NameCensus.

UK surname

Mcbreen

A Scottish surname originating from a nickname meaning "son of little Breen".

In the 1881 census there were 22 people recorded with the Mcbreen surname, ranking it #30,464 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 139, ranked #25,001, up from #30,464 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Burnley, Ardrossan North East and Cornwall.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mcbreen is 140 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 531.8%.

1881 census count

22

Ranked #30,464

Modern count

139

2016, ranked #25,001

Peak year

2010

140 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mcbreen had 22 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #30,464 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 139 in 2016, ranked #25,001.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 36 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy Industrial and Coastal Communities.

Mcbreen surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mcbreen surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mcbreen 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 12 #31,134
1861 historical 24 #30,922
1881 historical 22 #30,464
1891 historical 36 #31,465
1901 historical 26 #31,152
1911 historical 14 #32,045
1997 modern 124 #23,669
1998 modern 131 #23,495
1999 modern 127 #24,125
2000 modern 124 #24,469
2001 modern 121 #24,493
2002 modern 130 #23,903
2003 modern 130 #23,672
2004 modern 128 #24,117
2005 modern 126 #24,287
2006 modern 120 #25,269
2007 modern 127 #24,748
2008 modern 125 #25,249
2009 modern 135 #24,594
2010 modern 140 #24,569
2011 modern 139 #24,507
2012 modern 130 #25,559
2013 modern 136 #25,252
2014 modern 136 #25,452
2015 modern 135 #25,481
2016 modern 139 #25,001

Geography

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Where Mcbreens 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 Burnley, Ardrossan North East, Cornwall, Irvine Girdle Toll and Staneca and Irvine Castlepark South. 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 Burnley 004 Burnley
2 Ardrossan North East North Ayrshire
3 Cornwall 009 Cornwall
4 Irvine Girdle Toll and Staneca North Ayrshire
5 Irvine Castlepark South North Ayrshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mcbreen

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mcbreen

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

Baseline UK

Group

Legacy Industrial and Coastal Communities

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Single-person households are common in these neighbourhoods, and these residents are typically divorced rather than never married. A high proportion of residents were born outside the UK in the EU. There are many young adults, some with young children, but relatively few residents are of normal retirement age or over. Although levels of identification with ethnic minorities are in line with the Supergroup average, individuals identifying with Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is more common than average. High long-term disability rates are observed, and unpaid care is more common than in the rest of the Group. The predominant housing types are terraced houses and flats, which are typically part of the social rented sector. This Group is commonly found in coastal areas and (present-day or former) industrial towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Mcbreen is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Mcbreen is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Mcbreen 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 Mcbreen is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Mcbreen

The surname MCBREEN is of Irish origin, originating from the old Gaelic word "brían" meaning "strong" or "virtuous". It is believed to have first appeared in the 12th century in County Donegal, Ireland.

The name is derived from the personal name Brian, which was a popular name among the ancient Irish. The prefix "Mc" or "Mac" means "son of" in Gaelic, indicating that the original bearer of the surname was the son of someone named Brian.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Annals of the Four Masters, a 17th-century chronicle of medieval Irish history, which mentions a Donnchadh Mac Briain in the year 1135. This suggests that the name was already in use by the 12th century.

In the 16th century, the name was spelled in various ways, including MacBreen, MacBryne, and MacBrien, reflecting the regional variations in pronunciation and spelling at the time. The name was also associated with several place names in Ireland, such as Ballymacrene and Ballymacbrene, which may have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname over time.

Among the notable historical figures with the surname MCBREEN, one can mention:

1. Fergal McBreen (c. 1570-1640), an Irish soldier and landowner from County Donegal, who fought in the Nine Years' War against the English.

2. Brian McBreen (1754-1823), an Irish poet and scholar from County Tyrone, known for his work in preserving and promoting the Irish language and culture.

3. Seán McBreen (1870-1942), an Irish politician and member of the Irish Republican Brotherhood, who participated in the Easter Rising of 1916.

4. John McBreen (1905-1988), an American musician and composer, known for his contributions to the development of jazz music in the early 20th century.

5. Mary McBreen (1928-2016), an Irish writer and journalist, who was a prominent figure in the literary world and a vocal advocate for women's rights.

The surname MCBREEN has a rich history dating back to medieval Ireland and has been associated with various notable figures throughout the centuries, reflecting the diverse contributions of those who bore this name to various fields, including literature, politics, and the arts.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mcbreen families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mcbreen 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 8 Mcbreens recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.69x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 8 7.69x
Norfolk 1 7.42x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Great Bolton in Lancashire leads with 4 Mcbreens recorded in 1881 and an index of 289.86x.

Place Total Index
Great Bolton 4 289.86x
Preston 4 143.88x
Norwich St John Sepulchre 1 1111.11x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Ann 1
Catherine 1
Elizabeth 1
Frances 1
Jane 1
Mary 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Francis 1
James 1
Philip 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 Mcbreen households.

FAQ

Mcbreen surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mcbreen surname in 1881?

In 1881, 22 people were recorded with the Mcbreen surname. That placed it at #30,464 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mcbreen surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 139 in 2016. That gives Mcbreen a modern rank of #25,001.

What does the Mcbreen surname mean?

A Scottish surname originating from a nickname meaning "son of little Breen".

What does the Mcbreen map show?

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