings who settled in these regions.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be traced back to the 13th century in Scotland. In the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a list of Scottish landowners who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England, there are several entries for individuals bearing variations of the name, such as Gillemor MacLohlan and Gillecrist MacLochlane.

In Ireland, the MacLaughlin name is primarily associated with the ancient Irish kingdom of Aileach in County Donegal. The clan claimed descent from Niall of the Nine Hostages, a legendary 5th-century Irish king. One of the earliest recorded bearers of the name was Muircheartach MacLochlainn, who reigned as King of Ailech from 1083 to 1119.

The surname has also been linked to various place names in Scotland and Ireland, such as Lochlynn in Wigtownshire, Scotland, and Loughlin in County Armagh, Ireland. These place names likely derived from the personal name Lochlainn or variations thereof.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the MacLaughlin surname. One of the most prominent was Thomas MacLaughlin (c. 1315-1370), a Scottish clergyman who served as Bishop of Dunkeld and played a significant role in the Wars of Scottish Independence against England.

Other notable figures include:

1. Sir Robert MacLaughlin (1823-1902), a Canadian businessman and co-founder of the McLaughlin Carriage Company, one of the largest carriage manufacturers in the British Empire.

2. James MacLaughlin (1834-1923), an American politician and lawyer who served as a U.S. Representative from Michigan.

3. Margaret MacLaughlin (1920-1998), an American actress and singer known for her Broadway performances and television roles.

4. Michael MacLaughlin (born 1971), an American writer and director best known for his work on the television series "How I Met Your Mother" and "The Kids in the Hall."

5. Ciaran MacLaughlin (born 1991), an Irish professional footballer who has played for various clubs in England and Scotland.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Maclaughlin families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Maclaughlin 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 7 Maclaughlins recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.23x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 7 4.23x
Surrey 5 6.20x
Dunbartonshire 2 44.94x
Lanarkshire 1 1.87x
Leicestershire 1 5.44x
Warwickshire 1 2.39x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St George Hanover in Middlesex leads with 7 Maclaughlins recorded in 1881 and an index of 324.07x.

Place Total Index
St George Hanover 7 324.07x
Lambeth 5 34.63x
Dumbarton 2 322.58x
Birmingham 1 7.18x
Glasgow 1 10.52x
Whitherley 1 3333.33x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Ann 1
Blanche 1
Frances 1
Hannah 1
Mary 1
Matilda 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 2
Edward 1
James 1
Patrick 1
Reginald 1
Thomas 1
William 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 Maclaughlin households.

FAQ

Maclaughlin surname: questions and answers

How common was the Maclaughlin surname in 1881?

In 1881, 34 people were recorded with the Maclaughlin surname. That placed it at #28,837 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Maclaughlin surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 73 in 2016. That gives Maclaughlin a modern rank of #33,502.

What does the Maclaughlin surname mean?

A Scottish surname meaning "son of the descendant of Loughlinn," from Irish Gaelic.

What does the Maclaughlin map show?

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