UK surname
A surname of Irish origin meaning "son of the prosperous or wealthy man".
In the 1881 census there were 118 people recorded with the Mccarthey surname, ranking it #17,935 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 27, ranked #36,189, down from #17,935 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to St Mary Whitechapel, London parishes and Gateshead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mccarthey is 247 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 77.1%.
1881 census count
118
Ranked #17,935
Modern count
27
2016, ranked #36,189
Peak year
1891
247 bearers
Map years
4
1861 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Mccarthey surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Mccarthey surname density by area, 1881 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 98 | #17,383 |
| 1861 | historical | 176 | #13,335 |
| 1881 | historical | 118 | #17,935 |
| 1891 | historical | 247 | #12,880 |
| 1901 | historical | 98 | #23,119 |
| 1911 | historical | 104 | #22,209 |
| 1997 | modern | 44 | #33,275 |
| 1998 | modern | 45 | #33,374 |
| 1999 | modern | 38 | #34,142 |
| 2000 | modern | 37 | #34,217 |
| 2001 | modern | 35 | #34,261 |
| 2002 | modern | 33 | #34,717 |
| 2003 | modern | 27 | #35,279 |
| 2004 | modern | 26 | #35,519 |
| 2005 | modern | 20 | #36,165 |
| 2006 | modern | 29 | #35,605 |
| 2007 | modern | 36 | #35,278 |
| 2008 | modern | 37 | #35,327 |
| 2009 | modern | 44 | #35,028 |
| 2010 | modern | 46 | #35,062 |
| 2011 | modern | 43 | #35,228 |
| 2012 | modern | 35 | #35,645 |
| 2013 | modern | 39 | #35,483 |
| 2014 | modern | 30 | #36,005 |
| 2015 | modern | 27 | #36,173 |
| 2016 | modern | 27 | #36,189 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around St Mary Whitechapel, London parishes, Gateshead, Cheam and St Marylebone. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | St Mary Whitechapel | London (East Districts) |
| 2 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 3 | Gateshead | Durham |
| 4 | Cheam | Surrey |
| 5 | St Marylebone | London (North Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Mccarthey surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Mccarthey, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Mccarthey surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Mccarthey household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Mccarthey is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Mccarthey is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Mccarthey, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname MCCARTHEY is of Irish origin and can be traced back to the early medieval period in Ireland. It is derived from the Gaelic name "Mac Carthaigh," which means "son of Carthach." Carthach was a personal name meaning "loving" or "watchful."
The name was originally prominent in the region of Munster, particularly in County Cork and County Kerry. The McCarthys were one of the most influential and powerful families in this area during the Middle Ages. They ruled over large territories and were involved in various conflicts with neighboring clans and the English monarchs.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name MCCARTHEY can be found in the Annals of Inisfallen, a medieval Irish chronicle dating back to the late 12th century. The annals mention several members of the McCarthy clan, including Cormac Mac Carthaigh, who was the King of Desmond in the late 13th century.
Another notable historical reference to the name is in the Brehon Laws, a collection of ancient Irish legal texts. These laws mention the McCarthys as one of the prominent families in Munster and outline their rights and responsibilities.
The surname MCCARTHEY has several variations in spelling, including McCarthy, MacCarthy, and McCarty. These variations emerged due to regional differences in pronunciation and spelling conventions.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname MCCARTHEY was Donal Glas McCarthy (c. 1180-1251), a powerful chieftain and the founder of the McCarthy Reagh dynasty in County Cork.
Another notable figure was Fineen McCarthy (c. 1460-1490), a renowned Irish poet and historian who wrote extensively about the McCarthys and their exploits.
In the 16th century, Sir Cormac McCarthy (c. 1525-1567) was a prominent military leader who fought against the English forces during the Desmond Rebellions.
During the Irish Rebellion of 1641, Donough McCarthy (c. 1594-1663), known as the Earl of Clancarty, played a significant role in leading the Irish Confederate forces.
In the literary world, Justin McCarthy (1830-1912) was a renowned Irish novelist, historian, and politician who wrote extensively about Irish history and politics.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mccarthey surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 6 Mccartheys recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.62x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 6 | 3.62x |
| Lancashire | 5 | 2.54x |
| Durham | 3 | 6.09x |
| Gloucestershire | 1 | 3.08x |
| Hampshire | 1 | 2.95x |
| Yorkshire | 1 | 0.61x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St George In East London in Middlesex leads with 5 Mccartheys recorded in 1881 and an index of 320.51x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| St George In East London | 5 | 320.51x |
| Bishopwearmouth | 3 | 70.92x |
| Everton | 2 | 31.95x |
| West Derby | 2 | 34.78x |
| Bristol St James In | 1 | 208.33x |
| Kirkdale | 1 | 30.21x |
| Poplar London | 1 | 31.95x |
| Portsea | 1 | 15.04x |
| Sculcoates | 1 | 38.46x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Mccarthey surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Mccarthey surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Mccarthey households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Dock Labr | 1 |
| Dressmaker | 1 |
| General Lab | 1 |
| Genl Lab | 1 |
| Laundress | 1 |
| Midwife | 1 |
| Painter | 1 |
| Scholar | 1 |
| Tailoress | 1 |
| Tailors Machinist | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 118 people were recorded with the Mccarthey surname. That placed it at #17,935 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 27 in 2016. That gives Mccarthey a modern rank of #36,189.
A surname of Irish origin meaning "son of the prosperous or wealthy man".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Mccarthey bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.