NameCensus.

UK surname

Mccleave

Derived from the Scottish locational surname meaning 'dweller by the cliffs or rocky shore'.

In the 1881 census there were 33 people recorded with the Mccleave surname, ranking it #28,965 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 198, ranked #19,713, up from #28,965 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Babergh, Hackney and Kirkshaws.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mccleave is 211 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 500.0%.

1881 census count

33

Ranked #28,965

Modern count

198

2016, ranked #19,713

Peak year

2002

211 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mccleave had 33 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #28,965 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 198 in 2016, ranked #19,713.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 94 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Mccleave surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mccleave surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Mccleave 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 23 #29,205
1861 historical 24 #30,922
1881 historical 33 #28,965
1891 historical 51 #30,158
1901 historical 94 #23,588
1911 historical 91 #23,684
1997 modern 204 #17,409
1998 modern 196 #18,342
1999 modern 196 #18,464
2000 modern 195 #18,494
2001 modern 189 #18,590
2002 modern 211 #17,696
2003 modern 205 #17,851
2004 modern 198 #18,308
2005 modern 200 #18,144
2006 modern 194 #18,627
2007 modern 205 #18,194
2008 modern 204 #18,403
2009 modern 201 #18,965
2010 modern 211 #18,774
2011 modern 202 #19,154
2012 modern 205 #18,909
2013 modern 206 #19,153
2014 modern 205 #19,375
2015 modern 207 #19,155
2016 modern 198 #19,713

Geography

Back to top

Where Mccleaves 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 Babergh, Hackney, Kirkshaws, Preston and Bracknell Forest. 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 Babergh 002 Babergh
2 Hackney 021 Hackney
3 Kirkshaws North Lanarkshire
4 Preston 016 Preston
5 Bracknell Forest 008 Bracknell Forest

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Mccleave

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Mccleave

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

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Mccleave is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Mccleave is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Mccleave 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 Mccleave is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Mccleave

The surname McCleave is of Scottish origin, tracing its roots back to the medieval period in the Highlands region of Scotland. It is believed to have derived from the Gaelic words "mac" meaning "son of" and "laimh" signifying "hand" or "skilled worker." This suggests that the name may have initially identified the bearer as the son of a skilled craftsman or artisan.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a historical document containing the names of Scottish nobles and landowners who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England. The name appears as "McLeave," indicating its close resemblance to the modern spelling.

In the 15th century, the McCleave family was prominent in the area around Loch Lomond, particularly in the parishes of Buchanan and Drymen. Records from this period show variations in the spelling, including "McCleive" and "McCleyve," reflecting the fluidity of surnames in those times.

A notable figure bearing the McCleave name was Robert McCleave (c. 1490-1560), a Scottish clergyman who served as the Abbot of Paisley Abbey from 1541 until his death. He played a significant role in the religious and political affairs of Scotland during the tumultuous period of the Scottish Reformation.

Another historical figure of note was William McCleave (1712-1789), a Scottish-born poet and satirist who emigrated to America in the mid-18th century. He gained recognition for his biting satirical works that critiqued the social and political climate of colonial America.

In the 19th century, the McCleave family continued to have a presence in Scotland, with several members achieving notable positions. John McCleave (1824-1902) was a prominent Scottish lawyer and judge who served as Lord Advocate, the highest legal officer in Scotland, from 1885 to 1888.

Additionally, the name McCleave has been associated with various place names in Scotland, such as Cleave Hill in Aberdeenshire and Cleave Burn in Ayrshire, further emphasizing the family's deep-rooted connection to the Scottish landscape.

Throughout its history, the McCleave surname has undergone various spelling variations, including McCleive, McCleyve, McClave, and McCleve, reflecting the fluidity of surnames in earlier times and the influence of regional dialects and scribal conventions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Mccleave surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mccleave surname in 1881?

In 1881, 33 people were recorded with the Mccleave surname. That placed it at #28,965 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mccleave surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 198 in 2016. That gives Mccleave a modern rank of #19,713.

What does the Mccleave surname mean?

Derived from the Scottish locational surname meaning 'dweller by the cliffs or rocky shore'.

What does the Mccleave map show?

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