NameCensus.

UK surname

Mcclair

A Scottish surname derived from the Gaelic 'Mac Liar' meaning 'son of the gray man'.

In the 1881 census there were 12 people recorded with the Mcclair surname, ranking it #31,914 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 89, ranked #32,297, down from #31,914 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Newmains, Caldercruix and Plains and Wolverhampton.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mcclair is 103 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 641.7%.

1881 census count

12

Ranked #31,914

Modern count

89

2016, ranked #32,297

Peak year

2000

103 bearers

Map years

1

1998 to 1998

Key insights

  • Mcclair had 12 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #31,914 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 89 in 2016, ranked #32,297.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 54 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Mcclair surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mcclair surname density by area, 1998 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mcclair 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 19 #29,904
1861 historical 8 #32,887
1881 historical 12 #31,914
1891 historical 38 #31,330
1901 historical 54 #28,178
1911 historical 3 #33,789
1997 modern 99 #27,039
1998 modern 102 #27,314
1999 modern 99 #27,906
2000 modern 103 #27,280
2001 modern 100 #27,402
2002 modern 89 #29,428
2003 modern 87 #29,615
2004 modern 87 #29,897
2005 modern 96 #28,671
2006 modern 92 #29,576
2007 modern 93 #29,777
2008 modern 101 #28,825
2009 modern 97 #30,076
2010 modern 94 #31,111
2011 modern 98 #30,384
2012 modern 89 #31,934
2013 modern 87 #32,472
2014 modern 87 #32,585
2015 modern 88 #32,421
2016 modern 89 #32,297

Geography

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Where Mcclairs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Newmains, Caldercruix and Plains, Wolverhampton, Cairnhill and West Berkshire. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Newmains North Lanarkshire
2 Caldercruix and Plains North Lanarkshire
3 Wolverhampton 034 Wolverhampton
4 Cairnhill North Lanarkshire
5 West Berkshire 014 West Berkshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mcclair

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mcclair

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

Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles

Group

Inner London Working Professionals

Within London, Mcclair is most associated with areas classed as Inner London Working Professionals, part of Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles. 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 primarily Inner London neighbourhoods are more densely populated than the Supergroup average. Residents have a younger over-all age profile than the Supergroup as a whole, and are less likely to be owner occupiers. Full time employment is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup and multiple car ownership is uncommon. Chinese and non-EU-born European migrants are less in evidence than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

These neighbourhoods house people of all ages, predominantly of White British or European extraction. Resident turnover is low. Religious affiliation is less common than average and tends to be Christian if expressed. Homeownership, typically of terraced houses, is common but use of the social rented sector is not. Employment is typically in professional, managerial and associate professional or technical occupations. There are few full-time students. Level 4 qualifications are common. More households lack dependent children than have them which, considered alongside low levels of crowding and over-all age structure, indicates that many households may be post child-rearing and in late middle age. Incidence of disability is low, as is residence in communal establishments.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Mcclair is most concentrated in decile 4 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Mcclair 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 Mcclair 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 Mcclair, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Mcclair

The surname McClair is of Scottish origin, emerging during the Middle Ages in the region of Ayrshire, Scotland. It is believed to be a variant of the more common McClure or MacClure surname, which itself derives from the Gaelic Mac Lùraich, meaning "son of the battered or tattered one."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the McClair name can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a historical document containing the names of Scottish nobles who swore fealty to King Edward I of England. Here, the name appears as "Maclur," an early spelling variant.

By the 16th century, the McClair surname had spread to various parts of Scotland, with records indicating families bearing the name in Dumfriesshire, Lanarkshire, and the Scottish Borders region. The name's association with specific locations is evident in the use of place names like "McClair of Sundaywell" or "McClair of Craigends."

One notable early bearer of the McClair name was John McClair, a Scottish clergyman born in 1604 in Ayrshire. He served as the minister of the parish of Irvine and was known for his staunch Presbyterian beliefs during the tumultuous religious conflicts of the 17th century.

During the 18th century, the McClair surname gained prominence through the exploits of Captain James McClair, a Scottish naval officer who distinguished himself in several battles against the French during the Seven Years' War (1756-1763). His bravery and leadership earned him recognition and admiration among his contemporaries.

In the realm of literature, the McClair name is associated with the Scottish poet and playwright, Alexander McClair (1788-1856). Born in Ayrshire, he is remembered for his works celebrating Scottish culture and traditions, particularly his popular collection of poems titled "The Rustic Wreath."

Another notable figure bearing the McClair surname was Sir Robert McClair (1839-1904), a Scottish businessman and philanthropist. He amassed considerable wealth through his successful textile manufacturing operations and devoted much of his fortune to supporting educational institutions and charitable causes in his native Ayrshire.

While the McClair surname may not be among the most widespread in Scotland or beyond, its historical roots and the accomplishments of its bearers have left an indelible mark on Scottish history and culture.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Mcclair surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mcclair surname in 1881?

In 1881, 12 people were recorded with the Mcclair surname. That placed it at #31,914 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mcclair surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 89 in 2016. That gives Mcclair a modern rank of #32,297.

What does the Mcclair surname mean?

A Scottish surname derived from the Gaelic 'Mac Liar' meaning 'son of the gray man'.

What does the Mcclair map show?

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