NameCensus.

UK surname

Mcadams

Son of Adam, a patronymic surname of Scottish and Irish origin.

In the 1881 census there were 224 people recorded with the Mcadams surname, ranking it #11,970 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 350, ranked #13,152, down from #11,970 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bothwell, Wigton and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Halton, Tameside and Blantyre South and Wheatlands.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mcadams is 354 in 2013. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 56.3%.

1881 census count

224

Ranked #11,970

Modern count

350

2016, ranked #13,152

Peak year

2013

354 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mcadams had 224 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,970 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 350 in 2016, ranked #13,152.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 224 in 1881.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Mcadams surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mcadams surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mcadams 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 107 #16,402
1861 historical 107 #20,008
1881 historical 224 #11,970
1891 historical 209 #14,459
1901 historical 197 #15,272
1911 historical 130 #19,504
1997 modern 312 #13,182
1998 modern 316 #13,424
1999 modern 327 #13,209
2000 modern 334 #12,980
2001 modern 327 #12,970
2002 modern 330 #13,140
2003 modern 332 #12,914
2004 modern 341 #12,673
2005 modern 339 #12,668
2006 modern 336 #12,842
2007 modern 324 #13,322
2008 modern 336 #13,095
2009 modern 352 #12,918
2010 modern 353 #13,156
2011 modern 342 #13,314
2012 modern 342 #13,184
2013 modern 354 #13,079
2014 modern 351 #13,227
2015 modern 341 #13,425
2016 modern 350 #13,152

Geography

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Where Mcadams' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bothwell, Wigton, London parishes, Gateshead and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Halton, Tameside, Blantyre South and Wheatlands, County Durham and Keppochhill. 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 Bothwell Lanark
2 Wigton Cumberland
3 London parishes London 3
4 Gateshead Durham
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Halton 010 Halton
2 Tameside 027 Tameside
3 Blantyre South and Wheatlands South Lanarkshire
4 County Durham 019 County Durham
5 Keppochhill Glasgow City

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mcadams

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mcadams

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Mcadams is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Mcadams is most concentrated in decile 3 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Mcadams

The surname McAdams originated in Scotland and is derived from the Gaelic Mac Adhamh, meaning "son of Adam." This name is believed to have been first used in the Scottish Highlands during the Middle Ages, around the 12th or 13th century.

McAdams is considered a patronymic surname, which means it was originally formed by combining the prefix "Mac" (meaning "son of") with a personal name, in this case, Adam. This naming convention was common in Scotland and other parts of the British Isles during that time period.

The earliest recorded instances of the name McAdams can be found in various Scottish historical records and charters from the 13th and 14th centuries. One notable mention is in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland from the year 1264, which includes a reference to a "Gillebride MacAdame."

In the 16th century, the McAdams family was prominent in the Scottish Borders region, with several members holding positions of influence and landowners. One notable figure from this era was John McAdams, who served as the Provost (Mayor) of Jedburgh in the late 16th century.

As the name spread beyond Scotland, variations in spelling and pronunciation emerged, including McAdam, McAdams, and Adams. In Ireland, the McAdams name is associated with County Antrim and County Down, where it is believed to have been introduced by Scottish settlers during the Plantation of Ulster in the 17th century.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname McAdams, including:

1. Robert McAdams (1799-1865), an American politician and lawyer who served as a U.S. Senator from Illinois. 2. William McAdams (1810-1891), an American politician and jurist who served as a U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania. 3. John McAdams (1819-1886), a Scottish-born Canadian businessman and politician who served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba. 4. Leila McAdams (1893-1965), an American actress and vaudeville performer who appeared in several Broadway productions and films. 5. Rachel McAdams (born 1978), a Canadian actress known for her roles in films such as "Mean Girls," "The Notebook," and "Spotlight."

The surname McAdams continues to be widely distributed across various parts of the world, with significant populations in countries like the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, reflecting the Scottish diaspora and migration patterns over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mcadams families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mcadams 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 15 Mcadams' recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.81x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 15 3.81x
Northamptonshire 8 25.65x
Cumberland 5 17.51x
Leicestershire 3 8.16x
Middlesex 3 0.90x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Northampton Priory St in Northamptonshire leads with 8 Mcadams' recorded in 1881 and an index of 427.81x.

Place Total Index
Northampton Priory St 8 427.81x
Liverpool 5 20.92x
Manchester 5 28.26x
Workington 5 306.75x
West Derby 4 34.75x
Islington London 3 9.33x
Leicester St Margaret 3 33.44x
Chorlton On Medlock 1 16.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Ada 1
Ann 1
Cathrine 1
Eleanor 1
Elizabeth 1
Emily 1
Helen 1
Lizzie 1
Maggie 1
Margaret 1
Mary 1
Sarah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 5
William 3
James 2
Richard 2
Albert 1
Arthur 1
Charles 1
Geo.David 1
George 1
Hy. 1
Joseph 1
Robert 1
Thomas 1
Walter 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 Mcadams households.

FAQ

Mcadams surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mcadams surname in 1881?

In 1881, 224 people were recorded with the Mcadams surname. That placed it at #11,970 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mcadams surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 350 in 2016. That gives Mcadams a modern rank of #13,152.

What does the Mcadams surname mean?

Son of Adam, a patronymic surname of Scottish and Irish origin.

What does the Mcadams map show?

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