NameCensus.

UK surname

Mccain

A Scottish surname derived from the Gaelic "Mac Cathain," meaning "son of Cathan," a personal name of uncertain origin.

In the 1881 census there were 164 people recorded with the Mccain surname, ranking it #14,624 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 196, ranked #19,848, down from #14,624 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Sunderland, Gateshead and Liverpool. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cheshire East, Sunderland and Bolton.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mccain is 196 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 19.5%.

1881 census count

164

Ranked #14,624

Modern count

196

2016, ranked #19,848

Peak year

2016

196 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mccain had 164 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #14,624 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 196 in 2016, ranked #19,848.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 164 in 1881.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Mccain surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mccain surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mccain 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 92 #18,050
1861 historical 113 #19,151
1881 historical 164 #14,624
1891 historical 153 #18,078
1901 historical 108 #21,836
1911 historical 142 #18,487
1997 modern 177 #19,018
1998 modern 182 #19,162
1999 modern 171 #20,072
2000 modern 170 #20,120
2001 modern 167 #20,060
2002 modern 164 #20,687
2003 modern 159 #20,881
2004 modern 167 #20,367
2005 modern 153 #21,490
2006 modern 147 #22,221
2007 modern 153 #21,912
2008 modern 157 #21,766
2009 modern 158 #22,168
2010 modern 171 #21,481
2011 modern 176 #20,957
2012 modern 177 #20,836
2013 modern 184 #20,643
2014 modern 195 #20,036
2015 modern 189 #20,345
2016 modern 196 #19,848

Geography

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Where Mccains are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Sunderland, Gateshead, Liverpool, Glasgow and Sheffield. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cheshire East, Sunderland, Bolton, Sefton and Southend-on-Sea. 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 Sunderland Durham
2 Gateshead Durham
3 Liverpool Lancashire
4 Glasgow Lanark
5 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cheshire East 051 Cheshire East
2 Sunderland 022 Sunderland
3 Bolton 020 Bolton
4 Sefton 036 Sefton
5 Southend-on-Sea 013 Southend-on-Sea

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mccain

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mccain

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Mccain surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Mccain household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Mccain 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

Mccain 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

Mccain 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 Mccain 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 - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Mccain

The surname McCain is of Scottish origin and is derived from the Gaelic phrase "mac Iain," meaning "son of Ian." The name can be traced back to the early 12th century in the Highlands of Scotland, particularly in the regions of Argyll and the Western Isles.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name McCain can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which were a series of parchment rolls containing the names of Scottish landowners who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England. The name appears as "MacIan" in these rolls.

In the 14th century, the name began to appear in various spellings, such as "MacCane," "MacKane," and "MacKain." These variations were likely due to the phonetic spelling of the name by English scribes who were unfamiliar with the Gaelic language.

The McCain name has been associated with several notable historical figures throughout the centuries. One such figure was Sir John McCain, a Scottish knight who fought alongside Robert the Bruce during the Wars of Scottish Independence in the early 14th century.

Another prominent individual was Sir James McCain, who served as the Lord Provost of Edinburgh in the late 16th century. He played a crucial role in the city's defense during the Scottish Reformation.

In the 17th century, the name McCain appeared in various parts of Scotland, including the Highlands and Lowlands. One notable bearer of the name was Alexander McCain, a Scottish soldier who fought in the English Civil War and later settled in Ulster, Ireland.

During the 18th century, many McCains emigrated from Scotland to the American colonies, particularly to Virginia and the Carolinas. One such individual was James McCain, who was born in Scotland in 1719 and later served as a captain in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War.

In the 19th century, the McCain name continued to spread throughout the United States, with several individuals achieving prominence. One such person was John Sidney McCain, a United States Navy officer who served during the American Civil War and later became a successful businessperson in Mississippi.

The name McCain has been carried by numerous notable individuals throughout its long history, from medieval Scottish knights to American military leaders and politicians. It remains a prominent surname in both Scotland and the United States, reflecting the rich cultural heritage and resilience of those who have borne this name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mccain families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mccain 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 6 Mccains recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.77x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 6 5.77x
Lincolnshire 2 14.28x
Middlesex 1 1.14x

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 5 Mccains recorded in 1881 and an index of 79.11x.

Place Total Index
Liverpool 5 79.11x
Spittlegate 2 1052.63x
Hackney London 1 20.37x
Salford 1 32.68x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Ann 2
Alice 1
Annie 1
Catherine 1
Fanny 1
Francis 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Edwin 1
Terence 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 Mccain households.

FAQ

Mccain surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mccain surname in 1881?

In 1881, 164 people were recorded with the Mccain surname. That placed it at #14,624 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mccain surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 196 in 2016. That gives Mccain a modern rank of #19,848.

What does the Mccain surname mean?

A Scottish surname derived from the Gaelic "Mac Cathain," meaning "son of Cathan," a personal name of uncertain origin.

What does the Mccain map show?

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