NameCensus.

UK surname

Mcconchie

A Scottish surname derived from the Gaelic "mac Conchaidh" meaning son of Conchaidh (a personal name).

In the 1881 census there were 140 people recorded with the Mcconchie surname, ranking it #16,151 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 98, ranked #31,470, down from #16,151 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Mochrum, Dailly and Kirkinner. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Gatehouse, Castle Douglas and South Kesteven.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mcconchie is 172 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 30.0%.

1881 census count

140

Ranked #16,151

Modern count

98

2016, ranked #31,470

Peak year

1901

172 bearers

Map years

5

1851 to 1901

Key insights

  • Mcconchie had 140 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #16,151 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 98 in 2016, ranked #31,470.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 172 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Mcconchie surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mcconchie surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mcconchie 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 137 #13,812
1861 historical 148 #15,452
1881 historical 140 #16,151
1891 historical 166 #17,077
1901 historical 172 #16,643
1911 historical 31 #29,952
1997 modern 87 #28,749
1998 modern 98 #27,923
1999 modern 96 #28,326
2000 modern 87 #29,377
2001 modern 94 #28,246
2002 modern 99 #28,082
2003 modern 102 #27,383
2004 modern 97 #28,455
2005 modern 92 #29,271
2006 modern 84 #30,665
2007 modern 87 #30,666
2008 modern 86 #31,114
2009 modern 88 #31,352
2010 modern 86 #32,081
2011 modern 87 #31,905
2012 modern 97 #30,798
2013 modern 101 #30,591
2014 modern 95 #31,792
2015 modern 94 #31,872
2016 modern 98 #31,470

Geography

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Where Mcconchies are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Mochrum, Dailly, Kirkinner, Dumfries and Kirkcudbright. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Gatehouse, Castle Douglas, South Kesteven, Ettrick Yarrow and Liliesleaf Area and Machars North. 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 Mochrum Wigtown
2 Dailly Ayr
3 Kirkinner Wigtown
4 Dumfries Dumfries
5 Kirkcudbright Kirkcudbright

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Gatehouse Dumfries and Galloway
2 Castle Douglas Dumfries and Galloway
3 South Kesteven 008 South Kesteven
4 Ettrick Yarrow and Liliesleaf Area Scottish Borders
5 Machars North Dumfries and Galloway

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mcconchie

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mcconchie

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Mcconchie, 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 Mcconchie surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Mcconchie 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, Mcconchie 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

Mcconchie is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Mcconchie falls in decile 7 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Mcconchie is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 10-15 mbit/s.

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

2
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Mcconchie

The surname McConchie is of Scottish origin, derived from the Gaelic "MacOnchuidh" meaning "son of the luckless or unfortunate one." It is believed to have originated in the Scottish Highlands during the 12th or 13th century.

The earliest known record of the name dates back to 1296, when a John M'Conche is mentioned in the Ragman Rolls, a collection of instruments of homage to Edward I of England. This suggests the name was already established in Scotland by the end of the 13th century.

In the 16th century, the name appears in various spellings such as McConachie, McConochie, and McConnochie, reflecting the fluid nature of spelling during that time. One notable bearer was John McConchie, born in 1542 in Argyll, Scotland, who served as a retainer to the Earl of Argyll.

The name McConchie is also associated with the Scottish Clan MacNaughten, a Highland clan with roots in the area around Loch Lomond. Records show that in the late 17th century, a branch of the clan adopted the spelling McConchie.

In the 18th century, the name spread beyond Scotland as bearers immigrated to other parts of the British Isles and North America. One notable figure was James McConchie, born in 1732 in Ayrshire, Scotland, who later settled in County Antrim, Ireland.

During the 19th century, the surname continued to be found throughout Scotland and the United Kingdom. One prominent bearer was Sir Robert McConchie (1821-1902), a Scottish architect who designed several notable buildings in Edinburgh.

Other notable individuals with the surname McConchie include:

1. William McConchie (1859-1938), a Scottish-born Canadian politician and farmer. 2. John McConchie (1895-1975), a Scottish footballer who played for Motherwell F.C. in the 1920s. 3. Eleanor McConchie (1923-2012), a New Zealand potter and ceramicist known for her innovative glazing techniques. 4. Robert McConchie (born 1948), a Scottish businessman and former chairman of the Scottish Rugby Union. 5. David McConchie (born 1967), an Australian cricket umpire who has officiated in international matches.

While the surname McConchie is relatively uncommon, it has a rich history spanning several centuries and multiple countries, reflecting the migration patterns of Scottish families over time.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mcconchie families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mcconchie 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 4 Mcconchies recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.95x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 4 6.95x
Cheshire 1 9.34x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Everton in Lancashire leads with 2 Mcconchies recorded in 1881 and an index of 109.29x.

Place Total Index
Everton 2 109.29x
Liverpool 2 57.31x
Bollin Fee 1 2000.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 1
Jas. 1
Samuel 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 Mcconchie households.

FAQ

Mcconchie surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mcconchie surname in 1881?

In 1881, 140 people were recorded with the Mcconchie surname. That placed it at #16,151 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mcconchie surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 98 in 2016. That gives Mcconchie a modern rank of #31,470.

What does the Mcconchie surname mean?

A Scottish surname derived from the Gaelic "mac Conchaidh" meaning son of Conchaidh (a personal name).

What does the Mcconchie map show?

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