NameCensus.

UK surname

Macquarrie

A Scottish surname meaning "son of Quarry or Quarrier".

In the 1881 census there were 71 people recorded with the Macquarrie surname, ranking it #23,517 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 298, ranked #14,801, up from #23,517 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Benbecula and North Uist, Barra and South Uist and Kelvingrove and University.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Macquarrie is 299 in 2015. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 319.7%.

1881 census count

71

Ranked #23,517

Modern count

298

2016, ranked #14,801

Peak year

2015

299 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Macquarrie had 71 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #23,517 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 298 in 2016, ranked #14,801.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 98 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Macquarrie surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Macquarrie surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Macquarrie 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 41 #25,926
1861 historical 68 #25,196
1881 historical 71 #23,517
1891 historical 98 #24,313
1901 historical 76 #25,734
1911 historical 8 #32,903
1997 modern 242 #15,597
1998 modern 275 #14,715
1999 modern 272 #14,912
2000 modern 273 #14,828
2001 modern 266 #14,878
2002 modern 278 #14,726
2003 modern 285 #14,295
2004 modern 278 #14,609
2005 modern 268 #14,905
2006 modern 266 #15,076
2007 modern 270 #15,080
2008 modern 267 #15,349
2009 modern 272 #15,475
2010 modern 283 #15,363
2011 modern 283 #15,193
2012 modern 295 #14,670
2013 modern 292 #15,027
2014 modern 293 #15,095
2015 modern 299 #14,796
2016 modern 298 #14,801

Geography

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Where Macquarries 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 Benbecula and North Uist, Barra and South Uist, Kelvingrove and University, Lochlash and Bassetlaw. 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 Benbecula and North Uist Na h-Eileanan Siar
2 Barra and South Uist Na h-Eileanan Siar
3 Kelvingrove and University Glasgow City
4 Lochlash Highland
5 Bassetlaw 001 Bassetlaw

Forenames

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First names often paired with Macquarrie

These lists show first names that appear often with the Macquarrie 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 Macquarrie

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

Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles

Group

Inner London Working Professionals

Within London, Macquarrie is most associated with areas classed as Inner London Working Professionals, part of Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles. 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

These primarily Inner London neighbourhoods are more densely populated than the Supergroup average. Residents have a younger over-all age profile than the Supergroup as a whole, and are less likely to be owner occupiers. Full time employment is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup and multiple car ownership is uncommon. Chinese and non-EU-born European migrants are less in evidence than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

These neighbourhoods house people of all ages, predominantly of White British or European extraction. Resident turnover is low. Religious affiliation is less common than average and tends to be Christian if expressed. Homeownership, typically of terraced houses, is common but use of the social rented sector is not. Employment is typically in professional, managerial and associate professional or technical occupations. There are few full-time students. Level 4 qualifications are common. More households lack dependent children than have them which, considered alongside low levels of crowding and over-all age structure, indicates that many households may be post child-rearing and in late middle age. Incidence of disability is low, as is residence in communal establishments.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Macquarrie 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

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

Meaning and origin of Macquarrie

The surname MACQUARRIE finds its origins in Scotland, with roots dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have originated from the Gaelic words "mac" meaning "son" and "cuaraidh" meaning "hardy" or "brave," suggesting a connection to a warrior or person of valor.

The name was initially associated with the Clan Macquarie, a Highland Scottish clan hailing from the region of Perthshire. The earliest recorded instance of the name can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which document those who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England. This record includes the name "Gillies MacGuari," showcasing an early spelling variation.

MACQUARRIE is thought to be derived from the ancient Scottish place name "Cuarie" or "Cuarie Mor," which translates to "the great hollow." This place name connection suggests that the surname may have originated as a territorial designation for individuals residing in or near these locations.

One of the earliest documented individuals bearing the MACQUARRIE name was Sir John Macquarie (1778-1824), a British military officer and colonial administrator who served as the Governor of New South Wales from 1810 to 1821. His tenure was marked by significant developments in infrastructure, exploration, and the establishment of institutions in the colony.

Another notable figure was Thomas Potter Macquarie (1718-1781), a Scottish mathematician and philosopher. He made significant contributions to the field of mathematics and was the author of several influential works, including "A Treatise on the Composition of Ancient Greek Music."

In the literary world, Lachlan Macquarie (1762-1824), a Scottish-Australian writer and explorer, is renowned for his journals and accounts of early colonial life in Australia. His writings provide valuable insights into the experiences and challenges faced by early settlers.

The MACQUARRIE name has also been associated with notable figures in the military. General Sir Edward Macquarie (1848-1924) was a British Army officer who served in the Second Boer War and later became the Governor of Queensland.

Lastly, Robert Macquarie (1722-1788) was a Scottish minister and author who wrote extensively on religious and philosophical topics. His work "An Enquiry into the Speculative and Sceptical Philosophy" was well-received and contributed to the intellectual discourse of his time.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Macquarrie families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Macquarrie 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. Inverness-shire leads with 19 Macquarries recorded in 1881 and an index of 98.86x.

County Total Index
Inverness-shire 19 98.86x
Renfrewshire 18 36.09x
Lanarkshire 16 7.69x
Argyllshire 7 39.06x
Buteshire 4 102.56x
Perthshire 1 3.46x
Ross-shire 1 5.66x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. West Greenock in Renfrewshire leads with 18 Macquarries recorded in 1881 and an index of 201.12x.

Place Total Index
West Greenock 18 201.12x
North Uist 12 1600.00x
Govan 7 13.60x
Tyree 7 1147.54x
Cambusnethan 6 129.87x
Trumisgarry 6 3157.89x
Rothesay 4 211.64x
Covington 3 3000.00x
Alyth 1 128.21x
Gairloch 1 98.04x
Small Isles 1 833.33x

FAQ

Macquarrie surname: questions and answers

How common was the Macquarrie surname in 1881?

In 1881, 71 people were recorded with the Macquarrie surname. That placed it at #23,517 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Macquarrie surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 298 in 2016. That gives Macquarrie a modern rank of #14,801.

What does the Macquarrie surname mean?

A Scottish surname meaning "son of Quarry or Quarrier".

What does the Macquarrie map show?

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