NameCensus.

UK surname

Mccalla

A Scottish toponymic surname derived from a place in Argyllshire, likely meaning "peninsula of the landing place."

In the 1881 census there were 62 people recorded with the Mccalla surname, ranking it #24,843 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 655, ranked #8,123, up from #24,843 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Birmingham, Derby and Sandwell.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mccalla is 685 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 956.5%.

1881 census count

62

Ranked #24,843

Modern count

655

2016, ranked #8,123

Peak year

2010

685 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mccalla had 62 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #24,843 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 655 in 2016, ranked #8,123.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 77 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Mccalla surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mccalla surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mccalla 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 51 #24,096
1861 historical 62 #26,041
1881 historical 62 #24,843
1891 historical 67 #28,424
1901 historical 77 #25,627
1911 historical 75 #25,322
1997 modern 491 #9,425
1998 modern 508 #9,473
1999 modern 513 #9,478
2000 modern 500 #9,632
2001 modern 508 #9,344
2002 modern 542 #9,074
2003 modern 525 #9,162
2004 modern 541 #8,964
2005 modern 578 #8,495
2006 modern 566 #8,646
2007 modern 585 #8,527
2008 modern 612 #8,279
2009 modern 648 #8,093
2010 modern 685 #7,907
2011 modern 661 #8,051
2012 modern 655 #8,030
2013 modern 662 #8,099
2014 modern 666 #8,096
2015 modern 659 #8,109
2016 modern 655 #8,123

Geography

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Where Mccallas 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 Birmingham, Derby and Sandwell. 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 Birmingham 047 Birmingham
2 Birmingham 133 Birmingham
3 Derby 029 Derby
4 Sandwell 028 Sandwell
5 Birmingham 134 Birmingham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mccalla

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mccalla

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Mccalla surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Mccalla household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Mccalla 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

Mccalla 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

Mccalla 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 Mccalla is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Mccalla

The surname McCalla has its origins in Scotland, emerging in the 15th century. It is derived from the Gaelic word "mac" meaning "son of" and the personal name "Colla," which itself has roots in the Old Irish word "coll" meaning "hazel tree." The McCalla name is believed to have originated in the Highlands region of Scotland, particularly in the areas around Argyll and Bute.

In early historical records, the name appears with various spellings, such as McColl, McCall, and McCaull. One of the earliest known references to the name can be found in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland from 1488, which mentions a "John McCalla" as a witness in a land dispute.

The McCalla name is also associated with several notable figures throughout history. One of the earliest recorded individuals with this surname is Sir John McCalla (c. 1550-1624), a Scottish nobleman and landowner who served as a member of the Scottish Parliament during the reign of King James VI.

Another prominent figure was Reverend Daniel McCalla (1748-1809), an Irish-American Presbyterian minister who played a significant role in the establishment of the Presbyterian Church in the United States. He was born in County Antrim, Ireland, and later emigrated to America, where he served as a chaplain in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War.

In the 19th century, John McCalla (1793-1879) was a notable American lawyer and judge from Pennsylvania. He served as a judge on the Court of Common Pleas for Philadelphia County and was also a prominent abolitionist, actively campaigning against slavery.

The McCalla surname is also associated with several place names in Scotland, such as McCalla's Hill in Argyll and Bute, which may have been named after an early bearer of the name who resided in or owned land in that area.

Another individual of note bearing the McCalla surname was William Bryson McCalla (1841-1911), a Canadian politician and businessman from Ontario. He served as a member of the Canadian House of Commons and was involved in various business ventures, including mining and railway construction.

While the McCalla name has its roots in Scotland, it has since spread to various parts of the world, particularly through Scottish and Irish emigration. The surname continues to be prevalent in several countries, including the United States, Canada, and Australia, among others.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mccalla families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mccalla 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. Hampshire leads with 4 Mccallas recorded in 1881 and an index of 50.25x.

County Total Index
Hampshire 4 50.25x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Holdenhurst in Hampshire leads with 4 Mccallas recorded in 1881 and an index of 1904.76x.

Place Total Index
Holdenhurst 4 1904.76x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Adeline 1
Marie 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Edwin 1
John 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 Mccalla households.

Occupation Count
Licensed Victualler 1
Scholar 1

FAQ

Mccalla surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mccalla surname in 1881?

In 1881, 62 people were recorded with the Mccalla surname. That placed it at #24,843 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mccalla surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 655 in 2016. That gives Mccalla a modern rank of #8,123.

What does the Mccalla surname mean?

A Scottish toponymic surname derived from a place in Argyllshire, likely meaning "peninsula of the landing place."

What does the Mccalla map show?

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