NameCensus.

UK surname

Mcalonan

A surname derived from the Irish Gaelic "Mac Ualghanaigh" meaning "son of Ualghannach".

In the 1881 census there were 14 people recorded with the Mcalonan surname, ranking it #31,604 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 173, ranked #21,561, up from #31,604 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Paisley Foxbar, Strutherhill and Paisley Central.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mcalonan is 175 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 1135.7%.

1881 census count

14

Ranked #31,604

Modern count

173

2016, ranked #21,561

Peak year

2014

175 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mcalonan had 14 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #31,604 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 173 in 2016, ranked #21,561.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 39 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Mcalonan surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mcalonan surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mcalonan 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
1861 historical 9 #32,724
1881 historical 14 #31,604
1891 historical 33 #31,681
1901 historical 39 #29,799
1911 historical 13 #32,172
1997 modern 141 #21,941
1998 modern 154 #21,316
1999 modern 144 #22,405
2000 modern 148 #21,971
2001 modern 143 #22,133
2002 modern 157 #21,261
2003 modern 154 #21,308
2004 modern 156 #21,261
2005 modern 158 #21,052
2006 modern 165 #20,634
2007 modern 169 #20,562
2008 modern 169 #20,745
2009 modern 167 #21,383
2010 modern 163 #22,205
2011 modern 163 #21,983
2012 modern 172 #21,219
2013 modern 169 #21,826
2014 modern 175 #21,477
2015 modern 173 #21,542
2016 modern 173 #21,561

Geography

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Where Mcalonans 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 Paisley Foxbar, Strutherhill, Paisley Central, Nottingham and Havering. 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 Paisley Foxbar Renfrewshire
2 Strutherhill South Lanarkshire
3 Paisley Central Renfrewshire
4 Nottingham 030 Nottingham
5 Havering 010 Havering

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mcalonan

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mcalonan

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

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

Senior Professionals

Within London, Mcalonan is most associated with areas classed as Senior Professionals, part of Central Connected Professionals and Managers. 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 very central neighbourhoods house residents whose ages are more skewed towards older age cohorts than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Few households have young children. Rates of illness are low. Indian ethnicity is rare compared to the Supergroup mean. Property under occupation is more common, despite the centrality of neighbourhoods, and more residents live in communal establishments than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Adult residents of these neighbourhoods are typically aged 25 to 44, working full-time in professional, managerial or associate professional occupations. There are few families with dependent children. The predominantly Inner London neighbourhoods have an international character, including many residents born elsewhere in Europe alongside high numbers of individuals identifying as of Chinese ethnicity. Many individuals are never married, childless and/or living alone. Above average numbers of individuals, likely to be full-time students, live in communal establishments. Elsewhere, privately rented flats are the dominant housing type. Residents of these areas are well-qualified, with a significant number holding Level 4 or above qualifications. There is a correspondingly high level of individuals employed full-time in professional, managerial and associated professional or technical occupations. Employing industries are financial, real estate, professional, administration, and, to a lesser degree, transport and communications. Unemployment is uncommon.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Mcalonan 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

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

Meaning and origin of Mcalonan

The surname McAlonan is of Irish origin, tracing its roots back to the 16th century. It is believed to have originated in County Donegal, located in the northern part of Ireland. The name is derived from the Gaelic phrase "Mac Ualghanaigh," which translates to "son of Ualghanaigh," with Ualghanaigh being a personal name meaning "descendant of the trespasser or intruder."

One of the earliest known records of the McAlonan surname can be found in the Annals of the Four Masters, a renowned chronicle of medieval Irish history. The name is mentioned in an entry dated 1592, referring to a clan chieftain named Brian McAlonan from County Donegal.

During the 17th century, the McAlonan name was prominent in the region of Kilmacrenan, County Donegal. Several historical documents from that era reference individuals bearing this surname, including a reference to a landowner named John McAlonan in the Plantation of Ulster records from 1609.

In the 18th century, the McAlonan surname began to spread beyond County Donegal. One notable figure from this period was Patrick McAlonan (1720-1789), a Catholic priest who played a significant role in the preservation of Irish language and culture during a time of persecution.

As the Irish diaspora scattered across the globe, the McAlonan name found its way to various parts of the world. One prominent individual was Michael McAlonan (1837-1911), an Irish-American businessman and politician who served as the mayor of Jersey City, New Jersey, in the late 19th century.

Another noteworthy figure was John McAlonan (1865-1942), a Canadian journalist and author born in County Donegal. He was known for his works on Irish history and folklore, including the book "Myths and Folk Tales of Ireland."

In more recent times, the McAlonan surname has been associated with several accomplished individuals, including James McAlonan (1935-2018), an Irish-American lawyer and judge who served on the New Jersey Superior Court.

Throughout its history, the McAlonan surname has undergone various spelling variations, such as McAlonon, McAlonen, and McAlonin, reflecting the fluidity of language and the challenges of transcribing names across different regions and time periods.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Mcalonan surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mcalonan surname in 1881?

In 1881, 14 people were recorded with the Mcalonan surname. That placed it at #31,604 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mcalonan surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 173 in 2016. That gives Mcalonan a modern rank of #21,561.

What does the Mcalonan surname mean?

A surname derived from the Irish Gaelic "Mac Ualghanaigh" meaning "son of Ualghannach".

What does the Mcalonan map show?

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