NameCensus.

UK surname

Mcalear

Scottish surname derived from a place name meaning "the son of the green plain or field".

In the 1881 census there were 53 people recorded with the Mcalear surname, ranking it #26,134 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 135, ranked #25,505, up from #26,134 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Barmulloch, Kennoway and Bonnybank and Baillieston East.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mcalear is 141 in 2009. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 154.7%.

1881 census count

53

Ranked #26,134

Modern count

135

2016, ranked #25,505

Peak year

2009

141 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mcalear had 53 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #26,134 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 135 in 2016, ranked #25,505.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 74 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Mcalear surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mcalear surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mcalear 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 3 #32,890
1861 historical 5 #33,418
1881 historical 53 #26,134
1891 historical 74 #27,538
1901 historical 66 #26,794
1911 historical 14 #32,045
1997 modern 124 #23,669
1998 modern 132 #23,394
1999 modern 122 #24,745
2000 modern 125 #24,351
2001 modern 121 #24,493
2002 modern 117 #25,494
2003 modern 109 #26,361
2004 modern 119 #25,200
2005 modern 123 #24,663
2006 modern 126 #24,493
2007 modern 124 #25,086
2008 modern 126 #25,131
2009 modern 141 #23,907
2010 modern 136 #25,009
2011 modern 132 #25,303
2012 modern 127 #25,992
2013 modern 129 #26,211
2014 modern 130 #26,216
2015 modern 131 #25,979
2016 modern 135 #25,505

Geography

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Where Mcalears are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Barmulloch, Kennoway and Bonnybank, Baillieston East, Thurrock and Dennistoun 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Barmulloch Glasgow City
2 Kennoway and Bonnybank Fife
3 Baillieston East Glasgow City
4 Thurrock 018 Thurrock
5 Dennistoun North Glasgow City

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mcalear

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mcalear

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

Legacy Communities

Group

Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities

Nationally, the Mcalear surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Mcalear household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

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Group profile

Households in these areas often include divorced or separated parents and commonly include children and young adults. The age structure is heavily skewed towards the most advanced age groups. Individuals identifying as members of ethnic minorities are not present in large numbers. Flats predominate, with some terraced, semi-detached, and detached units. Multiple car ownership is low, and housing is predominantly in the private and social rented sectors. Employment is less skewed towards traditional routine industrial occupations. Levels of educational attainment are generally low. The Group occurs principally in the Central Lowlands of Scotland and other Scottish towns.

Wider pattern

These neighbourhoods characteristically comprise pockets of flats that are scattered across the UK, particularly in towns that retain or have legacies of heavy industry or are in more remote seaside locations. Employed residents of these neighbourhoods work mainly in low-skilled occupations. Residents typically have limited educational qualifications. Unemployment is above average. Some residents live in overcrowded housing within the social rented sector and experience long-term disability. All adult age groups are represented, although there is an overall age bias towards elderly people in general and the very old in particular. Individuals identifying as belonging to ethnic minorities or Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups are uncommon.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles

Group

European Enclaves

Within London, Mcalear is most associated with areas classed as European Enclaves, part of Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles. 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

Many residents of these accessible neighbourhoods have wide-ranging non-UK European origins. Typically residing in privately rented flats, many residents live alone and are beyond normal retirement age. There are more students than elsewhere in the Supergroup, some of which live in communal establishments. Household residents are often drawn from different ethnic groups.

Wider London pattern

These neighbourhoods house people of all ages, predominantly of White British or European extraction. Resident turnover is low. Religious affiliation is less common than average and tends to be Christian if expressed. Homeownership, typically of terraced houses, is common but use of the social rented sector is not. Employment is typically in professional, managerial and associate professional or technical occupations. There are few full-time students. Level 4 qualifications are common. More households lack dependent children than have them which, considered alongside low levels of crowding and over-all age structure, indicates that many households may be post child-rearing and in late middle age. Incidence of disability is low, as is residence in communal establishments.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Mcalear is most concentrated in decile 4 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Mcalear falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Mcalear is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Mcalear

The surname MCALEAR has its origins in Ireland, with roots tracing back to the Middle Ages. It is believed to have derived from the Gaelic surname "Mac Giolla Adhaimh," which translates to "son of the servant of Adam." This suggests that the name may have originated from an ancestor who worked in the service of someone named Adam.

During the 12th and 13th centuries, the name was prevalent in the counties of Donegal and Tyrone in Ulster, Northern Ireland. Historical records from this period show variations in spelling, including MacAler, MacAleer, and McAler, among others.

One of the earliest documented references to the name can be found in the Annals of Ulster, a chronicle of medieval Irish history, which mentions a "Gilla Adhamhnain Mac Giolla Adhaimh" in the year 1305. This entry suggests that the name was already well-established by the early 14th century.

In the 16th century, the name appeared in the Fiants of the Tudor Sovereigns, a collection of records from the English administration in Ireland. A notable figure from this time was John McAlear, a landowner in County Donegal, who was granted a pardon in 1589 for his involvement in the Irish rebellion against English rule.

Throughout the 17th and 18th centuries, the MCALEAR surname continued to be prominent in Ulster, with several families owning land and holding positions of influence in their local communities. One notable individual from this period was Patrick McAlear, a Catholic priest who was active in County Tyrone during the 1680s.

In the 19th century, as Irish immigration to North America and other parts of the world increased, the MCALEAR name began to spread beyond its traditional homeland. One notable bearer of the name from this era was John McAlear (1826-1899), a prominent businessman and community leader in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Other notable individuals with the MCALEAR surname include: - William McAlear (1840-1915), an Irish-born politician and lawyer who served as a member of the Canadian House of Commons. - Mary McAlear (1884-1960), an American educator and author who worked to promote literacy and education in rural areas. - John McAlear (1898-1983), a Scottish-born architect who designed several notable buildings in Vancouver, British Columbia. - Thomas McAlear (1933-2018), an American businessman and philanthropist who founded the McAlear Eye Surgery Center in Florida.

While the MCALEAR name may have originated from humble beginnings, it has since been carried by individuals from various walks of life, leaving an indelible mark on the histories of Ireland, North America, and beyond.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Mcalear surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mcalear surname in 1881?

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

How common is the Mcalear surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 135 in 2016. That gives Mcalear a modern rank of #25,505.

What does the Mcalear surname mean?

Scottish surname derived from a place name meaning "the son of the green plain or field".

What does the Mcalear map show?

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