NameCensus.

UK surname

Mcallister

A Scottish occupational surname meaning "son of Alasdair" or "son of Alexander," likely referring to a clan chief.

In the 1881 census there were 3,516 people recorded with the Mcallister surname, ranking it #1,296 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 8,827, ranked #740, up from #1,296 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to New Monkland, Govan Combination and Gateshead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Campbeltown, Drumchapel North and Keppochhill.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mcallister is 8,827 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 151.1%.

1881 census count

3,516

Ranked #1,296

Modern count

8,827

2016, ranked #740

Peak year

2016

8,827 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mcallister had 3,516 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,296 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 8,827 in 2016, ranked #740.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 4,550 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Mcallister surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mcallister surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mcallister 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 1,292 #2,220
1861 historical 1,737 #1,657
1881 historical 3,516 #1,296
1891 historical 3,757 #1,275
1901 historical 4,550 #1,252
1911 historical 1,350 #3,553
1997 modern 7,797 #832
1998 modern 7,961 #841
1999 modern 8,067 #837
2000 modern 7,955 #843
2001 modern 7,810 #842
2002 modern 8,032 #838
2003 modern 7,834 #832
2004 modern 7,927 #816
2005 modern 7,917 #807
2006 modern 8,010 #803
2007 modern 8,204 #783
2008 modern 8,332 #778
2009 modern 8,522 #781
2010 modern 8,715 #779
2011 modern 8,570 #781
2012 modern 8,476 #771
2013 modern 8,624 #772
2014 modern 8,797 #761
2015 modern 8,787 #747
2016 modern 8,827 #740

Geography

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Where Mcallisters are most common

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

The modern local-area list points to Campbeltown, Drumchapel North, Keppochhill, Braeside, Branchton, Lower Larkfield and Ravenscraig and West Neilston and Uplawmoor. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 New Monkland Lanark
2 Govan Combination Lanark
3 Gateshead Durham
4 Greenock Renfrew
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Campbeltown Argyll and Bute
2 Drumchapel North Glasgow City
3 Keppochhill Glasgow City
4 Braeside, Branchton, Lower Larkfield and Ravenscraig Inverclyde
5 West Neilston and Uplawmoor East Renfrewshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mcallister

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mcallister

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

Read profile summary

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

Mcallister 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

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

Meaning and origin of Mcallister

The surname McAllister is of Scottish origin, deriving from the Gaelic "Mac Alasdair" or "son of Alasdair." Alasdair is the Scottish form of the name Alexander. The name is thought to have originated in the Argyll region of western Scotland during the Middle Ages, where the Clan McAllister held lands.

The earliest recorded instances of the name appear in the 13th century, with references to individuals such as Gillecrist MacAleystyr in 1263. The name was often spelled in various ways, including McAlister, McCalyster, and McCallaster, reflecting regional dialects and scribal variations.

One notable early bearer of the name was Angus McAllister, a Scottish knight who fought alongside Robert the Bruce at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314. He was granted lands in Kintyre for his service.

In the 16th century, the McAllisters were involved in conflicts with the Campbells, a powerful neighboring clan. In 1586, a bloody feud erupted between the two clans, leading to the Battle of Glenlussa, where the McAllisters suffered significant losses.

The name McAllister is also found in Irish records, likely due to migration from Scotland to Ulster during the Plantation of Ulster in the 17th century. Notable Irish McAllisters include John McAllister (1753-1795), an early Presbyterian minister and educator in Pennsylvania.

Other notable individuals with the surname include Archibald McAllister (1824-1896), a Canadian politician and businessman, and Walter Bruce McAllister (1900-1997), an American artist known for his Western landscapes.

Throughout history, variations of the name, such as McAlester, have also been prominent. This includes Miles McAlester (1856-1898), a Confederate soldier and recipient of the Confederate Medal of Honor during the American Civil War.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mcallister families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mcallister 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 46 Mcallisters recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.09x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 46 2.09x
Durham 30 5.44x
Cumberland 23 14.41x
Yorkshire 15 0.82x
Kent 13 2.06x
Lanarkshire 12 2.00x
Northumberland 10 3.63x
Cheshire 8 1.96x
Devon 6 1.56x
Glamorgan 5 1.55x
Westmorland 5 12.28x
Middlesex 4 0.22x
Bedfordshire 3 3.13x
Essex 2 0.55x
Royal Navy 2 9.05x
Flintshire 1 2.01x
Hampshire 1 0.26x
Leicestershire 1 0.49x
Northamptonshire 1 0.57x
Perthshire 1 1.20x
Renfrewshire 1 0.70x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Plumstead in Kent leads with 13 Mcallisters recorded in 1881 and an index of 61.67x.

Place Total Index
Plumstead 13 61.67x
Everton 12 17.12x
Kirkdale 10 27.03x
Heworth 8 73.66x
Poulton Cum Seacombe 8 169.85x
Workington 8 87.53x
Billingham 7 736.84x
Bullers Green 7 3333.33x
Darlington 7 32.88x
Holy Trinity 7 15.85x
Preston Quarter 7 156.60x
Barony 6 3.96x
Stoke Damerel 6 22.22x
Cardiff St Mary 5 28.12x
Kirkby Stephen 5 471.70x
Liverpool 5 3.74x
Aston Cum Aughton 4 266.67x
Burnley 4 21.60x
Glasgow 4 3.76x
Moss Side 4 34.57x
Caldewgate 3 34.32x
Houghton Le Spring 3 78.74x
Luton 3 18.06x
Whitehaven 3 35.29x
Anderston 2 1250.00x
Arthuret 2 120.48x
Barking 2 18.69x
Bilton Cum Harrogate 2 31.85x
Birtley 2 88.89x
Blackburn 2 3.42x
Newcastle On Tyne St 2 14.00x
Salford 2 3.09x
St Marylebone London 2 2.02x
Throston 2 188.68x
Wigan 2 6.51x
Abbey 1 4.56x
Aldershot 1 7.86x
Earls Barton 1 67.11x
Elswick 1 4.54x
Hampstead London 1 3.47x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 1 4.19x
Kilmadock 1 52.36x
Lancaster 1 7.64x
Newchurch 1 5.56x
Rhuddlan 1 22.78x
Scarisbrick 1 39.22x
Sculcoates 1 3.43x
Sibson 1 416.67x
St George Hanover 1 4.13x
Thornaby 1 14.58x
Thornton In Fylde 1 20.79x
West Derby 1 1.55x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 18
Catherine 7
Ann 6
Elizabeth 4
Jane 4
Ellen 3
Isabella 3
Margaret 3
Sarah 3
Annie 2
Bridget 2
Emily 2
Margt. 2
Ada 1
Agnes 1
Alice 1
Alicia 1
Christina 1
Dennise 1
E. 1
Eliz. 1
Emma 1
Esther 1
Frances 1
Gertrude 1
Grace 1
Hannah 1
Henrietta 1
Isabel 1
Jesse 1
Louisa 1
Lydia 1
M.E. 1
Maggie 1
Margret 1
Maria 1
Rose 1
Selina 1
Susannah 1
Tanny 1
Teresa 1
Winifred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 22
James 14
William 11
George 5
Peter 3
Charles 2
Daniel 2
Edward 2
Lewis 2
Robert 2
Alexandr 1
Alister 1
Cornelias 1
Daw 1
Donald 1
Ellis 1
Frank 1
Henry 1
Herbert 1
Howard 1
Infant 1
Joseph 1
R.J. 1
Raymond 1
Richard 1
Ronald 1
Samuel 1
T. 1
Thomas 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Mcallister surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mcallister surname in 1881?

In 1881, 3,516 people were recorded with the Mcallister surname. That placed it at #1,296 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mcallister surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 8,827 in 2016. That gives Mcallister a modern rank of #740.

What does the Mcallister surname mean?

A Scottish occupational surname meaning "son of Alasdair" or "son of Alexander," likely referring to a clan chief.

What does the Mcallister map show?

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