NameCensus.

UK surname

Mccaig

Scottish surname derived from the Gaelic "Mac Aidh" meaning "son of the young person."

In the 1881 census there were 569 people recorded with the Mccaig surname, ranking it #6,108 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,345, ranked #4,479, up from #6,108 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Hamilton, Morton and Govan Combination. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Rhins North, Law and Northumberland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mccaig is 1,345 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 136.4%.

1881 census count

569

Ranked #6,108

Modern count

1,345

2016, ranked #4,479

Peak year

2016

1,345 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mccaig had 569 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,108 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,345 in 2016, ranked #4,479.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 913 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Mccaig surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mccaig surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mccaig 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 274 #8,176
1861 historical 443 #5,835
1881 historical 569 #6,108
1891 historical 730 #5,431
1901 historical 913 #5,087
1911 historical 147 #18,104
1997 modern 1,124 #4,979
1998 modern 1,199 #4,882
1999 modern 1,216 #4,865
2000 modern 1,225 #4,808
2001 modern 1,201 #4,795
2002 modern 1,205 #4,886
2003 modern 1,169 #4,913
2004 modern 1,177 #4,890
2005 modern 1,190 #4,798
2006 modern 1,225 #4,692
2007 modern 1,258 #4,629
2008 modern 1,292 #4,535
2009 modern 1,291 #4,635
2010 modern 1,328 #4,608
2011 modern 1,335 #4,530
2012 modern 1,281 #4,634
2013 modern 1,300 #4,653
2014 modern 1,323 #4,605
2015 modern 1,335 #4,522
2016 modern 1,345 #4,479

Geography

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Where Mccaigs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Hamilton, Morton, Govan Combination, Inch and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Rhins North, Law, Northumberland, Machars South and Lochside, Braehead and Whitletts. 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 Hamilton Lanark
2 Morton Dumfries
3 Govan Combination Lanark
4 Inch Wigtown
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Rhins North Dumfries and Galloway
2 Law South Lanarkshire
3 Northumberland 004 Northumberland
4 Machars South Dumfries and Galloway
5 Lochside, Braehead and Whitletts South Ayrshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mccaig

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mccaig

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

Mccaig 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

Mccaig falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Mccaig is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Mccaig

The surname McCaig has its origins in Scotland, dating back to the 16th century. It is believed to be derived from the Scottish Gaelic word "mac," meaning "son of," and the personal name "Adhamh" or "Adam." This suggests that the name McCaig may have initially been a patronymic, referring to the "son of Adam" or a similar derivation.

In its earliest forms, the name was often spelled as "McCaig," "McAig," or "McKeig," reflecting the varied pronunciations and spellings common in that era. The McCaig surname was particularly prevalent in the regions of Ayrshire, Lanarkshire, and the Scottish Highlands.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the records of the Clan Chattan, a powerful confederation of clans in the Scottish Highlands. In the late 16th century, a John McCaig is mentioned as a member of the Clan Chattan, indicating the presence of the name in that area during that time.

Another notable early reference comes from the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland, a collection of financial records from the 14th to the 16th centuries. In these rolls, a Thomas McCaig is listed as a tenant farmer in Ayrshire in the year 1528.

The name McCaig has also been linked to various place names in Scotland, such as the village of Caigsland in Ayrshire, which may have derived its name from the surname.

Throughout history, several individuals bearing the surname McCaig have achieved notable accomplishments. One such figure was John McCaig (1823-1902), a Scottish philanthropist and architect who commissioned the construction of the iconic McCaig's Tower in Oban, a prominent landmark in the town.

Another notable McCaig was Sir Alexander McCaig (1782-1850), a Scottish soldier and colonial administrator who served as the Lieutenant Governor of Grenada from 1838 to 1841.

In the literary world, the name McCaig is associated with Robert McCaig (1933-2003), a Scottish poet and novelist who wrote extensively about life in the Scottish Highlands.

Additionally, the name has been carried by individuals in other fields, such as James McCaig (1801-1868), a Scottish businessman and co-founder of the McCaig's Tower Brewery in Glasgow, and Alexander McCaig (1886-1965), a Canadian politician who served as a member of the Manitoba Legislative Assembly.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mccaig families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mccaig 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 Mccaigs recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.62x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 8 4.62x
Middlesex 4 2.74x
Staffordshire 2 4.06x
Hampshire 1 3.34x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Liverpool in Lancashire leads with 7 Mccaigs recorded in 1881 and an index of 66.48x.

Place Total Index
Liverpool 7 66.48x
Kensington London 4 49.26x
Amblecote 2 1428.57x
Great Crosby 1 212.77x
Portsmouth 1 144.93x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Agnes 1
Ann 1
Ellen 1
Lucy 1
Martha 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 2
William 2
Duncan 1
Edward 1
Francis 1
Hugh 1
John 1
Thomas 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 Mccaig households.

FAQ

Mccaig surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mccaig surname in 1881?

In 1881, 569 people were recorded with the Mccaig surname. That placed it at #6,108 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mccaig surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,345 in 2016. That gives Mccaig a modern rank of #4,479.

What does the Mccaig surname mean?

Scottish surname derived from the Gaelic "Mac Aidh" meaning "son of the young person."

What does the Mccaig map show?

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