NameCensus.

UK surname

Macsween

In the 1881 census there were 104 people recorded with the Macsween surname, ranking it #19,296 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 579, ranked #8,957, up from #19,296 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lochs, Duirnish and Barra. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Harris, Benbecula and North Uist and Point.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Macsween is 583 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 456.7%.

1881 census count

104

Ranked #19,296

Modern count

579

2016, ranked #8,957

Peak year

2014

583 bearers

Map years

6

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Macsween had 104 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #19,296 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 579 in 2016, ranked #8,957.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 220 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Macsween surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Macsween surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Macsween 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 95 #17,707
1861 historical 100 #21,103
1881 historical 104 #19,296
1891 historical 220 #13,937
1901 historical 96 #23,342
1997 modern 470 #9,747
1998 modern 494 #9,693
1999 modern 494 #9,752
2000 modern 514 #9,424
2001 modern 487 #9,656
2002 modern 513 #9,464
2003 modern 528 #9,127
2004 modern 478 #9,823
2005 modern 489 #9,594
2006 modern 494 #9,569
2007 modern 505 #9,496
2008 modern 510 #9,499
2009 modern 501 #9,843
2010 modern 517 #9,792
2011 modern 510 #9,805
2012 modern 545 #9,230
2013 modern 568 #9,080
2014 modern 583 #8,986
2015 modern 580 #8,953
2016 modern 579 #8,957

Geography

Back to top

Where Macsweens are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lochs, Duirnish, Barra, South Uist and Stornoway. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Harris, Benbecula and North Uist, Point, Skye South and Skye North East. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Lochs Ross And Cromarty
2 Duirnish Inverness
3 Barra Inverness
4 South Uist Inverness
5 Stornoway Ross And Cromarty

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Harris Na h-Eileanan Siar
2 Benbecula and North Uist Na h-Eileanan Siar
3 Point Na h-Eileanan Siar
4 Skye South Highland
5 Skye North East Highland

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Macsween

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Macsween

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

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Macsween is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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 residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Macsween 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

Macsween 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 Macsween is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

1881 census detail

Back to top

Macsween families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Macsween 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 78 Macsweens recorded in 1881 and an index of 262.54x.

County Total Index
Inverness-shire 78 262.54x
Ross-shire 18 65.89x
Caithness 6 44.05x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Harris in Inverness-shire leads with 35 Macsweens recorded in 1881 and an index of 2348.99x.

Place Total Index
Harris 35 2348.99x
Duirinish 18 1192.05x
South Uist 18 869.57x
Lochs 10 460.83x
Stornoway 8 224.72x
Sleat 6 845.07x
Thurso 5 235.85x
Barra 1 135.14x
Reay 1 133.33x

FAQ

Macsween surname: questions and answers

How common was the Macsween surname in 1881?

In 1881, 104 people were recorded with the Macsween surname. That placed it at #19,296 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Macsween surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 579 in 2016. That gives Macsween a modern rank of #8,957.

What does the Macsween map show?

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