NameCensus.

UK surname

Mcconkey

A Scottish or Irish surname derived from the Gaelic "Mac Donnchadha," meaning "son of Donnchadh" (brown-haired warrior).

In the 1881 census there were 120 people recorded with the Mcconkey surname, ranking it #17,756 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 422, ranked #11,365, up from #17,756 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wolverhampton, Newcastle All Saints and Gateshead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cardiff, South Tyneside and Wakefield.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mcconkey is 462 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 251.7%.

1881 census count

120

Ranked #17,756

Modern count

422

2016, ranked #11,365

Peak year

2010

462 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mcconkey had 120 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #17,756 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 422 in 2016, ranked #11,365.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 156 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Mcconkey surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mcconkey surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mcconkey 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 61 #22,412
1861 historical 78 #23,836
1881 historical 120 #17,756
1891 historical 151 #18,242
1901 historical 156 #17,638
1911 historical 141 #18,571
1997 modern 410 #10,800
1998 modern 413 #11,092
1999 modern 418 #11,071
2000 modern 422 #10,960
2001 modern 415 #10,925
2002 modern 436 #10,712
2003 modern 416 #10,941
2004 modern 418 #10,923
2005 modern 427 #10,633
2006 modern 418 #10,861
2007 modern 426 #10,809
2008 modern 427 #10,892
2009 modern 446 #10,755
2010 modern 462 #10,682
2011 modern 448 #10,829
2012 modern 426 #11,139
2013 modern 435 #11,131
2014 modern 435 #11,224
2015 modern 429 #11,252
2016 modern 422 #11,365

Geography

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Where Mcconkeys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wolverhampton, Newcastle All Saints, Gateshead, Eccles and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cardiff, South Tyneside, Wakefield and Gravesham. 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 Newcastle All Saints Northumberland
3 Gateshead Durham
4 Eccles Lancashire
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cardiff 037 Cardiff
2 South Tyneside 020 South Tyneside
3 South Tyneside 010 South Tyneside
4 Wakefield 012 Wakefield
5 Gravesham 004 Gravesham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mcconkey

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mcconkey

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

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Mcconkey is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Mcconkey is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Mcconkey falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Mcconkey

The surname McConkey has its origins in Ireland, specifically in the region of Ulster. It is thought to have emerged during the late Middle Ages, around the 14th or 15th century. The name is derived from the Gaelic "Mac Cuinneagáin," which literally translates to "son of the hound."

This surname is believed to have been initially adopted by a family or clan who lived in the vicinity of County Antrim, Northern Ireland. Historical records suggest that the McConkeys were a prominent clan in this region, with some members holding positions of influence and authority within their local communities.

One of the earliest documented references to the McConkey name can be found in the Annals of Ulster, a medieval chronicle that recorded significant events in Ireland from the 5th to the 16th century. In this text, there are mentions of individuals bearing variations of the name, such as "MacCuinneagáin" and "MacConkey."

Another notable historical reference to the McConkey surname can be found in the Fiants of the Tudor Sovereigns, a collection of official documents from the reigns of Henry VIII, Edward VI, Mary I, and Elizabeth I. These records include several mentions of individuals with the surname McConkey or similar spellings, often in relation to land grants or legal proceedings.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the McConkey surname was Donal McConkey, who lived in County Antrim in the late 16th century. He is mentioned in various historical documents as a landowner and prominent figure in the local community.

Throughout the centuries, the McConkey surname has been associated with several notable individuals. For instance, Patrick McConkey (1762-1843) was an Irish Presbyterian minister and author who served as the moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland in 1822.

Another prominent figure was James McConkey (1858-1937), a Scottish-born American businessman and philanthropist. He co-founded the McConkey Auction Company in New York City, which became one of the largest auction houses in the United States at the time.

In the literary world, John McConkey (1925-2008) was an acclaimed Irish poet and playwright. He was a recipient of the prestigious Eric Gregory Award for Poetry and is celebrated for his contributions to Irish literature.

Additionally, Claudius McConkey (1885-1957) was a British aircraft designer and engineer who played a significant role in the development of early military aircraft during World War I and World War II.

Lastly, Matthew McConkey (born 1990) is a contemporary Irish professional golfer who has competed on various tours, including the European Tour and the PGA Tour.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mcconkey families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mcconkey 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. Kent leads with 2 Mcconkeys recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.08x.

County Total Index
Kent 2 12.08x
Lancashire 1 1.74x
Middlesex 1 2.06x
Yorkshire 1 2.08x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Deptford St Paul in Kent leads with 2 Mcconkeys recorded in 1881 and an index of 156.25x.

Place Total Index
Deptford St Paul 2 156.25x
Bethnal Green London 1 47.39x
Everton 1 54.64x
Spennithorne 1 0.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Lucy 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Alfred 1
George 1
Joseph 1
Willm. 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 Mcconkey households.

FAQ

Mcconkey surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mcconkey surname in 1881?

In 1881, 120 people were recorded with the Mcconkey surname. That placed it at #17,756 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mcconkey surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 422 in 2016. That gives Mcconkey a modern rank of #11,365.

What does the Mcconkey surname mean?

A Scottish or Irish surname derived from the Gaelic "Mac Donnchadha," meaning "son of Donnchadh" (brown-haired warrior).

What does the Mcconkey map show?

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