NameCensus.

UK surname

Mccallion

An Irish surname derived from Scottish Gaelic meaning "son of the devotional" or "son of the pilgrim."

In the 1881 census there were 66 people recorded with the Mccallion surname, ranking it #24,256 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,072, ranked #5,454, up from #24,256 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Govan Combination, Gateshead and Glasgow. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include IZ13, IZ11 and IZ15.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mccallion is 1,089 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 1524.2%.

1881 census count

66

Ranked #24,256

Modern count

1,072

2016, ranked #5,454

Peak year

2014

1,089 bearers

Map years

5

1891 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mccallion had 66 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #24,256 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,072 in 2016, ranked #5,454.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 137 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Mccallion surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mccallion surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mccallion 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 11 #31,309
1861 historical 40 #28,970
1881 historical 66 #24,256
1891 historical 103 #23,558
1901 historical 137 #19,032
1911 historical 21 #31,179
1997 modern 915 #5,900
1998 modern 936 #5,974
1999 modern 933 #6,035
2000 modern 923 #6,066
2001 modern 914 #6,015
2002 modern 920 #6,100
2003 modern 936 #5,903
2004 modern 949 #5,846
2005 modern 932 #5,866
2006 modern 946 #5,812
2007 modern 993 #5,639
2008 modern 1,011 #5,605
2009 modern 1,055 #5,526
2010 modern 1,068 #5,568
2011 modern 1,055 #5,564
2012 modern 1,057 #5,461
2013 modern 1,085 #5,437
2014 modern 1,089 #5,452
2015 modern 1,069 #5,480
2016 modern 1,072 #5,454

Geography

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Where Mccallions are most common

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

The modern local-area list points to IZ13, IZ11, IZ15, Bradford and Greenock East. 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 Govan Combination Lanark
2 Gateshead Durham
3 Glasgow Lanark
4 Liverpool Lancashire
5 Eastwood Renfrew

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 IZ13 West Dunbartonshire
2 IZ11 West Dunbartonshire
3 IZ15 West Dunbartonshire
4 Bradford 059 Bradford
5 Greenock East Inverclyde

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mccallion

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mccallion

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Mccallion is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Mccallion 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

Mccallion 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 Mccallion 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.

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Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Mccallion

The surname McCallion is of Scottish origin, tracing its roots back to the 16th century in the southwestern regions of Scotland. It is believed to have derived from the Gaelic name "MacCaolain," which translates to "son of the descendant of Caoláin," a personal name meaning "slender" or "lean."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the McCallion name appears in the Register of the Privy Seal of Scotland in 1546, where a John McCallion is mentioned. This suggests that the name had already established itself in Scotland by that time.

During the 17th century, the McCallion name was particularly prevalent in the counties of Ayrshire and Renfrewshire, with several references to individuals bearing the name in parish records and local documents.

In the late 18th century, a notable figure named John McCallion (1738-1810) was born in Ayrshire. He served as a merchant and shipowner, and his business activities contributed to the economic growth of the region.

As the 19th century unfolded, the McCallion name spread beyond Scotland due to emigration. One prominent individual was William McCallion (1812-1887), who was born in Renfrewshire and later became a successful businessman in New York City.

Another significant figure was Margaret McCallion (1864-1942), a Scottish-born suffragette and activist who campaigned for women's rights and social reforms in the United Kingdom.

In more recent times, a well-known bearer of the McCallion surname was Patrick McCallion (1920-2011), a Scottish-born artist and sculptor who gained recognition for his bronze and steel works, many of which can be found in public spaces across Scotland.

Throughout its history, the McCallion name has also been associated with various place names in Scotland, such as McCallion's Hill in Ayrshire and McCallion's Burn in Renfrewshire, further reinforcing its deep-rooted connections to the Scottish landscape.

While the name has evolved over centuries, with various spellings like MacCallion, MacCaillion, and McCalyion appearing in historical records, its essence remains rooted in the Gaelic traditions of Scotland, reflecting the resilience and adaptability of a surname that has endured through generations.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Mccallion surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mccallion surname in 1881?

In 1881, 66 people were recorded with the Mccallion surname. That placed it at #24,256 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mccallion surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,072 in 2016. That gives Mccallion a modern rank of #5,454.

What does the Mccallion surname mean?

An Irish surname derived from Scottish Gaelic meaning "son of the devotional" or "son of the pilgrim."

What does the Mccallion map show?

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