NameCensus.

UK surname

Macwilliam

A Scottish surname meaning "son of William".

In the 1881 census there were 53 people recorded with the Macwilliam surname, ranking it #26,134 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 202, ranked #19,475, up from #26,134 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lochs, Govan Combination and Boharm. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Badenoch and Strathspey South, Huntly and Cheshire East.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Macwilliam is 215 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 281.1%.

1881 census count

53

Ranked #26,134

Modern count

202

2016, ranked #19,475

Peak year

2002

215 bearers

Map years

4

1901 to 2016

Key insights

  • Macwilliam had 53 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #26,134 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 202 in 2016, ranked #19,475.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 181 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Macwilliam surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Macwilliam surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Macwilliam 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 32 #27,570
1861 historical 45 #28,296
1881 historical 53 #26,134
1891 historical 98 #24,313
1901 historical 181 #16,107
1911 historical 38 #29,147
1997 modern 210 #17,104
1998 modern 212 #17,479
1999 modern 207 #17,855
2000 modern 208 #17,772
2001 modern 198 #18,047
2002 modern 215 #17,487
2003 modern 201 #18,089
2004 modern 203 #18,061
2005 modern 196 #18,404
2006 modern 199 #18,357
2007 modern 206 #18,142
2008 modern 209 #18,114
2009 modern 206 #18,657
2010 modern 202 #19,322
2011 modern 198 #19,410
2012 modern 199 #19,280
2013 modern 194 #19,932
2014 modern 200 #19,713
2015 modern 199 #19,640
2016 modern 202 #19,475

Geography

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Where Macwilliams are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lochs, Govan Combination, Boharm, Rothiemay and Keith. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Badenoch and Strathspey South, Huntly, Cheshire East, Pollokshaws and North Speyside. 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 Lochs Ross And Cromarty
2 Govan Combination Lanark
3 Boharm Banff
4 Rothiemay Banff
5 Keith Banff

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Badenoch and Strathspey South Highland
2 Huntly Aberdeenshire
3 Cheshire East 004 Cheshire East
4 Pollokshaws Glasgow City
5 North Speyside Moray

Forenames

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First names often paired with Macwilliam

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Macwilliam

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

Macwilliam 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

Macwilliam falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Macwilliam

The surname MacWilliam has its origins in Scotland, tracing back to the Middle Ages. It is a patronymic name, derived from the Gaelic "Mac Uilleam," meaning "son of William." This naming convention was common in Scotland, where the prefix "Mac" signified a familial relationship.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the 14th century, when a John MacWilliam was mentioned in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland in 1368. During this period, the name was often spelled in various ways, such as MacWilliame, MacWillame, and MacWilliams.

The MacWilliams were particularly prominent in the Scottish Highlands, with strong ties to the Clan Campbell. Historical records suggest that the MacWilliams held lands in Argyllshire and were considered a sept (a branch or subdivision) of the powerful Campbell clan.

In the 16th century, a notable figure bearing the name was John MacWilliam, a Scottish clergyman who served as the Bishop of Ross from 1567 to 1572. He played a significant role in the Scottish Reformation and was a supporter of Mary, Queen of Scots.

Another notable MacWilliam was Finlay MacWilliam, a Scottish Gaelic poet who lived in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. He is renowned for his works that celebrated the culture and traditions of the Scottish Highlands.

During the 17th century, the name appeared in various records related to the Scottish Highlands. One such reference is found in the Register of the Privy Council of Scotland, which mentions a Malcolm MacWilliam in 1680.

In later centuries, the MacWilliams continued to establish themselves across Scotland, and some members of the family emigrated to other parts of the British Empire, including North America and Australia.

One notable figure from the 19th century was John MacWilliam, a Scottish architect born in 1827. He designed several prominent buildings in Glasgow, including the City Chambers and the Hutchesons' Hospital.

Another notable MacWilliam was Sir William MacWilliam, a British Army officer who served during the Second Boer War and World War I. He was born in 1867 and received several military honors, including the Distinguished Service Order and the Order of the Bath.

The surname MacWilliam has a rich history deeply rooted in the Scottish Highlands, with a strong connection to the Clan Campbell and the Gaelic language. While the name has evolved over time, its origins can be traced back to the Middle Ages, reflecting the complex tapestry of Scottish history and culture.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Macwilliam families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Macwilliam 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 7 Macwilliams recorded in 1881 and an index of 75.11x.

County Total Index
Inverness-shire 7 75.11x
Surrey 4 2.63x
Essex 3 4.87x
Hampshire 3 4.69x
Dumfriesshire 2 29.03x
Morayshire 2 41.24x
Stirlingshire 2 17.38x
Sussex 2 3.80x
Aberdeenshire 1 3.46x
Buckinghamshire 1 5.30x
Cheshire 1 1.45x
Kirkcudbrightshire 1 22.12x
Lanarkshire 1 0.99x
Middlesex 1 0.32x
Northumberland 1 2.15x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Inverness in Inverness-shire leads with 7 Macwilliams recorded in 1881 and an index of 299.15x.

Place Total Index
Inverness 7 299.15x
Leatherhead 4 1052.63x
Bobbingworth 3 10000.00x
Portsea 3 23.94x
Campsie 2 317.46x
Dumfries 2 294.12x
Hastings St Mary 2 152.67x
Rothes 2 833.33x
Aberdeen Old Machar 1 16.58x
Farnham Royal 1 909.09x
Govan 1 4.01x
Islington London 1 3.31x
Kirkcudbright 1 270.27x
Newbrough 1 1250.00x
Wallasey 1 434.78x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Annie 2
Agnes 1
Jessie 1
Margaret 1
Mary 1
Rosa 1
Sarah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Alexander 1
Edward 1
Hugh 1
Robert 1
Thomas 1
U. 1
William 1
Willie 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 Macwilliam households.

FAQ

Macwilliam surname: questions and answers

How common was the Macwilliam surname in 1881?

In 1881, 53 people were recorded with the Macwilliam surname. That placed it at #26,134 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Macwilliam surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 202 in 2016. That gives Macwilliam a modern rank of #19,475.

What does the Macwilliam surname mean?

A Scottish surname meaning "son of William".

What does the Macwilliam map show?

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