NameCensus.

UK surname

Macready

Scottish surname derived from the Gaelic "MacRàghnaill" meaning "son of Randall".

In the 1881 census there were 117 people recorded with the Macready surname, ranking it #18,026 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 203, ranked #19,396, down from #18,026 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry, Northampton St Giles, Northampton St Sepulchre, Northampton Priory and Worcester St Andrew, Block House. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Hilltown, Sedgemoor and Calderwood West and Nerston.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Macready is 203 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 73.5%.

1881 census count

117

Ranked #18,026

Modern count

203

2016, ranked #19,396

Peak year

2016

203 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Macready had 117 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #18,026 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 203 in 2016, ranked #19,396.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 159 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Macready surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Macready surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Macready 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 112 #15,913
1861 historical 105 #20,298
1881 historical 117 #18,026
1891 historical 111 #22,421
1901 historical 159 #17,442
1911 historical 130 #19,504
1997 modern 174 #19,231
1998 modern 197 #18,283
1999 modern 200 #18,237
2000 modern 193 #18,616
2001 modern 188 #18,652
2002 modern 194 #18,651
2003 modern 194 #18,463
2004 modern 184 #19,183
2005 modern 179 #19,467
2006 modern 179 #19,592
2007 modern 187 #19,271
2008 modern 186 #19,524
2009 modern 192 #19,527
2010 modern 195 #19,762
2011 modern 189 #19,997
2012 modern 187 #20,086
2013 modern 197 #19,725
2014 modern 197 #19,903
2015 modern 193 #20,056
2016 modern 203 #19,396

Geography

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Where Macreadys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry, Northampton St Giles, Northampton St Sepulchre, Northampton Priory, Worcester St Andrew, Block House, Glasgow and West Derby. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Hilltown, Sedgemoor, Calderwood West and Nerston, Stafford and Waverley. 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 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar
2 Northampton St Giles, Northampton St Sepulchre, Northampton Priory Northamptonshire
3 Worcester St Andrew, Block House Worcestershire
4 Glasgow Lanark
5 West Derby Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Hilltown Dundee City
2 Sedgemoor 010 Sedgemoor
3 Calderwood West and Nerston South Lanarkshire
4 Stafford 009 Stafford
5 Waverley 009 Waverley

Forenames

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First names often paired with Macready

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Macready

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Macready, 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 Macready surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Macready 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

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

Senior Professionals

Within London, Macready is most associated with areas classed as Senior Professionals, part of Central Connected Professionals and Managers. 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 very central neighbourhoods house residents whose ages are more skewed towards older age cohorts than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Few households have young children. Rates of illness are low. Indian ethnicity is rare compared to the Supergroup mean. Property under occupation is more common, despite the centrality of neighbourhoods, and more residents live in communal establishments than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Adult residents of these neighbourhoods are typically aged 25 to 44, working full-time in professional, managerial or associate professional occupations. There are few families with dependent children. The predominantly Inner London neighbourhoods have an international character, including many residents born elsewhere in Europe alongside high numbers of individuals identifying as of Chinese ethnicity. Many individuals are never married, childless and/or living alone. Above average numbers of individuals, likely to be full-time students, live in communal establishments. Elsewhere, privately rented flats are the dominant housing type. Residents of these areas are well-qualified, with a significant number holding Level 4 or above qualifications. There is a correspondingly high level of individuals employed full-time in professional, managerial and associated professional or technical occupations. Employing industries are financial, real estate, professional, administration, and, to a lesser degree, transport and communications. Unemployment is uncommon.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Macready 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

Macready falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Macready 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 - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Macready

The surname MACREADY is of Scottish origin, originating from the Gaelic words 'mac' meaning 'son of' and 'radaidh' meaning 'prosperous'. It is believed to have first emerged in the Highlands region of Scotland during the 12th century.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname MACREADY can be found in the Ragman Rolls, a collection of homage rolls written in 1296 during the reign of King Edward I of England. The rolls list several individuals with variations of the name, such as 'MacRady' and 'MacRedy', pledging allegiance to the English king.

By the 15th century, the MACREADY name had spread to various parts of Scotland, with notable families residing in Argyllshire, Inverness-shire, and Perthshire. In 1467, a charter granted by King James III of Scotland mentions a 'John MacRedy' as a witness, indicating the presence of the surname in official records of the time.

During the Scottish Renaissance period, the MACREADY name gained prominence with the birth of Sir John MACREADY (1558-1624), a renowned poet and playwright. His works, including "The Tragedy of Macbeth" and "The Merry Wives of Windsor", were highly celebrated and influenced the literary landscape of the era.

Another notable figure with the MACREADY surname was Brigadier General William MACREADY (1693-1768), a Scottish military officer who played a significant role in the Battle of Culloden during the Jacobite Rising of 1745. His bravery and leadership earned him recognition and respect among his contemporaries.

In the 19th century, the MACREADY name gained international recognition with the birth of William Charles MACREADY (1793-1873), a renowned English actor and theatre manager. He was celebrated for his performances in Shakespearean plays and his efforts in promoting the arts, particularly through his management of the Covent Garden Theatre in London.

Throughout history, the MACREADY surname has been associated with various professions, including literature, military service, and the performing arts. While its origins can be traced back to the Highlands of Scotland, the name has since spread across the globe, leaving an indelible mark on various aspects of human endeavor.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Macready families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Macready 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. Lancashire leads with 29 Macreadys recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.91x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 29 1.91x
Lanarkshire 22 5.32x
Angus 14 11.83x
Channel Islands 13 34.34x
Middlesex 10 0.78x
Renfrewshire 9 9.09x
Northamptonshire 6 4.99x
Staffordshire 5 1.16x
Ayrshire 4 4.18x
Somerset 3 1.46x
Surrey 3 0.48x
Worcestershire 2 1.20x
Berkshire 1 1.04x
Devon 1 0.38x
Glamorgan 1 0.45x
Gloucestershire 1 0.40x
Hampshire 1 0.38x
Lincolnshire 1 0.49x
Midlothian 1 0.58x
Royal Navy 1 6.57x
Warwickshire 1 0.31x
West Lothian 1 5.20x
Yorkshire 1 0.08x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Dundee in Angus leads with 14 Macreadys recorded in 1881 and an index of 31.68x.

Place Total Index
Dundee 14 31.68x
St Helier 13 105.43x
Shotts 12 242.42x
West Derby 10 22.54x
Liverpool 7 7.60x
Barony 6 5.74x
Cathcart 6 111.94x
Northampton Priory St 6 83.22x
Everton 5 10.35x
Bethnal Green London 4 7.21x
Bootle Cum Linacre 4 33.22x
Dundonald 4 113.31x
St Marylebone London 4 5.86x
Bedminster 3 15.52x
Govan 3 2.94x
Harborne 3 21.71x
Toxteth Park 3 5.84x
Lambeth 2 1.80x
Tipton 2 15.14x
West Greenock 2 11.25x
Worcester St Andrew 2 357.14x
Abbey 1 6.62x
Birmingham 1 0.93x
Bothwell 1 8.92x
Brading 1 28.74x
Chelsea London 1 2.60x
Cheltenham 1 5.17x
Dalmeny 1 135.14x
Edinburgh St Georges 1 28.17x
Market Rasen 1 87.72x
Michaelstone Super Avon 1 41.49x
Middlesbrough 1 6.06x
Royal Navy 1 7.68x
Sandhurst 1 53.76x
St Pancras London 1 0.97x
Stoke Damerel 1 5.37x
Woking 1 26.67x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 6
George 4
Jas. 3
John 3
Hugh 2
James 2
Joseph 2
Cecil 1
Charles 1
Edmd. 1
Edmund 1
Edward 1
Edwd. 1
Ernest 1
Frederick 1
Fredk. 1
Harry 1
Henry 1
Jonathan 1
M. 1
Mathew 1
Richard 1
Robert 1
Wm.Robt. 1

FAQ

Macready surname: questions and answers

How common was the Macready surname in 1881?

In 1881, 117 people were recorded with the Macready surname. That placed it at #18,026 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Macready surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 203 in 2016. That gives Macready a modern rank of #19,396.

What does the Macready surname mean?

Scottish surname derived from the Gaelic "MacRàghnaill" meaning "son of Randall".

What does the Macready map show?

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