NameCensus.

UK surname

Mcclurg

A Scottish and Irish occupational surname referring to a clerk or cleric.

In the 1881 census there were 72 people recorded with the Mcclurg surname, ranking it #23,371 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 495, ranked #10,052, up from #23,371 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Dalziel, Kilwinning and Govan Combination. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Stranraer East, Rhins North and Central Bedfordshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mcclurg is 495 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 587.5%.

1881 census count

72

Ranked #23,371

Modern count

495

2016, ranked #10,052

Peak year

2016

495 bearers

Map years

5

1891 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mcclurg had 72 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #23,371 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 495 in 2016, ranked #10,052.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 163 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Mcclurg surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mcclurg surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mcclurg 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 3 #32,890
1861 historical 34 #29,685
1881 historical 72 #23,371
1891 historical 106 #23,105
1901 historical 163 #17,205
1911 historical 57 #27,099
1997 modern 405 #10,908
1998 modern 416 #11,037
1999 modern 426 #10,938
2000 modern 415 #11,109
2001 modern 413 #10,962
2002 modern 430 #10,840
2003 modern 437 #10,539
2004 modern 426 #10,768
2005 modern 437 #10,437
2006 modern 441 #10,411
2007 modern 439 #10,553
2008 modern 439 #10,640
2009 modern 462 #10,444
2010 modern 462 #10,682
2011 modern 464 #10,524
2012 modern 470 #10,332
2013 modern 476 #10,385
2014 modern 486 #10,309
2015 modern 490 #10,149
2016 modern 495 #10,052

Geography

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Where Mcclurgs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Dalziel, Kilwinning, Govan Combination, Dalton-in-Furness and Tarbolton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Stranraer East, Rhins North, Central Bedfordshire, Bolton and Lower Bow and Larkfield, Fancy Farm, Mallard Bowl. 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 Dalziel Lanark
2 Kilwinning Ayr
3 Govan Combination Lanark
4 Dalton-in-Furness Lancashire
5 Tarbolton Ayr

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Stranraer East Dumfries and Galloway
2 Rhins North Dumfries and Galloway
3 Central Bedfordshire 009 Central Bedfordshire
4 Bolton 034 Bolton
5 Lower Bow and Larkfield, Fancy Farm, Mallard Bowl Inverclyde

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mcclurg

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mcclurg

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

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Mcclurg is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Mcclurg is most concentrated in decile 1 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Mcclurg 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 Mcclurg 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 Mcclurg, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Mcclurg

The surname McClurg is of Scottish origin, tracing its roots back to the medieval period. It is believed to have originated from the Scottish Gaelic name "Mac Lughrig," which translates to "son of the pilgrim" or "son of the wanderer."

The name first emerged in the regions of Galloway and Ayrshire, where it was closely associated with the powerful McClurg clan. The earliest recorded mention of the name dates back to the 13th century, appearing in various Scottish charters and legal documents.

One notable historical reference to the McClurg name can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which recorded the names of Scottish nobility who swore fealty to King Edward I of England. Several individuals bearing the McClurg surname are listed in this document, indicating their prominence during that era.

In the 15th century, the McClurg family established themselves as influential landowners in the parish of Dailly, Ayrshire. Sir Robert McClurg (1452-1521), a prominent member of the clan, served as the Laird of Dailly and played a crucial role in local politics and governance.

Over the centuries, the McClurg name has undergone various spelling variations, including McClerg, McClerge, and McClarg, reflecting the fluidity of surname spellings in earlier times. These variations often corresponded to different regions or branches of the family.

Among the notable individuals bearing the McClurg surname throughout history are:

1. John McClurg (1693-1748), a Scottish-born Presbyterian minister who played a significant role in the establishment of religious education in the American colonies.

2. James McClurg (1746-1823), an American Revolutionary War soldier and early settler in Kentucky.

3. Joseph McClurg (1722-1793), a Scottish-born publisher and bookseller who established one of the first publishing houses in Virginia.

4. Sir Robert McClurg (1452-1521), the aforementioned Laird of Dailly, who was a prominent figure in 15th-century Scottish politics.

5. William McClurg (1773-1846), an American businessman and politician who served as a member of the Virginia House of Delegates.

While the McClurg surname has its roots in Scotland, it has since spread to various parts of the world, particularly through Scottish emigration and the expansion of the British Empire. Despite its wide dispersion, the name remains a proud testament to its Scottish heritage and the rich history of the McClurg clan.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Mcclurg surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mcclurg surname in 1881?

In 1881, 72 people were recorded with the Mcclurg surname. That placed it at #23,371 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mcclurg surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 495 in 2016. That gives Mcclurg a modern rank of #10,052.

What does the Mcclurg surname mean?

A Scottish and Irish occupational surname referring to a clerk or cleric.

What does the Mcclurg map show?

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