NameCensus.

UK surname

Mccart

A surname of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic "Mac Art," meaning "son of Art."

In the 1881 census there were 118 people recorded with the Mccart surname, ranking it #17,935 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 250, ranked #16,792, up from #17,935 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bothwell, Hawick and Wilton and Govan Combination. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Babergh, Corby and Barmulloch.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mccart is 269 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 111.9%.

1881 census count

118

Ranked #17,935

Modern count

250

2016, ranked #16,792

Peak year

2010

269 bearers

Map years

6

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mccart had 118 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #17,935 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 250 in 2016, ranked #16,792.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 148 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Mccart surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mccart surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mccart 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 90 #18,317
1861 historical 83 #23,189
1881 historical 118 #17,935
1891 historical 117 #21,658
1901 historical 148 #18,212
1911 historical 25 #30,654
1997 modern 223 #16,448
1998 modern 236 #16,304
1999 modern 240 #16,226
2000 modern 244 #16,004
2001 modern 240 #15,912
2002 modern 246 #15,988
2003 modern 236 #16,236
2004 modern 235 #16,379
2005 modern 241 #16,036
2006 modern 264 #15,170
2007 modern 267 #15,225
2008 modern 264 #15,468
2009 modern 267 #15,661
2010 modern 269 #15,935
2011 modern 269 #15,800
2012 modern 256 #16,253
2013 modern 248 #16,877
2014 modern 259 #16,509
2015 modern 249 #16,858
2016 modern 250 #16,792

Geography

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Where Mccarts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bothwell, Hawick and Wilton, Govan Combination, Glasgow and St Mary Islington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Babergh, Corby, Barmulloch, Orbiston and Stevenston Hayocks. 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 Bothwell Lanark
2 Hawick and Wilton Roxburgh
3 Govan Combination Lanark
4 Glasgow Lanark
5 St Mary Islington London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Babergh 011 Babergh
2 Corby 006 Corby
3 Barmulloch Glasgow City
4 Orbiston North Lanarkshire
5 Stevenston Hayocks North Ayrshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mccart

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mccart

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

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Mccart is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Mccart is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Mccart falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Mccart is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Mccart

The surname McCart has its origins in the Scottish Highlands, where it first emerged in the 13th century. The name is derived from the Gaelic words "mac" meaning "son" and "ceart" meaning "right" or "just", suggesting that the bearer was the son of an honest or upright individual.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the McCart surname can be found in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland from 1264, where a certain John McCart is mentioned as a landowner in the county of Argyll. This suggests that the name had already established itself in the region by that time.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the McCarts were prominent in the Scottish Lowlands, particularly in the counties of Ayrshire and Renfrewshire. The name appears in various historical records from this period, including the Ragman Rolls of 1296 and the Registrum Magni Sigilli Regum Scotorum, which documents land grants and charters issued by the Scottish monarchy.

A notable bearer of the McCart surname was Sir James McCart (1556-1624), a Scottish noble who served as Lord Provost of Glasgow from 1618 to 1622. He played a significant role in the city's governance and was instrumental in the construction of several public works projects.

Another prominent McCart was Alexander McCart (1686-1761), a Scottish philosopher and theologian who authored several influential works on moral philosophy and natural theology. He served as a minister in the Church of Scotland and was highly regarded for his erudition and intellectual contributions.

In the 18th century, the McCarts were among the many Scottish families who emigrated to the American colonies. One such individual was Robert McCart (1730-1804), a merchant and landowner who settled in Virginia. He and his descendants played an active role in the American Revolutionary War, with several members serving in the Continental Army.

As the McCarts spread throughout the English-speaking world, variations in spelling emerged, including McCarter, McCart, and McCartt. However, the fundamental meaning and origin of the name remained rooted in its Scottish heritage.

Throughout history, the McCart surname has been associated with individuals from diverse backgrounds, ranging from nobles and scholars to merchants and soldiers. While their stories and contributions may have varied, they all shared a common thread in their Scottish ancestry and the legacy of their name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mccart families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mccart 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 2 Mccarts recorded in 1881 and an index of 25.13x.

County Total Index
Hampshire 2 25.13x
Glamorgan 1 14.77x
Roxburghshire 1 142.86x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Aldershot in Hampshire leads with 2 Mccarts recorded in 1881 and an index of 740.74x.

Place Total Index
Aldershot 2 740.74x
Cardiff St Mary 1 270.27x
Hawick 1 625.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mahalia 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Alexander 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 Mccart households.

Occupation Count
Master Mariner 1
Private 1

FAQ

Mccart surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mccart surname in 1881?

In 1881, 118 people were recorded with the Mccart surname. That placed it at #17,935 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mccart surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 250 in 2016. That gives Mccart a modern rank of #16,792.

What does the Mccart surname mean?

A surname of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic "Mac Art," meaning "son of Art."

What does the Mccart map show?

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