NameCensus.

UK surname

Mccloskey

An Irish surname derived from a Gaelic nickname meaning "son of the servant of Blaise."

In the 1881 census there were 103 people recorded with the Mccloskey surname, ranking it #19,410 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,125, ranked #5,239, up from #19,410 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wolverhampton, Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside and Arbroath and St. Vigeans. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include New Farm Loch South, Altonhill North and Onthank and Doncaster.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mccloskey is 1,125 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 992.2%.

1881 census count

103

Ranked #19,410

Modern count

1,125

2016, ranked #5,239

Peak year

2016

1,125 bearers

Map years

4

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mccloskey had 103 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #19,410 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,125 in 2016, ranked #5,239.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 103 in 1881.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Mccloskey surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mccloskey surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mccloskey 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 30 #27,891
1861 historical 66 #25,487
1881 historical 103 #19,410
1891 historical 56 #29,638
1901 historical 79 #25,363
1911 historical 87 #24,147
1997 modern 872 #6,113
1998 modern 943 #5,942
1999 modern 969 #5,856
2000 modern 959 #5,888
2001 modern 927 #5,944
2002 modern 964 #5,846
2003 modern 961 #5,788
2004 modern 978 #5,701
2005 modern 991 #5,597
2006 modern 999 #5,571
2007 modern 1,030 #5,480
2008 modern 1,031 #5,513
2009 modern 1,065 #5,474
2010 modern 1,092 #5,473
2011 modern 1,113 #5,323
2012 modern 1,091 #5,333
2013 modern 1,107 #5,344
2014 modern 1,122 #5,312
2015 modern 1,118 #5,279
2016 modern 1,125 #5,239

Geography

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Where Mccloskeys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wolverhampton, Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Arbroath and St. Vigeans, Toxteth Park and Edinburgh. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to New Farm Loch South, Altonhill North and Onthank, Doncaster, Southcraig and Beansburn and Warwick. 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 Wolverhampton Staffordshire
2 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
3 Arbroath and St. Vigeans Forfar
4 Toxteth Park Lancashire
5 Edinburgh Edinburgh

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 New Farm Loch South East Ayrshire
2 Altonhill North and Onthank East Ayrshire
3 Doncaster 035 Doncaster
4 Southcraig and Beansburn East Ayrshire
5 Warwick 008 Warwick

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mccloskey

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mccloskey

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Mccloskey surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Mccloskey household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Mccloskey 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

Mccloskey 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

Mccloskey falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Mccloskey 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 Mccloskey, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Mccloskey

The surname McCloskey has its origins in Ireland, specifically in the northern counties of Ulster. It is derived from the Irish Gaelic name Mac Bhloscaidh, which means "son of the freckled or speckled one." This suggests that the name may have been initially used as a descriptive nickname for someone with a freckled or spotted complexion.

The earliest recorded instances of the name McCloskey can be traced back to the 16th century in Ulster. One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Ferdoragh McCloskey, who was mentioned in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history, in the year 1536.

In the 17th century, the McCloskey name appeared in several historical records, such as the Hearth Money Rolls of 1663-1665, which were tax records compiled in Ireland. These records provide valuable insights into the distribution of the name across various counties in Ulster during that time period.

One notable figure bearing the McCloskey surname was Sir Andrew McCloskey (1700-1778), an Irish politician and landowner from County Derry. He served as a member of the Irish House of Commons and was involved in local administration and philanthropic endeavors.

Another prominent McCloskey was John McCloskey (1810-1885), an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church who served as the first American-born cardinal. He was born in Brooklyn, New York, and became the Archbishop of New York in 1864, before being elevated to the cardinalate in 1875.

In the 19th century, the McCloskey name became more widespread in the United States due to Irish immigration. One notable bearer was John McCloskey (1834-1901), an American attorney and politician from New York who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives.

The name McCloskey has also been associated with various place names in Ireland, such as McCloskey's Bridge in County Donegal and McCloskey's Lane in County Antrim. These place names reflect the historical presence of the McCloskey family in these areas.

Throughout history, the McCloskey surname has undergone various spellings, including McCluskey, MacCloskey, and McClushkey, among others. These variations likely resulted from regional dialects and the phonetic interpretations of the name by record-keepers and scribes.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mccloskey families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mccloskey 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. Sussex leads with 6 Mccloskeys recorded in 1881 and an index of 24.36x.

County Total Index
Sussex 6 24.36x
Lancashire 5 2.88x
Wiltshire 3 23.22x
Yorkshire 1 0.69x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hove in Sussex leads with 6 Mccloskeys recorded in 1881 and an index of 555.56x.

Place Total Index
Hove 6 555.56x
Newton 5 373.13x
Chippenham 3 1111.11x
Bradford 1 28.57x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Mccloskey surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 3
Agnes 1
Bridget 1
Clara 1
Edith 1
Eliza 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Mccloskey surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Alfred 1
Dennis 1
Henry 1
James 1
John 1
Michael 1
Thomas 1

Top occupations

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 Mccloskey households.

FAQ

Mccloskey surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mccloskey surname in 1881?

In 1881, 103 people were recorded with the Mccloskey surname. That placed it at #19,410 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mccloskey surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,125 in 2016. That gives Mccloskey a modern rank of #5,239.

What does the Mccloskey surname mean?

An Irish surname derived from a Gaelic nickname meaning "son of the servant of Blaise."

What does the Mccloskey map show?

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