NameCensus.

UK surname

Magill

Derived from the Irish Gaelic "Mac an Ghoill," meaning "son of the foreigner" or "son of the Englishman."

In the 1881 census there were 201 people recorded with the Magill surname, ranking it #12,791 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,345, ranked #4,479, up from #12,791 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Govan Combination and Liverpool. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Dingwall, Nitshill and Paisley Central.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Magill is 1,353 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 569.2%.

1881 census count

201

Ranked #12,791

Modern count

1,345

2016, ranked #4,479

Peak year

2002

1,353 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Magill had 201 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,791 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,345 in 2016, ranked #4,479.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 338 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Magill surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Magill surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Magill 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 116 #15,545
1861 historical 108 #19,856
1881 historical 201 #12,791
1891 historical 249 #12,813
1901 historical 338 #10,709
1911 historical 265 #12,422
1997 modern 1,247 #4,567
1998 modern 1,311 #4,535
1999 modern 1,324 #4,525
2000 modern 1,298 #4,581
2001 modern 1,289 #4,515
2002 modern 1,353 #4,421
2003 modern 1,284 #4,526
2004 modern 1,249 #4,646
2005 modern 1,260 #4,559
2006 modern 1,246 #4,623
2007 modern 1,244 #4,676
2008 modern 1,265 #4,617
2009 modern 1,279 #4,679
2010 modern 1,303 #4,696
2011 modern 1,285 #4,699
2012 modern 1,306 #4,555
2013 modern 1,335 #4,545
2014 modern 1,345 #4,534
2015 modern 1,333 #4,530
2016 modern 1,345 #4,479

Geography

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Where Magills are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Govan Combination, Liverpool, Glasgow and St Mary Islington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Dingwall, Nitshill, Paisley Central, Liverpool and Shropshire. 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 London parishes London 3
2 Govan Combination Lanark
3 Liverpool Lancashire
4 Glasgow Lanark
5 St Mary Islington London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Dingwall Highland
2 Nitshill Glasgow City
3 Paisley Central Renfrewshire
4 Liverpool 012 Liverpool
5 Shropshire 036 Shropshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Magill

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Magill

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Magill, 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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Magill surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Magill household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Magill is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Magill is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Magill

The surname Magill originated in Ireland and is believed to have derived from the Gaelic name Mac Gille, meaning "son of the servant" or "son of the devotee." It was a common prefix used in Ireland during the Middle Ages, often attached to a saint's name or a location.

The earliest known record of the name Magill dates back to the 13th century, where it appeared in the Annals of Ulster, a chronicle of medieval Irish history. The name was initially spelled in various ways, such as MacGill, MacGille, and MacGilla.

In the 16th century, the Magill family was prominent in County Down, Northern Ireland. One notable member was Sir Hugh Magill, who lived from 1567 to 1635 and served as a member of the Irish Parliament.

Another prominent figure with the Magill surname was Robert Magill, a Scottish minister and scholar who lived from 1688 to 1768. He was a professor of Hebrew at the University of Glasgow and published several works on biblical studies.

In the 18th century, the Magill family established themselves in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. One of the most well-known members of this branch was James Magill, who was born in 1738 and became a prominent businessman and landowner.

The Magill name also found its way to North America, with several bearers of the surname participating in the American Revolutionary War. One such individual was Charles Magill, who was born in 1738 in Pennsylvania and served as a captain in the Continental Army.

Another notable figure with the Magill surname was Mary Magill, an Irish-American author and poet who lived from 1828 to 1898. She published several works, including "Poems of Mary Magill" and "The Household Poet," and was known for her contributions to Irish-American literature.

Over time, the name Magill has been associated with various place names, such as Magilligan in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland, and Magill University in Quebec, Canada, which was named after a prominent benefactor with the Magill surname.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Magill families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Magill 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 75 Magills recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.06x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 75 3.06x
Middlesex 44 2.13x
Lanarkshire 24 3.59x
Isle of Man 11 28.65x
Yorkshire 9 0.44x
Surrey 8 0.79x
Kent 7 0.99x
Pembrokeshire 7 10.65x
Northumberland 6 1.95x
Denbighshire 3 3.84x
Durham 3 0.49x
Hampshire 3 0.71x
Essex 2 0.49x
Monmouthshire 2 1.34x
Northamptonshire 2 1.03x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.76x
Cheshire 1 0.22x
Gloucestershire 1 0.25x
Lincolnshire 1 0.30x
Sussex 1 0.29x
Wiltshire 1 0.55x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Liverpool in Lancashire leads with 12 Magills recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.05x.

Place Total Index
Liverpool 12 8.05x
Preston 12 18.28x
Kirkdale 11 26.65x
Malew 11 328.36x
Salford 10 13.86x
Govan 9 5.44x
Tottenham 9 27.32x
Bothwell 8 44.10x
Islington London 8 3.99x
Chorlton On Medlock 7 17.96x
Edmonton 7 42.02x
Ecclesall Bierlow 6 14.40x
Herbrandston 6 2400.00x
Barrow In Furness 5 14.98x
Berwick Upon Tweed 5 76.69x
Moston 5 203.25x
Wandsworth 5 25.11x
Woolwich 5 19.18x
Hammersmith London 4 7.85x
Maryhill 4 30.56x
West Derby 4 5.57x
Bethnal Green London 3 3.34x
Abergele 2 88.89x
Barton Upon Irwell 2 10.83x
Chelsea London 2 3.21x
Chepstow 2 78.43x
Glasgow 2 1.68x
Holdenby 2 1333.33x
Houghton Le Spring 2 47.06x
Mile End Old Town London 2 4.54x
Portsea 2 2.41x
Saddleworth 2 12.65x
St George Hanover Square 2 5.49x
St Pancras London 2 1.20x
West Ham 2 2.22x
Aldershot 1 7.04x
Barony 1 0.59x
Blackburn 1 1.53x
Blatchinworth 1 17.89x
Caterham 1 22.47x
Chatham 1 5.15x
Croydon 1 1.79x
Denbigh 1 31.85x
Elswick 1 4.07x
Esh 1 22.32x
Fulham London 1 3.33x
Garston 1 13.81x
Hackney London 1 0.86x
Halifax 1 3.32x
Hove 1 6.54x
Hubberston 1 104.17x
Huyton With Roby 1 34.72x
Kensington London 1 0.87x
Kingston On Thames 1 4.13x
Lancaster 1 6.85x
Lewisham 1 2.66x
Oldham 1 1.26x
Prestwich 1 16.34x
Spalding 1 15.24x
St Giles Cambridge 1 59.17x
St Marylebone London 1 0.91x
Swindon 1 7.05x
Upton By Birkenhead 1 227.27x
Westbury On Trym 1 7.28x
Westminster St Margaret 1 10.02x

Top female names

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

FAQ

Magill surname: questions and answers

How common was the Magill surname in 1881?

In 1881, 201 people were recorded with the Magill surname. That placed it at #12,791 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Magill surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,345 in 2016. That gives Magill a modern rank of #4,479.

What does the Magill surname mean?

Derived from the Irish Gaelic "Mac an Ghoill," meaning "son of the foreigner" or "son of the Englishman."

What does the Magill map show?

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