NameCensus.

UK surname

Mccluskey

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic "Mac Bhloscaidh," meaning "son of Bloscadh," a personal name of unknown meaning.

In the 1881 census there were 562 people recorded with the Mccluskey surname, ranking it #6,164 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 4,093, ranked #1,659, up from #6,164 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Govan Combination and Gateshead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Hamilton Centre and Low Parks, Logie and Blackness and Deans Village.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mccluskey is 4,093 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 628.3%.

1881 census count

562

Ranked #6,164

Modern count

4,093

2016, ranked #1,659

Peak year

2016

4,093 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mccluskey had 562 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,164 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 4,093 in 2016, ranked #1,659.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 987 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Mccluskey surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mccluskey surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mccluskey 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 192 #10,756
1861 historical 253 #9,764
1881 historical 562 #6,164
1891 historical 817 #4,956
1901 historical 987 #4,812
1911 historical 602 #6,820
1997 modern 3,526 #1,836
1998 modern 3,681 #1,827
1999 modern 3,729 #1,821
2000 modern 3,709 #1,818
2001 modern 3,605 #1,828
2002 modern 3,757 #1,803
2003 modern 3,652 #1,815
2004 modern 3,670 #1,803
2005 modern 3,688 #1,768
2006 modern 3,764 #1,742
2007 modern 3,820 #1,728
2008 modern 3,906 #1,702
2009 modern 4,062 #1,668
2010 modern 4,092 #1,697
2011 modern 4,026 #1,706
2012 modern 3,920 #1,717
2013 modern 3,996 #1,714
2014 modern 4,085 #1,692
2015 modern 4,066 #1,676
2016 modern 4,093 #1,659

Geography

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Where Mccluskeys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Govan Combination, Gateshead, Old Monkland and Greenock. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Hamilton Centre and Low Parks, Logie and Blackness, Deans Village, Hillhouse and Strathaven South. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
2 Govan Combination Lanark
3 Gateshead Durham
4 Old Monkland Lanark
5 Greenock Renfrew

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Hamilton Centre and Low Parks South Lanarkshire
2 Logie and Blackness Dundee City
3 Deans Village City of Edinburgh
4 Hillhouse South Lanarkshire
5 Strathaven South South Lanarkshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mccluskey

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mccluskey

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Mccluskey is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, 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

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

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

Mccluskey 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

Mccluskey 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 Mccluskey is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Mccluskey

The surname McCluskey has its origins in Ireland and dates back to the 12th century. It is an Anglicized version of the Gaelic name "Mac Lochlainn," which means "son of the Norwegian." This suggests that the name may have originally belonged to someone of Norse or Viking descent who settled in Ireland.

The earliest recorded use of the name McCluskey can be found in the Annals of Ulster, a chronicle of medieval Irish history. In this text, there are references to a chieftain named Muircheartach Mac Lochlainn, who ruled the Kingdom of Ailech in the late 11th and early 12th centuries.

As the name spread throughout Ireland, it underwent various spelling changes and variations. Some of the earliest recorded spellings include McClushey, McCluskye, and McCluskay. These variations reflect the phonetic differences in how the name was pronounced in different regions.

One notable bearer of the McCluskey name was Sir John McCluskey (c. 1480-1550), an Irish nobleman and military commander who fought in the Nine Years' War against the English. He was awarded lands in County Down for his loyalty to the Crown.

Another significant figure was Patrick McCluskey (1692-1770), an Irish priest and author who was exiled from Ireland during the Penal Laws. He wrote extensively on the persecution of Catholics in Ireland and became a vocal advocate for religious tolerance.

In the 18th century, the McCluskey name gained prominence in Scotland, particularly in the Glasgow area. One notable Scotsman was John McCluskey (1766-1842), a successful merchant and philanthropist who helped establish several schools and charities in the city.

During the 19th century, many McCluskeys emigrated from Ireland and Scotland to other parts of the world, including the United States, Canada, and Australia. One such emigrant was William McCluskey (1811-1889), an Irish-born businessman who became a prominent figure in the early development of Melbourne, Australia.

Throughout history, the McCluskey name has been associated with various professions and achievements, from military service and religious leadership to business and philanthropy. While the name has evolved over centuries, its roots can be traced back to the Viking settlers who intermingled with the Irish population in the Middle Ages.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mccluskey families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mccluskey 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. Lancashire leads with 25 Mccluskeys recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.70x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 25 4.70x
Cumberland 7 18.12x
Yorkshire 5 1.12x
Durham 3 2.25x
Northumberland 3 4.49x
Middlesex 2 0.45x
Isle of Man 1 12.00x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kirkdale in Lancashire leads with 7 Mccluskeys recorded in 1881 and an index of 78.13x.

Place Total Index
Kirkdale 7 78.13x
Manchester 7 29.23x
Leeds 5 19.91x
Wigan 4 53.76x
Cleator 3 186.34x
Liverpool 3 9.28x
Esh 2 206.19x
Haltwhistle 2 625.00x
Hanwell 2 250.00x
Preston Quarter 2 185.19x
Workington 2 90.50x
Crumpsall 1 80.00x
Elswick 1 18.76x
North Meols 1 19.19x
Onchan 1 41.67x
Stockton On Tees 1 15.55x
Walton On Hill 1 34.72x
West Derby 1 6.42x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 7
Lucy 2
Margaret 2
Ann 1
Anne 1
Annie 1
Catherine 1
Elizabeth 1
Ellen 1
Estah 1
Ester 1
Hannah 1
Jane 1
Rose 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 6
Peter 4
Edward 2
Henry 2
James 2
Alexanderd 1
Bernard 1
Charles 1
Patrick 1
Robert 1
Robt. 1
Stephen 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 Mccluskey households.

FAQ

Mccluskey surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mccluskey surname in 1881?

In 1881, 562 people were recorded with the Mccluskey surname. That placed it at #6,164 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mccluskey surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 4,093 in 2016. That gives Mccluskey a modern rank of #1,659.

What does the Mccluskey surname mean?

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic "Mac Bhloscaidh," meaning "son of Bloscadh," a personal name of unknown meaning.

What does the Mccluskey map show?

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