NameCensus.

UK surname

Macnicol

From the Scottish Gaelic "Mac Nicòil" meaning "son of Nicholas".

In the 1881 census there were 81 people recorded with the Macnicol surname, ranking it #22,082 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 296, ranked #14,882, up from #22,082 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lismore and Appin, Govan Combination and Ardchattan and Muckairn. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Loch Ness, Ross and Cromarty Central and Sutherland East.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Macnicol is 304 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 265.4%.

1881 census count

81

Ranked #22,082

Modern count

296

2016, ranked #14,882

Peak year

2014

304 bearers

Map years

4

1901 to 2016

Key insights

  • Macnicol had 81 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #22,082 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 296 in 2016, ranked #14,882.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 119 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Macnicol surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Macnicol surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Macnicol 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 74 #20,443
1861 historical 83 #23,189
1881 historical 81 #22,082
1891 historical 79 #26,897
1901 historical 119 #20,624
1911 historical 28 #30,296
1997 modern 249 #15,319
1998 modern 232 #16,508
1999 modern 236 #16,404
2000 modern 258 #15,427
2001 modern 240 #15,912
2002 modern 246 #15,988
2003 modern 245 #15,822
2004 modern 242 #16,050
2005 modern 255 #15,437
2006 modern 253 #15,602
2007 modern 269 #15,123
2008 modern 267 #15,349
2009 modern 270 #15,551
2010 modern 278 #15,567
2011 modern 272 #15,653
2012 modern 291 #14,806
2013 modern 297 #14,844
2014 modern 304 #14,703
2015 modern 299 #14,796
2016 modern 296 #14,882

Geography

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Where Macnicols are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lismore and Appin, Govan Combination, Ardchattan and Muckairn, London parishes and Kilmichael Glassary. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Loch Ness, Ross and Cromarty Central, Sutherland East, Mid Argyll and Highland. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Lismore and Appin Argyll
2 Govan Combination Lanark
3 Ardchattan and Muckairn Argyll
4 London parishes London 3
5 Kilmichael Glassary Argyll

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Loch Ness Highland
2 Ross and Cromarty Central Highland
3 Sutherland East Highland
4 Mid Argyll Argyll and Bute
5 Highland Stirling

Forenames

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First names often paired with Macnicol

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Macnicol

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

Macnicol is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Macnicol falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Macnicol

The surname MACNICOL is of Scottish origin, deriving from the Scottish Gaelic "Mac Nicail" meaning "son of Nicholas." The name has its roots in the Hebrides islands off the west coast of Scotland, particularly on the Isle of Skye, where it was first recorded in the 16th century.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland in 1538, where a certain "Gillecrist MacNycol" is mentioned. This suggests that the name had already been established in the region by that time.

The name MACNICOL is closely related to the Scottish surname NICOLSON, which also derives from the name Nicholas. In some instances, the two surnames were used interchangeably, particularly in the Outer Hebrides islands.

In the 17th century, the MACNICOL clan was associated with the MacDonalds of Sleat, a powerful clan on the Isle of Skye. During this period, the MACNICOLS were known for their involvement in the Scottish Jacobite uprisings, supporting the exiled Stuarts against the Hanoverian monarchs.

One notable figure from this era was John MACNICOL (1670-1745), a Scottish Jacobite who fought in the Battle of Sheriffmuir in 1715. He later became a prominent merchant and landowner on the Isle of Skye.

In the 18th century, the MACNICOL name spread beyond the Hebrides, with some families settling in other parts of Scotland and even in North America. A prominent figure from this period was Reverend Donald MACNICOL (1735-1802), a Scottish Presbyterian minister who emigrated to Nova Scotia, Canada, in 1786.

In the 19th century, the name MACNICOL gained recognition through individuals such as William MACNICOL (1770-1853), a Scottish philosopher and writer who published works on theology and ethics. Another notable figure was Donald MACNICOL (1821-1887), a Scottish businessman and politician who served as Lord Provost of Edinburgh from 1879 to 1882.

As the MACNICOL clan dispersed throughout Scotland and beyond, the name took on various spellings, including MACNICHOL, MACNICOLL, and MACNICKLE. Despite these variations, the name has retained its distinct Scottish heritage and connection to the Isle of Skye and the Hebrides islands.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Macnicol families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Macnicol 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. Argyllshire leads with 25 Macnicols recorded in 1881 and an index of 180.64x.

County Total Index
Argyllshire 25 180.64x
Lanarkshire 15 9.33x
Inverness-shire 4 26.94x
Renfrewshire 4 10.38x
Lancashire 1 0.17x
Royal Navy 1 16.86x
Warwickshire 1 0.80x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Glenorchy Inishail in Argyllshire leads with 25 Macnicols recorded in 1881 and an index of 15625.00x.

Place Total Index
Glenorchy Inishail 25 15625.00x
Barony 15 36.86x
South Uist 3 288.46x
West Greenock 2 28.90x
East Greenock 1 27.47x
Everton 1 5.32x
Lillington 1 625.00x
Port Glasgow 1 53.76x
Portree 1 181.82x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Dan 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 Macnicol households.

Occupation Count
Annuitant 1
Quay Carter 1

FAQ

Macnicol surname: questions and answers

How common was the Macnicol surname in 1881?

In 1881, 81 people were recorded with the Macnicol surname. That placed it at #22,082 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Macnicol surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 296 in 2016. That gives Macnicol a modern rank of #14,882.

What does the Macnicol surname mean?

From the Scottish Gaelic "Mac Nicòil" meaning "son of Nicholas".

What does the Macnicol map show?

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