NameCensus.

UK surname

Mcclennon

Scottish surname meaning "son of the tonsured or shaven one".

In the 1881 census there were 20 people recorded with the Mcclennon surname, ranking it #30,738 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 109, ranked #29,402, up from #30,738 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bradford, East Northamptonshire and Halton.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mcclennon is 128 in 2003. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 445.0%.

1881 census count

20

Ranked #30,738

Modern count

109

2016, ranked #29,402

Peak year

2003

128 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mcclennon had 20 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #30,738 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 109 in 2016, ranked #29,402.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 47 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Mcclennon surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mcclennon surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mcclennon 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 18 #30,094
1861 historical 8 #32,887
1881 historical 20 #30,738
1891 historical 43 #30,933
1901 historical 47 #28,929
1911 historical 45 #28,332
1997 modern 120 #24,158
1998 modern 115 #25,466
1999 modern 121 #24,855
2000 modern 117 #25,324
2001 modern 112 #25,644
2002 modern 121 #24,984
2003 modern 128 #23,890
2004 modern 128 #24,117
2005 modern 125 #24,398
2006 modern 123 #24,873
2007 modern 125 #24,987
2008 modern 119 #26,067
2009 modern 125 #25,823
2010 modern 125 #26,448
2011 modern 121 #26,789
2012 modern 111 #28,332
2013 modern 118 #27,686
2014 modern 115 #28,439
2015 modern 116 #28,151
2016 modern 109 #29,402

Geography

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Where Mcclennons 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 Bradford, East Northamptonshire, Halton and Manchester. 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 Bradford 004 Bradford
2 East Northamptonshire 009 East Northamptonshire
3 Halton 015 Halton
4 Manchester 011 Manchester
5 East Northamptonshire 008 East Northamptonshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mcclennon

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mcclennon

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Mcclennon, 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

Young Families in Industrial Towns

Nationally, the Mcclennon surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Mcclennon household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Mcclennon is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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 across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Mcclennon is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Mcclennon 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 Mcclennon 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 - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Mcclennon

The surname McClennon has its roots in Scotland, dating back to the 16th century. It is believed to have originated from the Scottish Gaelic words "mac" meaning "son of" and "Gille Fhionndain," which translates to "servant or follower of St. Finnan." This suggests that the name's origins may be connected to a historical figure or saint revered in Scotland during that time period.

The earliest recorded instances of the McClennon name appear in parish records and legal documents from the Scottish Highlands, particularly in the regions of Argyll and Bute. Some of the earliest known bearers of this surname include John McClennon, who was born in Inveraray, Argyll, in 1602, and Duncan McClennon, a landowner from the Isle of Islay, whose name appears in a charter from 1637.

One of the earliest notable McClennons in history was Sir Robert McClennon (1636-1714), a Scottish nobleman and military officer who served as a colonel in the Covenanter army during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. He was later knighted for his loyalty to the Protestant cause and his role in the Glorious Revolution of 1688.

In the 18th century, the McClennon name appears in various historical records related to the Jacobite risings. James McClennon (1712-1796) was a prominent supporter of the Jacobite cause and fought alongside Bonnie Prince Charlie at the Battle of Culloden in 1746. After the defeat of the Jacobites, he fled to France and later settled in North America.

Another notable figure was Margaret McClennon (1788-1865), a Scottish author and poet who wrote extensively about the culture and traditions of the Scottish Highlands. Her works, such as "The Heather Garland" and "Songs of the Gael," helped preserve and promote the rich heritage of Scottish literature and folklore.

In the 19th century, the McClennon name began to spread beyond Scotland as members of the clan emigrated to other parts of the British Empire and the United States. One such individual was William McClennon (1832-1912), a Scottish-born engineer who played a crucial role in the construction of the Panama Canal, overseeing the design and implementation of several key infrastructure projects.

While the McClennon surname may have evolved in spelling and pronunciation over the centuries, its historical roots remain firmly grounded in the Scottish Highlands, reflecting a rich cultural heritage and a connection to the land and legends of that region.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Mcclennon surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mcclennon surname in 1881?

In 1881, 20 people were recorded with the Mcclennon surname. That placed it at #30,738 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mcclennon surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 109 in 2016. That gives Mcclennon a modern rank of #29,402.

What does the Mcclennon surname mean?

Scottish surname meaning "son of the tonsured or shaven one".

What does the Mcclennon map show?

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