NameCensus.

UK surname

Mccaw

Derived from the Gaelic surname Mac Adhamh, meaning "son of Adam."

In the 1881 census there were 204 people recorded with the Mccaw surname, ranking it #12,682 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 553, ranked #9,240, up from #12,682 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Govan Combination, Old Luce and Glencairn. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Erskine Central, Blackburn with Darwen and Rochdale.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mccaw is 553 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 171.1%.

1881 census count

204

Ranked #12,682

Modern count

553

2016, ranked #9,240

Peak year

2016

553 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mccaw had 204 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,682 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 553 in 2016, ranked #9,240.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 307 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Mccaw surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mccaw surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mccaw 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 190 #10,852
1861 historical 254 #9,741
1881 historical 204 #12,682
1891 historical 278 #11,746
1901 historical 307 #11,472
1911 historical 61 #26,724
1997 modern 495 #9,370
1998 modern 503 #9,547
1999 modern 501 #9,648
2000 modern 500 #9,632
2001 modern 490 #9,619
2002 modern 506 #9,545
2003 modern 480 #9,782
2004 modern 481 #9,779
2005 modern 496 #9,499
2006 modern 507 #9,386
2007 modern 503 #9,524
2008 modern 508 #9,521
2009 modern 524 #9,516
2010 modern 538 #9,523
2011 modern 526 #9,598
2012 modern 523 #9,555
2013 modern 546 #9,392
2014 modern 552 #9,362
2015 modern 551 #9,294
2016 modern 553 #9,240

Geography

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Where Mccaws are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Govan Combination, Old Luce, Glencairn, Inch and Stranraer. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Erskine Central, Blackburn with Darwen, Rochdale, Liverpool and Mearns South and Benholm. 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 Old Luce Wigtown
3 Glencairn Dumfries
4 Inch Wigtown
5 Stranraer Wigtown

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Erskine Central Renfrewshire
2 Blackburn with Darwen 008 Blackburn with Darwen
3 Rochdale 016 Rochdale
4 Liverpool 059 Liverpool
5 Mearns South and Benholm Aberdeenshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mccaw

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mccaw

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

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

City Support Workers

Within London, Mccaw is most associated with areas classed as City Support Workers, part of Central Connected Professionals and Managers. 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 throughout Inner London, these areas house relatively few workers in the most senior roles within organisations, and greater prevalence of administrative roles relative to the Supergroup mean. Residents are less likely to be of Chinese ethnicity and are more likely to have been born in Africa. Relative to the Supergroup average, residents are also more likely to live in social housing and live in overcrowded conditions.

Wider London pattern

Adult residents of these neighbourhoods are typically aged 25 to 44, working full-time in professional, managerial or associate professional occupations. There are few families with dependent children. The predominantly Inner London neighbourhoods have an international character, including many residents born elsewhere in Europe alongside high numbers of individuals identifying as of Chinese ethnicity. Many individuals are never married, childless and/or living alone. Above average numbers of individuals, likely to be full-time students, live in communal establishments. Elsewhere, privately rented flats are the dominant housing type. Residents of these areas are well-qualified, with a significant number holding Level 4 or above qualifications. There is a correspondingly high level of individuals employed full-time in professional, managerial and associated professional or technical occupations. Employing industries are financial, real estate, professional, administration, and, to a lesser degree, transport and communications. Unemployment is uncommon.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Mccaw 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

Mccaw 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 Mccaw 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 - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Mccaw

The surname McCaw is of Scottish origin, derived from the Gaelic surname MacCath, meaning "son of the warrior" or "son of the battle." The name is believed to have originated in the Highlands of Scotland during the Middle Ages, where it was likely used to identify individuals who were skilled in battle or had a reputation for their martial prowess.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be traced back to the 13th and 14th centuries, appearing in various historical records and documents from that era. One notable early mention is in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which recorded individuals who swore fealty to King Edward I of England. Among the names listed is Gillebride MacCath, an early variant spelling of the name.

Over time, the name underwent several spelling variations, including MacCaw, McCawe, and McCaw, the latter of which became the most commonly accepted form in modern times. The name was particularly prevalent in the regions of Argyll and the Hebrides, where many bearers of the name resided.

In the 16th century, the McCaw name gained prominence with the rise of Clan Chattan, a powerful Scottish clan that traced its roots to the Highlands. One notable member of this clan was Ewen McCaw (c. 1550-1628), a renowned warrior and chief of the McCaw branch of Clan Chattan.

Another notable figure from history bearing the McCaw surname was Sir James McCaw (1685-1762), a Scottish merchant and politician who served as Lord Provost of Edinburgh from 1742 to 1744. He played a significant role in the city's governance and development during his tenure.

In the 19th century, William McCaw (1818-1886), a Scottish-born Canadian businessman and politician, became a prominent figure in Ontario. He was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario and served as a member of parliament from 1867 to 1875.

Moving into the 20th century, Walter McCaw (1905-1992) was a renowned American businessman and philanthropist. He founded the McCaw Cellular Communications company, which later became part of AT&T Wireless Services. His contributions to the telecommunications industry and his philanthropic efforts made him a prominent figure in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States.

Another notable figure was John McCaw (1919-2003), a Scottish-born American football player and coach. He played as a defensive back for the Chicago Bears and later served as a coach for various college and professional teams, including the San Francisco 49ers and the Philadelphia Eagles.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mccaw families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mccaw 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. Ayrshire leads with 2 Mccaws recorded in 1881 and an index of 138.89x.

County Total Index
Ayrshire 2 138.89x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Girvan in Ayrshire leads with 2 Mccaws recorded in 1881 and an index of 5000.00x.

Place Total Index
Girvan 2 5000.00x

FAQ

Mccaw surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mccaw surname in 1881?

In 1881, 204 people were recorded with the Mccaw surname. That placed it at #12,682 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mccaw surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 553 in 2016. That gives Mccaw a modern rank of #9,240.

What does the Mccaw surname mean?

Derived from the Gaelic surname Mac Adhamh, meaning "son of Adam."

What does the Mccaw map show?

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