NameCensus.

UK surname

Mcalinden

An Anglicized form of the Gaelic surname Mac Aleinden, meaning "son of the skilled servant".

In the 1881 census there were 52 people recorded with the Mcalinden surname, ranking it #26,281 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 722, ranked #7,525, up from #26,281 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Port Glasgow, Girvan and New Monkland. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Govan and Linthouse, West Pilton and Greenend and Carnbroe.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mcalinden is 722 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 1288.5%.

1881 census count

52

Ranked #26,281

Modern count

722

2016, ranked #7,525

Peak year

2016

722 bearers

Map years

4

1901 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mcalinden had 52 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #26,281 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 722 in 2016, ranked #7,525.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 102 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Mcalinden surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mcalinden surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mcalinden 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 11 #31,309
1861 historical 11 #32,452
1881 historical 52 #26,281
1891 historical 71 #27,934
1901 historical 102 #22,596
1911 historical 59 #26,914
1997 modern 610 #8,047
1998 modern 619 #8,209
1999 modern 631 #8,152
2000 modern 636 #8,069
2001 modern 630 #7,972
2002 modern 666 #7,805
2003 modern 615 #8,169
2004 modern 612 #8,229
2005 modern 620 #8,064
2006 modern 634 #7,958
2007 modern 639 #7,976
2008 modern 652 #7,902
2009 modern 667 #7,919
2010 modern 659 #8,152
2011 modern 647 #8,183
2012 modern 669 #7,886
2013 modern 711 #7,641
2014 modern 714 #7,654
2015 modern 706 #7,671
2016 modern 722 #7,525

Geography

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Where Mcalindens are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Port Glasgow, Girvan, New Monkland, Govan Combination and Manchester. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Govan and Linthouse, West Pilton, Greenend and Carnbroe, Gartcosh and Marnock and Port Glasgow Upper East. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Port Glasgow Renfrew
2 Girvan Ayr
3 New Monkland Lanark
4 Govan Combination Lanark
5 Manchester Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Govan and Linthouse Glasgow City
2 West Pilton City of Edinburgh
3 Greenend and Carnbroe North Lanarkshire
4 Gartcosh and Marnock North Lanarkshire
5 Port Glasgow Upper East Inverclyde

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mcalinden

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mcalinden

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

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Mcalinden 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.

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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

Mcalinden is most concentrated in decile 2 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Mcalinden

The surname MCALINDEN is of Scottish origin, originating in the Highlands region of Scotland in the medieval period. It is a Gaelic name derived from the personal name "Ailin," which itself is a Scottish form of the name Alan or Allen. The prefix "Mac" means "son of," so the name literally translates to "son of Ailin" or "son of Alan."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a historical record of Scottish landowners who swore fealty to King Edward I of England. In this document, the name appears as "MacAlan." Over time, the spelling evolved to its modern form of MCALINDEN.

The MCALINDEN name has a strong connection to the Scottish Highlands and the Clan Donald, one of the largest and most powerful clans in Scotland during the Middle Ages. Several members of the MCALINDEN family were recorded as landowners and chieftains within the Clan Donald territories.

In the 16th century, a notable figure bearing the MCALINDEN name was Angus MCALINDEN, a respected warrior and leader who fought alongside the Clan Donald during the Scottish Clan Wars. He was born around 1530 and played a significant role in various battles and conflicts of that era.

Another prominent individual was Sir Donald MCALINDEN, a Scottish nobleman who lived in the 17th century. He was a staunch supporter of the Royalist cause during the English Civil War and fought for King Charles I. Sir Donald MCALINDEN was born in 1610 and died in 1675.

In the 18th century, the MCALINDEN name was associated with several clergymen and scholars. Reverend John MCALINDEN (1725-1795) was a respected minister in the Church of Scotland and a renowned author of religious texts.

In the 19th century, one of the most notable figures was James MCALINDEN (1840-1912), a Scottish entrepreneur and industrialist who made his fortune in the textile industry. He was a prominent figure in Glasgow and played a significant role in the city's economic development during the Industrial Revolution.

Throughout history, the MCALINDEN name has been closely tied to the Scottish Highlands and has a rich heritage rooted in the country's clan system and turbulent past. While the name has spread to other parts of the world due to migration, its origins and deep connections to Scottish history remain an integral part of its identity.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Mcalinden surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mcalinden surname in 1881?

In 1881, 52 people were recorded with the Mcalinden surname. That placed it at #26,281 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mcalinden surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 722 in 2016. That gives Mcalinden a modern rank of #7,525.

What does the Mcalinden surname mean?

An Anglicized form of the Gaelic surname Mac Aleinden, meaning "son of the skilled servant".

What does the Mcalinden map show?

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