NameCensus.

UK surname

Mcconnachie

A Scottish surname derived from the Gaelic "Mac Connachadh" meaning "son of the victor".

In the 1881 census there were 660 people recorded with the Mcconnachie surname, ranking it #5,439 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,442, ranked #4,256, up from #5,439 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Straiton, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry and Aberdeen and Old Machar. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Kintyre Trail, Huntly and Port Glasgow Upper, West and Central.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mcconnachie is 1,442 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 118.5%.

1881 census count

660

Ranked #5,439

Modern count

1,442

2016, ranked #4,256

Peak year

2016

1,442 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mcconnachie had 660 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,439 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,442 in 2016, ranked #4,256.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 896 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Mcconnachie surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mcconnachie surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mcconnachie 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 226 #9,487
1861 historical 212 #11,466
1881 historical 660 #5,439
1891 historical 788 #5,100
1901 historical 896 #5,163
1911 historical 44 #28,454
1997 modern 1,249 #4,559
1998 modern 1,314 #4,523
1999 modern 1,332 #4,492
2000 modern 1,351 #4,424
2001 modern 1,329 #4,404
2002 modern 1,352 #4,423
2003 modern 1,282 #4,534
2004 modern 1,259 #4,616
2005 modern 1,283 #4,486
2006 modern 1,301 #4,439
2007 modern 1,375 #4,294
2008 modern 1,367 #4,333
2009 modern 1,394 #4,346
2010 modern 1,408 #4,383
2011 modern 1,379 #4,412
2012 modern 1,386 #4,335
2013 modern 1,388 #4,406
2014 modern 1,410 #4,364
2015 modern 1,421 #4,307
2016 modern 1,442 #4,256

Geography

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Where Mcconnachies are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Straiton, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry, Aberdeen and Old Machar, Knockando and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Kintyre Trail, Huntly, Port Glasgow Upper, West and Central, North Speyside and Greenock West and Central. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Straiton Ayr
2 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar
3 Aberdeen and Old Machar Aberdeen
4 Knockando Elgin
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Kintyre Trail Argyll and Bute
2 Huntly Aberdeenshire
3 Port Glasgow Upper, West and Central Inverclyde
4 North Speyside Moray
5 Greenock West and Central Inverclyde

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mcconnachie

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mcconnachie

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Mcconnachie is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Mcconnachie 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

Mcconnachie 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 Mcconnachie 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 - British

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

Meaning and origin of Mcconnachie

The surname McConnachie has its origins in Scotland, dating back to the medieval era. It is believed to be derived from the Gaelic words "Mac Coinneach," which translates to "son of Kenneth." This suggests that the name originated as a patronymic, indicating a familial connection to an ancestor named Kenneth.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Ragman Rolls, a collection of homage rolls from the late 13th century. In these rolls, the name appears as "MacConechi," which is likely an early spelling variation of McConnachie. This historical document provides evidence of the name's existence and its Scottish roots during this period.

The McConnachie name has been associated with various regions within Scotland, particularly the Highlands and the western coastal areas. Several place names in these regions, such as Conachie and Conachan, may have influenced the evolution of the surname's spelling over time.

In the 16th century, records show that a John McConnachie was a prominent figure in the town of Ayr, serving as a magistrate and contributing to the local community. Another notable individual bearing this surname was Alexander McConnachie, born in 1745, who fought in the American Revolutionary War as a member of the Scottish Regiment.

During the 18th and 19th centuries, several McConnachies made their mark in various fields. James McConnachie (1787-1857) was a respected physician and author, known for his work on medical jurisprudence. Robert McConnachie (1845-1923) was a Scottish engineer and inventor, recognized for his contributions to the development of early automotive technology.

Another notable figure was William McConnachie (1892-1961), a Scottish footballer who played for several clubs, including Rangers F.C. and the Scottish national team. He was part of the Rangers squad that won the Scottish Cup in 1928 and 1930.

Throughout history, the McConnachie surname has been associated with different spellings, such as MacConnachie, MacConnochie, and McConnochie, reflecting the fluidity of surname spelling in earlier times. Despite these variations, the name's Scottish heritage and connection to the Gaelic word "Coinneach" remain consistently recognized.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mcconnachie families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mcconnachie 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 2 Mcconnachies recorded in 1881 and an index of 68.73x.

County Total Index
Ayrshire 2 68.73x
Lanarkshire 1 7.96x
Warwickshire 1 10.20x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Dalmellington in Ayrshire leads with 2 Mcconnachies recorded in 1881 and an index of 2222.22x.

Place Total Index
Dalmellington 2 2222.22x
Alcester 1 3333.33x
Glasgow 1 44.84x

Top male names

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

Name Count
Robert 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 Mcconnachie households.

Occupation Count
Railway Signalman 1

FAQ

Mcconnachie surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mcconnachie surname in 1881?

In 1881, 660 people were recorded with the Mcconnachie surname. That placed it at #5,439 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mcconnachie surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,442 in 2016. That gives Mcconnachie a modern rank of #4,256.

What does the Mcconnachie surname mean?

A Scottish surname derived from the Gaelic "Mac Connachadh" meaning "son of the victor".

What does the Mcconnachie map show?

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