UK surname
Scottishsurname of Anglo-Norman origin meaning a bright or famous person.
In the 1881 census there were 63 people recorded with the Mcclare surname, ranking it #24,711 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 48, ranked #35,004, down from #24,711 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Hamilton, Glasgow and St Giles Camberwell. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mcclare is 158 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 23.8%.
1881 census count
63
Ranked #24,711
Modern count
48
2016, ranked #35,004
Peak year
1891
158 bearers
Map years
1
1891 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Mcclare surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Mcclare surname density by area, 1891 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 | 46 | #24,985 |
| 1861 | historical | 81 | #23,431 |
| 1881 | historical | 63 | #24,711 |
| 1891 | historical | 158 | #17,705 |
| 1901 | historical | 83 | #24,900 |
| 1911 | historical | 86 | #24,243 |
| 1997 | modern | 59 | #31,734 |
| 1998 | modern | 55 | #32,399 |
| 1999 | modern | 58 | #32,268 |
| 2000 | modern | 53 | #32,805 |
| 2001 | modern | 50 | #32,957 |
| 2002 | modern | 52 | #33,110 |
| 2003 | modern | 52 | #33,160 |
| 2004 | modern | 54 | #33,248 |
| 2005 | modern | 57 | #33,178 |
| 2006 | modern | 56 | #33,587 |
| 2007 | modern | 51 | #34,272 |
| 2008 | modern | 57 | #34,015 |
| 2009 | modern | 53 | #34,481 |
| 2010 | modern | 60 | #34,205 |
| 2011 | modern | 60 | #34,202 |
| 2012 | modern | 53 | #34,657 |
| 2013 | modern | 51 | #34,834 |
| 2014 | modern | 50 | #34,927 |
| 2015 | modern | 48 | #35,004 |
| 2016 | modern | 48 | #35,004 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Hamilton, Glasgow, St Giles Camberwell, Woolwich and Ettrick. 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 | Hamilton | Lanark |
| 2 | Glasgow | Lanark |
| 3 | St Giles Camberwell | London (South Districts) |
| 4 | Woolwich | London (South Districts) |
| 5 | Ettrick | Selkirk |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Mcclare 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 Mcclare, 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 Mcclare surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Mcclare 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, Mcclare 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 Mcclare is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Mcclare, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname McClare is of Scottish origin, dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to have originated in the Highlands region of Scotland, where it was likely derived from a Gaelic personal name or a place name.
One theory suggests that McClare may have evolved from the Gaelic name "Mac Labhruinn," which means "son of the talkative one" or "son of the eloquent one." This name could have been given to an ancestor who was known for their oratory skills or their ability to engage in witty conversation.
Another possibility is that McClare is a variant spelling of the place name "MacClaren," which refers to a location in the Scottish county of Perthshire. This place name itself is thought to be derived from the Gaelic words "Mac" (son) and "Labhruinn" (of the talkative one or eloquent one).
Historical records indicate that the McClare surname appeared in various Scottish documents and manuscripts from the 13th century onwards. One notable example is the mention of a "Gillechrist McClare" in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland in 1264, which recorded financial transactions and payments made to the Scottish crown.
In the 16th century, a branch of the McClare family settled in the Scottish Borders region, where they became influential landowners and farmers. Notable individuals from this era include Robert McClare (1525-1592), who served as a magistrate in the town of Jedburgh, and Margaret McClare (1560-1628), a renowned herbalist and healer.
During the 17th and 18th centuries, several McClares made their mark in various fields. John McClare (1630-1695) was a prominent minister in the Church of Scotland, known for his fiery sermons and unwavering religious beliefs. William McClare (1680-1745) was a successful merchant and trader, whose business ventures spanned across the British Empire.
In the 19th century, the McClare name gained recognition in the literary and academic realms. Sir Thomas McClare (1810-1876) was a respected Scottish novelist and poet, whose works explored themes of Highland life and culture. Professor Elizabeth McClare (1845-1920) was a pioneering scholar in the field of Celtic studies and made significant contributions to the preservation of Scottish Gaelic language and traditions.
Throughout history, the McClare surname has been associated with various spellings and variations, including MacClare, MacClaire, McClaire, and McCleer. These variations often reflected regional dialects and differences in pronunciation across Scotland and other parts of the British Isles where the name was present.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mcclare 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. Lancashire leads with 5 Mcclares recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.21x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 5 | 7.21x |
| Middlesex | 1 | 1.71x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Burnley in Lancashire leads with 5 Mcclares recorded in 1881 and an index of 862.07x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Burnley | 5 | 862.07x |
| Kensington London | 1 | 30.77x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Mcclare 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 Mcclare surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| James | 1 |
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 Mcclare households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 3 |
| G Labourer | 1 |
| Housework | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 63 people were recorded with the Mcclare surname. That placed it at #24,711 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 48 in 2016. That gives Mcclare a modern rank of #35,004.
Scottishsurname of Anglo-Norman origin meaning a bright or famous person.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Mcclare 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.