NameCensus.

UK surname

Malcolmson

Son of a servant of St. Columba, an Irish missionary monk.

In the 1881 census there were 272 people recorded with the Malcolmson surname, ranking it #10,409 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 644, ranked #8,237, up from #10,409 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lerwick, Edinburgh and Bonhill. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Shetland South, Lerwick South and East Riding of Yorkshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Malcolmson is 645 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 136.8%.

1881 census count

272

Ranked #10,409

Modern count

644

2016, ranked #8,237

Peak year

2014

645 bearers

Map years

7

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Malcolmson had 272 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,409 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 644 in 2016, ranked #8,237.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 323 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Malcolmson surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Malcolmson surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Malcolmson 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 75 #20,268
1861 historical 197 #12,166
1881 historical 272 #10,409
1891 historical 297 #11,192
1901 historical 323 #11,065
1911 historical 85 #24,322
1997 modern 563 #8,516
1998 modern 606 #8,329
1999 modern 598 #8,458
2000 modern 601 #8,412
2001 modern 589 #8,405
2002 modern 627 #8,187
2003 modern 602 #8,313
2004 modern 599 #8,361
2005 modern 594 #8,334
2006 modern 581 #8,485
2007 modern 594 #8,418
2008 modern 602 #8,392
2009 modern 629 #8,289
2010 modern 637 #8,371
2011 modern 592 #8,782
2012 modern 612 #8,478
2013 modern 631 #8,407
2014 modern 645 #8,316
2015 modern 643 #8,266
2016 modern 644 #8,237

Geography

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Where Malcolmsons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lerwick, Edinburgh, Bonhill, Glasgow and Dalry. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Shetland South, Lerwick South, East Riding of Yorkshire, Cowie and Drumchapel North. 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 Lerwick Shetland
2 Edinburgh Edinburgh
3 Bonhill Dunbarton
4 Glasgow Lanark
5 Dalry Ayr

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Shetland South Shetland Islands
2 Lerwick South Shetland Islands
3 East Riding of Yorkshire 026 East Riding of Yorkshire
4 Cowie Stirling
5 Drumchapel North Glasgow City

Forenames

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First names often paired with Malcolmson

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Malcolmson

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Malcolmson, 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 Malcolmson surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Malcolmson 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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Malcolmson is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Malcolmson 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

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

Meaning and origin of Malcolmson

The surname Malcolmson originated in Scotland during the Middle Ages. It is a patronymic name derived from the personal name Malcolm, which is derived from the Gaelic words "mál" meaning "disciple" and "colm" meaning "dove." The name was likely first adopted by the son or descendant of someone named Malcolm.

The earliest recorded instance of the name dates back to the 13th century, appearing in Scottish records and medieval manuscripts. One notable mention is in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which recorded the names of Scottish nobles who swore fealty to King Edward I of England. The name appears in various spellings, such as Malcolmesone and Malcomsoun.

The Malcolmson name is closely associated with the Scottish Highlands, particularly in the regions of Argyll and the Western Isles. It is believed that the name originated in these areas and later spread to other parts of Scotland and beyond.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name was John Malcolmson, a Scottish nobleman who lived in the late 13th century. Records indicate that he held lands in Argyll and was involved in the Scottish Wars of Independence against the English.

In the 16th century, William Malcolmson, a Protestant reformer from Edinburgh, played a significant role in the Scottish Reformation. He was an influential figure in the spread of Protestant teachings and the establishment of the Presbyterian Church in Scotland.

During the 17th century, the name was present in various parts of Scotland, as evidenced by historical records and parish registers. Notable individuals included Robert Malcolmson (1597-1662), a Scottish minister and writer, and James Malcolmson (1634-1699), a merchant and landowner in Ayrshire.

In the 18th century, the name gained prominence with the birth of Sir Grahame Garden Malcolmson (1738-1814), a Scottish military officer who served in the British Army during the American Revolutionary War. He later became a member of the British Parliament.

Another notable figure was Robert Malcolmson (1810-1882), a Scottish naturalist and explorer who traveled extensively in India and made significant contributions to the study of natural history and geology in the region.

These are just a few examples of individuals bearing the surname Malcolmson throughout history, highlighting the name's Scottish roots and its presence across various fields and regions over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Malcolmson families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Malcolmson 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. Shetland leads with 118 Malcolmsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 429.09x.

County Total Index
Shetland 118 429.09x
Ayrshire 21 10.42x
Lancashire 20 0.63x
Kirkcudbrightshire 18 46.19x
Lanarkshire 16 1.84x
Midlothian 15 4.16x
Dunbartonshire 13 17.97x
Hertfordshire 8 4.31x
Orkney 7 23.63x
Aberdeenshire 6 2.41x
Kent 5 0.54x
Staffordshire 5 0.55x
Essex 4 0.75x
Isle of Man 4 8.00x
Middlesex 4 0.15x
Durham 3 0.37x
Renfrewshire 3 1.44x
West Lothian 2 4.93x
Banffshire 1 1.79x
Fife 1 0.63x
Sussex 1 0.22x
Yorkshire 1 0.04x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Dunrossness in Shetland leads with 83 Malcolmsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 2292.82x.

Place Total Index
Dunrossness 83 2292.82x
Lerwick Gulberwick 32 751.17x
Dalmellington 14 236.49x
Bonhill 13 111.97x
Barrow In Furness 10 23.02x
Barony 8 3.63x
East Barnet 8 217.39x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 8 5.51x
Kelton 7 218.75x
North Leith 7 41.94x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 6 12.86x
Walls Flotta 6 431.65x
Girthon 5 381.68x
Govan 5 2.32x
Kilmaurs 5 145.77x
Lichfield St Michael 5 175.44x
Deptford St Paul 4 5.65x
Kirkcudbright 4 123.84x
Manchester 4 2.78x
Onchan 4 27.78x
West Ham 4 3.41x
Glasgow 3 1.94x
Northmavine 3 143.54x
St Marylebone London 3 2.09x
Buittle 2 217.39x
Dalton In Furness 2 16.22x
Kilbarchan 2 31.55x
Linlithgow 2 38.46x
Toxteth Park 2 1.85x
Abdie 1 109.89x
Brighton 1 1.09x
Cheetham 1 4.20x
Dawdon 1 10.15x
Dundonald 1 13.46x
Fordyce 1 24.88x
Hartlepool 1 8.79x
Irvine 1 17.86x
Leeds 1 0.66x
Lochwinnoch 1 32.15x
South Shields 1 14.01x
St George Hanover 1 2.85x
Stromness 1 45.05x
Tonbridge 1 3.02x
West Derby 1 1.07x

Top female names

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

Name Count
James 7
John 4
William 3
Arthur 2
George 2
Robert 2
David 1
Edward 1
Frank 1
Henry 1
Hugh 1
J. 1
Norman 1
Vernon 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Malcolmson surname: questions and answers

How common was the Malcolmson surname in 1881?

In 1881, 272 people were recorded with the Malcolmson surname. That placed it at #10,409 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Malcolmson surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 644 in 2016. That gives Malcolmson a modern rank of #8,237.

What does the Malcolmson surname mean?

Son of a servant of St. Columba, an Irish missionary monk.

What does the Malcolmson map show?

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