NameCensus.

UK surname

Mcbain

A Scottish surname derived from the Gaelic "mac Bain" meaning "son of the fair or white one".

In the 1881 census there were 1,235 people recorded with the Mcbain surname, ranking it #3,279 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,857, ranked #3,417, down from #3,279 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Dalmeny and Queensferry, Cromdale, Inverallan and Advie and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Speyside and the Cabrach, Torry West and Mearns and Laurencekirk.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mcbain is 1,860 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 50.4%.

1881 census count

1,235

Ranked #3,279

Modern count

1,857

2016, ranked #3,417

Peak year

1998

1,860 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mcbain had 1,235 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,279 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,857 in 2016, ranked #3,417.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,568 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Mcbain surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mcbain surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mcbain 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 905 #3,039
1861 historical 957 #2,898
1881 historical 1,235 #3,279
1891 historical 1,415 #3,081
1901 historical 1,568 #3,288
1911 historical 282 #11,915
1997 modern 1,793 #3,348
1998 modern 1,860 #3,362
1999 modern 1,858 #3,383
2000 modern 1,828 #3,418
2001 modern 1,773 #3,427
2002 modern 1,845 #3,389
2003 modern 1,779 #3,426
2004 modern 1,797 #3,397
2005 modern 1,789 #3,386
2006 modern 1,770 #3,423
2007 modern 1,807 #3,391
2008 modern 1,825 #3,393
2009 modern 1,812 #3,483
2010 modern 1,850 #3,496
2011 modern 1,820 #3,501
2012 modern 1,790 #3,500
2013 modern 1,812 #3,516
2014 modern 1,829 #3,504
2015 modern 1,831 #3,480
2016 modern 1,857 #3,417

Geography

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Where Mcbains are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Dalmeny and Queensferry, Cromdale, Inverallan and Advie, Edinburgh, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry and Aberdeen and Old Machar. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Speyside and the Cabrach, Torry West, Mearns and Laurencekirk, St Monans and Pittenweem and North Speyside. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Dalmeny and Queensferry Linlithgow
2 Cromdale, Inverallan and Advie Elgin
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar
5 Aberdeen and Old Machar Aberdeen

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Speyside and the Cabrach Moray
2 Torry West Aberdeen City
3 Mearns and Laurencekirk Aberdeenshire
4 St Monans and Pittenweem Fife
5 North Speyside Moray

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mcbain

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mcbain

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Mcbain, 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 Mcbain surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Mcbain household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Mcbain 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

Mcbain 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

Mcbain falls in decile 7 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Mcbain is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Mcbain

The surname MCBAIN is a Scottish name that originated in the Highlands region of Scotland. It is derived from the Gaelic words "mac" meaning "son" and "Bain" which is a personal name, originally derived from the word "bàn" meaning "white" or "fair-haired".

The name first appeared in written records in the 13th century, with early variations including MacBaan, MacBane, and MacBayne. These variations reflect the different ways the name was spelled and pronounced in different parts of Scotland.

One of the earliest recorded bearers of the name was Gillecrist MacBain, who is mentioned in a charter from the Isle of Lewis in 1292. The name also appears in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which were records of Scottish nobles and landowners who were forced to swear fealty to King Edward I of England.

In the 16th century, the MCBAIN clan was primarily based in the areas around Lochaber and Badenoch, with several members holding positions of importance in the region. Notably, Gillies MCBAIN of Kinchyle was a prominent figure in the 1540s and was involved in various feuds and conflicts with neighboring clans.

Over the centuries, the name has been associated with several notable individuals, including:

1. John MCBAIN (1748-1816), a Scottish soldier and explorer who served in the British Army and was one of the first Europeans to explore parts of Australia. 2. James MCBAIN (1805-1871), a Scottish-Canadian businessman and politician who served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada. 3. Sir Alexander MCBAIN (1854-1936), a Scottish-American businessman and philanthropist who made his fortune in the steel industry and donated funds to establish the MCBAIN Memorial Hall at Yale University. 4. Alexander MCBAIN (1865-1938), a Scottish Celtic scholar and linguist who made significant contributions to the study of Gaelic languages. 5. Jack MCBAIN (1918-2001), an American chemist and professor who made important discoveries in the field of colloid and surface chemistry.

While the name MCBAIN has its origins in the Scottish Highlands, it has since spread to various parts of the world, particularly through Scottish emigration and immigration. However, its roots can be traced back to the ancient Gaelic personal name "Bain" and the linguistic traditions of Scotland.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mcbain families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mcbain 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. Yorkshire leads with 9 Mcbains recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.24x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 9 4.24x
Cumberland 4 21.67x
Inverness-shire 3 46.88x
Surrey 2 1.91x
Ayrshire 1 6.23x
Glamorgan 1 2.68x
Middlesex 1 0.47x
Northumberland 1 3.13x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Holy Trinity in Yorkshire leads with 7 Mcbains recorded in 1881 and an index of 136.99x.

Place Total Index
Holy Trinity 7 136.99x
Whitehaven 4 408.16x
Inverness 3 186.34x
Camberwell 2 14.60x
Ayr 1 131.58x
Clase 1 71.94x
Elswick 1 39.22x
Leeds 1 8.33x
Middlesbrough 1 36.10x
St George Hanover Square 1 26.46x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 1
Isabel 1
Margaret 1
Maria 1
Mary 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 3
John 3
Alexandra 1
Alexr. 1
Francis 1
Frank 1
Jno. 1
Joseph 1
Tom 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 Mcbain households.

FAQ

Mcbain surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mcbain surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,235 people were recorded with the Mcbain surname. That placed it at #3,279 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mcbain surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,857 in 2016. That gives Mcbain a modern rank of #3,417.

What does the Mcbain surname mean?

A Scottish surname derived from the Gaelic "mac Bain" meaning "son of the fair or white one".

What does the Mcbain map show?

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