NameCensus.

UK surname

Mccowan

A Scottish surname derived from the Gaelic "MacGhobhainn," meaning "son of the smith."

In the 1881 census there were 404 people recorded with the Mccowan surname, ranking it #7,919 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 387, ranked #12,170, down from #7,919 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Govan Combination, Edinburgh and Perth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Elie Colinsburgh and Largoward, Greenock East and Ross and Cromarty South West.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mccowan is 445 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 4.2%.

1881 census count

404

Ranked #7,919

Modern count

387

2016, ranked #12,170

Peak year

1901

445 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mccowan had 404 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,919 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 387 in 2016, ranked #12,170.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 445 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Mccowan surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mccowan surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mccowan 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 291 #7,827
1861 historical 311 #8,151
1881 historical 404 #7,919
1891 historical 348 #9,873
1901 historical 445 #8,782
1911 historical 95 #23,294
1997 modern 377 #11,508
1998 modern 392 #11,512
1999 modern 387 #11,722
2000 modern 402 #11,357
2001 modern 377 #11,723
2002 modern 375 #12,018
2003 modern 366 #12,010
2004 modern 386 #11,579
2005 modern 385 #11,512
2006 modern 376 #11,775
2007 modern 385 #11,698
2008 modern 381 #11,918
2009 modern 391 #11,925
2010 modern 404 #11,902
2011 modern 381 #12,300
2012 modern 373 #12,344
2013 modern 386 #12,243
2014 modern 389 #12,258
2015 modern 388 #12,188
2016 modern 387 #12,170

Geography

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Where Mccowans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Govan Combination, Edinburgh, Perth, Glasgow and Kilbrandon and Kilchattan. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Elie Colinsburgh and Largoward, Greenock East, Ross and Cromarty South West, Dunoon and Lochaber West. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Govan Combination Lanark
2 Edinburgh Edinburgh
3 Perth Perth
4 Glasgow Lanark
5 Kilbrandon and Kilchattan Argyll

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Elie Colinsburgh and Largoward Fife
2 Greenock East Inverclyde
3 Ross and Cromarty South West Highland
4 Dunoon Argyll and Bute
5 Lochaber West Highland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mccowan

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mccowan

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Mccowan, 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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Mccowan surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Mccowan household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Mccowan 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

Mccowan is most concentrated in decile 2 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Mccowan

The surname MCCOWAN is of Scottish origin and can be traced back to the late 12th century. It is derived from the Gaelic words "mac" meaning son and "cuan" meaning ocean or sea. The name likely originated in the coastal regions of Scotland, particularly in areas like Argyll and the Western Isles.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland from 1264, where a person named Gillecoan is mentioned. This is believed to be an early variant spelling of the name MCCOWAN.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in various forms such as MacCowanne and McCowane in records from the counties of Ayr and Lanark. These early spellings reflect the regional variations in pronunciation and orthography at the time.

Several notable individuals with the surname MCCOWAN have been recorded throughout history. In the 16th century, John McCowan (c. 1525 - 1585) was a Scottish cleric and historian who served as the Bishop of Galloway. He was known for his writings on the history of Scotland.

Another prominent figure was Sir Alexander McCowan (1670 - 1744), a Scottish merchant and landowner. He was a successful businessman and acquired several estates in the Highlands, including the Isle of Canna.

In the 19th century, James McCowan (1814 - 1889) was a Scottish-born Australian politician who served as a member of the Legislative Council of New South Wales. He played a significant role in the establishment of the University of Sydney.

Robert McCowan (1846 - 1920) was a Scottish-American industrialist who founded the McCowan and Company, a successful manufacturing firm in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He was also involved in various philanthropic endeavors.

More recently, Kenneth McCowan (1918 - 2004) was a Canadian actor and playwright. He is best known for his work in theater and television productions, particularly in the 1960s and 1970s.

The surname MCCOWAN has also been associated with various place names in Scotland, such as McCowan's Cairn in Argyll and the former estate of McCowan's Land in Renfrewshire. These place names further illustrate the historical presence and influence of the MCCOWAN family in different regions of Scotland.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mccowan families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mccowan 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. Sussex leads with 9 Mccowans recorded in 1881 and an index of 36.54x.

County Total Index
Sussex 9 36.54x
Lancashire 6 3.46x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hastings St Mary in Sussex leads with 9 Mccowans recorded in 1881 and an index of 1475.41x.

Place Total Index
Hastings St Mary 9 1475.41x
Everton 3 54.35x
Kirkdale 3 102.74x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Maria 2
Mary 2
Annie 1
Eleanor 1
Elizabeth 1
Grace 1
Jane 1
Jesse 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 4
John 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 Mccowan households.

FAQ

Mccowan surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mccowan surname in 1881?

In 1881, 404 people were recorded with the Mccowan surname. That placed it at #7,919 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mccowan surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 387 in 2016. That gives Mccowan a modern rank of #12,170.

What does the Mccowan surname mean?

A Scottish surname derived from the Gaelic "MacGhobhainn," meaning "son of the smith."

What does the Mccowan map show?

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