NameCensus.

UK surname

Mcclung

A Scottish surname derived from the Gaelic "Mac Fhlaithim," meaning "son of Flahavan," a personal name meaning "red ruler."

In the 1881 census there were 96 people recorded with the Mcclung surname, ranking it #20,248 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 579, ranked #8,957, up from #20,248 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Kirkmichael, Glasgow and Kilmarnock. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Altonhill North and Onthank, Maybole and Carrick South.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mcclung is 579 in 2015. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 503.1%.

1881 census count

96

Ranked #20,248

Modern count

579

2016, ranked #8,957

Peak year

2015

579 bearers

Map years

4

1901 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mcclung had 96 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #20,248 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 579 in 2016, ranked #8,957.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 178 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Mcclung surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mcclung surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mcclung 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 22 #29,378
1861 historical 18 #31,580
1881 historical 96 #20,248
1891 historical 94 #24,820
1901 historical 178 #16,284
1911 historical 20 #31,288
1997 modern 485 #9,512
1998 modern 503 #9,547
1999 modern 507 #9,555
2000 modern 508 #9,519
2001 modern 486 #9,674
2002 modern 525 #9,322
2003 modern 509 #9,365
2004 modern 512 #9,352
2005 modern 534 #8,997
2006 modern 528 #9,097
2007 modern 545 #8,965
2008 modern 547 #9,011
2009 modern 560 #9,042
2010 modern 560 #9,225
2011 modern 554 #9,212
2012 modern 567 #8,971
2013 modern 572 #9,042
2014 modern 574 #9,078
2015 modern 579 #8,964
2016 modern 579 #8,957

Geography

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Where Mcclungs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Kirkmichael, Glasgow, Kilmarnock, Colmonell and Renfrew. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Altonhill North and Onthank, Maybole, Carrick South, Shieldhill and Doon Valley North. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Kirkmichael Ayr
2 Glasgow Lanark
3 Kilmarnock Ayr
4 Colmonell Ayr
5 Renfrew Renfrew

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Altonhill North and Onthank East Ayrshire
2 Maybole South Ayrshire
3 Carrick South South Ayrshire
4 Shieldhill Falkirk
5 Doon Valley North East Ayrshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mcclung

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mcclung

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

Mcclung is most concentrated in decile 3 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Mcclung 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 Mcclung 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 - British

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

Meaning and origin of Mcclung

The surname McClung has its origins in Scotland, emerging in the 16th century. It is believed to be an Anglicized form of the Gaelic name "Mac Gille Cholum," which translates to "son of the servant of St. Columba." This suggests that the name may have been adopted by those who served in religious institutions dedicated to St. Columba, a famous Irish missionary and evangelist who established monasteries in Scotland.

The earliest known record of the McClung name dates back to 1597, when John McClung was listed in the register of the parish of Kilwinning, Ayrshire. This region of southwestern Scotland is considered the ancestral homeland of the McClung clan, with many early records indicating their presence in the areas around Ayrshire and Renfrewshire.

In the 17th century, the name appeared in various spellings, such as McClunng, McGlung, and McGlunc, reflecting the phonetic nature of Scottish surnames. One notable figure from this period was James McClung, a Scottish clergyman born in 1640, who served as the minister of Borthwick Parish in Midlothian.

During the 18th century, the McClung name began to spread beyond Scotland as some members of the clan emigrated to other parts of the British Isles and the American colonies. One prominent individual was John McClung, born in 1693 in Canonbie, Dumfriesshire, Scotland. He later settled in Augusta County, Virginia, and became a prominent figure in the early colonial history of the region.

Another notable McClung was James McClungs, born in 1746 in Argyllshire, Scotland. He served as a Lieutenant Colonel in the American Revolutionary War and played a crucial role in the Battle of King's Mountain, a significant victory for the Patriots against the British forces.

In the 19th century, the McClung name continued to be associated with various fields, including literature and education. One such figure was Virginia McClung, an American author and educator born in 1840 in Virginia. She was a prominent advocate for women's education and authored several books on the subject.

Throughout its history, the McClung surname has been carried by individuals from diverse backgrounds and professions, reflecting the rich tapestry of Scottish heritage and its global diaspora.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mcclung families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mcclung 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. Ayrshire leads with 8 Mcclungs recorded in 1881 and an index of 136.99x.

County Total Index
Ayrshire 8 136.99x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kirkoswald in Ayrshire leads with 8 Mcclungs recorded in 1881 and an index of 16000.00x.

Place Total Index
Kirkoswald 8 16000.00x

FAQ

Mcclung surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mcclung surname in 1881?

In 1881, 96 people were recorded with the Mcclung surname. That placed it at #20,248 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mcclung surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 579 in 2016. That gives Mcclung a modern rank of #8,957.

What does the Mcclung surname mean?

A Scottish surname derived from the Gaelic "Mac Fhlaithim," meaning "son of Flahavan," a personal name meaning "red ruler."

What does the Mcclung map show?

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