NameCensus.

UK surname

Mccrae

A Scottish surname derived from the Gaelic "Mac Raith," meaning "son of grace" or "son of prosperity."

In the 1881 census there were 795 people recorded with the Mccrae surname, ranking it #4,682 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,237, ranked #4,827, down from #4,682 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Govan Combination, Kirkcolm and Greenock. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Rothesay Town, Ibrox and Castle Douglas.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mccrae is 1,237 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 55.6%.

1881 census count

795

Ranked #4,682

Modern count

1,237

2016, ranked #4,827

Peak year

2016

1,237 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mccrae had 795 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,682 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,237 in 2016, ranked #4,827.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,083 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Mccrae surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mccrae surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Mccrae 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 468 #5,304
1861 historical 710 #3,820
1881 historical 795 #4,682
1891 historical 928 #4,455
1901 historical 1,083 #4,464
1911 historical 123 #20,128
1997 modern 1,123 #4,984
1998 modern 1,167 #5,002
1999 modern 1,181 #5,001
2000 modern 1,190 #4,942
2001 modern 1,165 #4,939
2002 modern 1,173 #4,999
2003 modern 1,143 #5,021
2004 modern 1,125 #5,086
2005 modern 1,120 #5,067
2006 modern 1,162 #4,898
2007 modern 1,158 #4,961
2008 modern 1,168 #4,947
2009 modern 1,213 #4,896
2010 modern 1,229 #4,943
2011 modern 1,194 #5,004
2012 modern 1,191 #4,945
2013 modern 1,200 #4,980
2014 modern 1,215 #4,957
2015 modern 1,215 #4,915
2016 modern 1,237 #4,827

Geography

Back to top

Where Mccraes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Govan Combination, Kirkcolm, Greenock, Glasgow and Kilmarnock. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Rothesay Town, Ibrox, Castle Douglas, Govanhill East and Aikenhead and Stranraer East. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Govan Combination Lanark
2 Kirkcolm Wigtown
3 Greenock Renfrew
4 Glasgow Lanark
5 Kilmarnock Ayr

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Rothesay Town Argyll and Bute
2 Ibrox Glasgow City
3 Castle Douglas Dumfries and Galloway
4 Govanhill East and Aikenhead Glasgow City
5 Stranraer East Dumfries and Galloway

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Mccrae

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Mccrae

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

Legacy Communities

Group

Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities

Nationally, the Mccrae surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Mccrae household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Households in these areas often include divorced or separated parents and commonly include children and young adults. The age structure is heavily skewed towards the most advanced age groups. Individuals identifying as members of ethnic minorities are not present in large numbers. Flats predominate, with some terraced, semi-detached, and detached units. Multiple car ownership is low, and housing is predominantly in the private and social rented sectors. Employment is less skewed towards traditional routine industrial occupations. Levels of educational attainment are generally low. The Group occurs principally in the Central Lowlands of Scotland and other Scottish towns.

Wider pattern

These neighbourhoods characteristically comprise pockets of flats that are scattered across the UK, particularly in towns that retain or have legacies of heavy industry or are in more remote seaside locations. Employed residents of these neighbourhoods work mainly in low-skilled occupations. Residents typically have limited educational qualifications. Unemployment is above average. Some residents live in overcrowded housing within the social rented sector and experience long-term disability. All adult age groups are represented, although there is an overall age bias towards elderly people in general and the very old in particular. Individuals identifying as belonging to ethnic minorities or Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups are uncommon.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Mccrae 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

Mccrae 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

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

Meaning and origin of Mccrae

The surname McCrae is of Scottish origin, originating from the Gaelic name MacRath or MacCraith, which means "son of Grace" or "son of Wrath". It is believed to have first appeared in the Scottish Highlands during the 12th or 13th century.

The name McCrae can be traced back to the ancient Scottish clan system, where clans were organized around a common ancestor. The MacRath or MacCraith clan was likely centered in the western Highlands, particularly in the regions of Argyll and the Isles.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name McCrae can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a collection of homage letters written to King Edward I of England. In these rolls, a "Gillemichel M'Crath" from the county of Dunbarton is mentioned, indicating the presence of the name in Scotland during the late 13th century.

Over time, the spelling of the name evolved, with variations such as McCrae, McCray, and McCrea emerging. These variations were likely influenced by local dialects and the interpretation of the name by record-keepers.

Notable individuals with the surname McCrae include Sir Thomas McCrae (1870-1935), a Canadian physician and professor of medicine at Johns Hopkins University, and John McCrae (1872-1918), a Canadian poet and physician who wrote the famous poem "In Flanders Fields" during World War I.

Another prominent figure was Robert McCrae (1808-1887), a Scottish-born Australian explorer and pastoralist who played a significant role in the early settlement of Victoria, Australia. Additionally, George Gordon McCrae (1833-1927), a Scottish-born Australian author and pioneer, is remembered for his literary works depicting life in early colonial Victoria.

In the United States, one of the earliest recorded instances of the name McCrae is found in the records of James McCrae, who was born in Scotland in 1687 and later emigrated to Pennsylvania in the early 18th century.

While the origins of the surname McCrae can be traced back to Scotland, its bearers have made significant contributions across various fields throughout history, including medicine, literature, exploration, and more, leaving an indelible mark on the cultural and historical landscapes of several nations.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Mccrae families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mccrae 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 6 Mccraes recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.99x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 6 3.99x
Ayrshire 2 21.07x
Middlesex 2 1.58x
Kent 1 2.31x
Renfrewshire 1 10.17x
Surrey 1 1.62x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. West Derby in Lancashire leads with 5 Mccraes recorded in 1881 and an index of 113.64x.

Place Total Index
West Derby 5 113.64x
Girvan 2 833.33x
Islington London 2 16.27x
Dorking 1 243.90x
Paisley Middle Church 1 175.44x
Toxteth Park 1 19.65x
Walmer 1 526.32x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Agnes 1
Caroline 1
Catherine 1
Ellen 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Peter 2
Chas.J. 1
Jas.D. 1
Thomas 1
William 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 Mccrae households.

FAQ

Mccrae surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mccrae surname in 1881?

In 1881, 795 people were recorded with the Mccrae surname. That placed it at #4,682 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mccrae surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,237 in 2016. That gives Mccrae a modern rank of #4,827.

What does the Mccrae surname mean?

A Scottish surname derived from the Gaelic "Mac Raith," meaning "son of grace" or "son of prosperity."

What does the Mccrae map show?

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