NameCensus.

UK surname

Mccalman

Scottish and Irish surname derived from the Gaelic "MacColmain" meaning "son of Colman".

In the 1881 census there were 211 people recorded with the Mccalman surname, ranking it #12,407 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 145, ranked #24,293, down from #12,407 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Kilmallie and Ardgour, Ardchattan and Muckairn and Govan Combination. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Newton Stewart, Bradford and Prestonfield.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mccalman is 237 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 31.3%.

1881 census count

211

Ranked #12,407

Modern count

145

2016, ranked #24,293

Peak year

1861

237 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mccalman had 211 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,407 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 145 in 2016, ranked #24,293.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 237 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Mccalman surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mccalman surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mccalman 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 184 #11,120
1861 historical 237 #10,359
1881 historical 211 #12,407
1891 historical 211 #14,366
1901 historical 180 #16,171
1911 historical 48 #28,006
1997 modern 152 #20,948
1998 modern 166 #20,329
1999 modern 149 #21,924
2000 modern 150 #21,781
2001 modern 144 #22,040
2002 modern 147 #22,197
2003 modern 144 #22,270
2004 modern 148 #22,000
2005 modern 146 #22,146
2006 modern 144 #22,520
2007 modern 153 #21,912
2008 modern 156 #21,862
2009 modern 162 #21,791
2010 modern 162 #22,292
2011 modern 160 #22,282
2012 modern 153 #22,963
2013 modern 152 #23,438
2014 modern 145 #24,395
2015 modern 144 #24,369
2016 modern 145 #24,293

Geography

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Where Mccalmans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Kilmallie and Ardgour, Ardchattan and Muckairn, Govan Combination, Kilmore and Kilbride and Killarow and Kilmeny. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Newton Stewart, Bradford, Prestonfield, Northumberland and Gedling. 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 Kilmallie and Ardgour Inverness
2 Ardchattan and Muckairn Argyll
3 Govan Combination Lanark
4 Kilmore and Kilbride Argyll
5 Killarow and Kilmeny Argyll

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Newton Stewart Dumfries and Galloway
2 Bradford 055 Bradford
3 Prestonfield City of Edinburgh
4 Northumberland 038 Northumberland
5 Gedling 014 Gedling

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mccalman

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mccalman

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

Legacy Communities

Group

Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities

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

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Group profile

Households in these areas often include divorced or separated parents and commonly include children and young adults. The age structure is heavily skewed towards the most advanced age groups. Individuals identifying as members of ethnic minorities are not present in large numbers. Flats predominate, with some terraced, semi-detached, and detached units. Multiple car ownership is low, and housing is predominantly in the private and social rented sectors. Employment is less skewed towards traditional routine industrial occupations. Levels of educational attainment are generally low. The Group occurs principally in the Central Lowlands of Scotland and other Scottish towns.

Wider pattern

These neighbourhoods characteristically comprise pockets of flats that are scattered across the UK, particularly in towns that retain or have legacies of heavy industry or are in more remote seaside locations. Employed residents of these neighbourhoods work mainly in low-skilled occupations. Residents typically have limited educational qualifications. Unemployment is above average. Some residents live in overcrowded housing within the social rented sector and experience long-term disability. All adult age groups are represented, although there is an overall age bias towards elderly people in general and the very old in particular. Individuals identifying as belonging to ethnic minorities or Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups are uncommon.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Mccalman 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.

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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

Mccalman is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Mccalman 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 Mccalman 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 - British

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

Meaning and origin of Mccalman

The surname McCalman is of Scottish origin, originating from the Gaelic Mac Calman, which means "son of the dove." This name is believed to have originated in the 13th century in the Scottish Highlands, particularly in the regions of Argyll and the Isles.

The name can be traced back to the early 14th century, with one of the earliest recorded instances being in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland in 1328, where a "Donald McCalman" is mentioned. Another early record is in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which lists individuals who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England, including a "Gilmor M'Calman."

In the 16th century, the name appears in various Scottish records, such as the Register of the Privy Council of Scotland in 1569, which mentions a "James McCalman." The name is also found in the Parish Registers of Argyll, where a "John McCalman" is recorded in 1602.

One notable figure with the surname McCalman was Sir Hugh McCalman (1556-1624), a Scottish soldier and landowner from Argyll. He was granted lands in County Antrim, Ireland, for his service during the Plantation of Ulster. Another prominent individual was William McCalman (1642-1707), a Scottish clergyman who served as the Minister of Campbeltown in Argyll.

In the 18th century, the McCalman name is found in various parts of Scotland, including Glasgow and Edinburgh. One example is Robert McCalman (1720-1789), a merchant and landowner in Edinburgh, who was involved in the construction of the city's New Town.

The name also spread to other parts of the British Isles, including England and Ireland. In the 19th century, James McCalman (1803-1866) was a notable Irish politician and barrister, who served as a Member of Parliament for County Antrim.

Other notable individuals with the surname McCalman include Archibald McCalman (1847-1923), a Scottish-born Australian politician and businessman, and Donald McCalman (1886-1944), a Scottish-born Canadian lawyer and judge.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Mccalman surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mccalman surname in 1881?

In 1881, 211 people were recorded with the Mccalman surname. That placed it at #12,407 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mccalman surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 145 in 2016. That gives Mccalman a modern rank of #24,293.

What does the Mccalman surname mean?

Scottish and Irish surname derived from the Gaelic "MacColmain" meaning "son of Colman".

What does the Mccalman map show?

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