NameCensus.

UK surname

Mccrimmon

A Scottish surname derived from the Gaelic "Mac Criomhthain", meaning "son of the wren" or "son of the fox".

In the 1881 census there were 146 people recorded with the Mccrimmon surname, ranking it #15,752 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 303, ranked #14,637, up from #15,752 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bracadale, Duirnish and Govan Combination. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Barlanark, Parkhead West and Barrowfield and IZ17.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mccrimmon is 308 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 107.5%.

1881 census count

146

Ranked #15,752

Modern count

303

2016, ranked #14,637

Peak year

2010

308 bearers

Map years

6

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mccrimmon had 146 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #15,752 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 303 in 2016, ranked #14,637.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 207 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Routine Occupations or Retirement.

Mccrimmon surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mccrimmon surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mccrimmon 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 43 #25,518
1861 historical 71 #24,765
1881 historical 146 #15,752
1891 historical 181 #16,065
1901 historical 207 #14,803
1911 historical 21 #31,179
1997 modern 265 #14,692
1998 modern 275 #14,715
1999 modern 285 #14,438
2000 modern 279 #14,636
2001 modern 268 #14,812
2002 modern 260 #15,415
2003 modern 267 #14,950
2004 modern 260 #15,309
2005 modern 267 #14,954
2006 modern 278 #14,623
2007 modern 285 #14,527
2008 modern 295 #14,303
2009 modern 301 #14,386
2010 modern 308 #14,452
2011 modern 294 #14,798
2012 modern 297 #14,607
2013 modern 299 #14,780
2014 modern 302 #14,772
2015 modern 302 #14,687
2016 modern 303 #14,637

Geography

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Where Mccrimmons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bracadale, Duirnish, Govan Combination, Glenelg and Cardross. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Barlanark, Parkhead West and Barrowfield, IZ17, IZ12 and Darnley North. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Bracadale Inverness
2 Duirnish Inverness
3 Govan Combination Lanark
4 Glenelg Inverness
5 Cardross Dunbarton

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Barlanark Glasgow City
2 Parkhead West and Barrowfield Glasgow City
3 IZ17 West Dunbartonshire
4 IZ12 West Dunbartonshire
5 Darnley North Glasgow City

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mccrimmon

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mccrimmon

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

Routine Occupations or Retirement

Nationally, the Mccrimmon surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Routine Occupations or Retirement, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Mccrimmon household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

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Group profile

These neighbourhoods are characterised by high proportions of single, often never-married adults of normal retirement age or older, including many that are in the most advanced age groups. Most adults are UK born and live at high residential densities, and many of the children living with parents are in adulthood. Individuals identifying as members of ethnic minorities are uncommon, but above average proportions of households include individuals that identify with different ethnic groups. Long-term disability is relatively common, and the dominant accommodation type is flats. Unemployment rates are high, with most of those employed working in routine occupations. Few individuals have high level qualifications. Car ownership is not high.

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Mccrimmon is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, 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.

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Group profile

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

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

Mccrimmon 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

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

Meaning and origin of Mccrimmon

The surname McCrimmon is of Scottish origin, originating from the Highlands region of Scotland in the medieval period. It is believed to be derived from the Gaelic words "mac" meaning "son of" and "Crimthann," an old Celtic personal name meaning "fox" or "wild animal."

The McCrimmons were a prominent family in the clan MacLeod, and the name is closely associated with their role as hereditary pipers to the chiefs of the clan. The earliest recorded mention of the name is in the 16th century, when a piper named Iain Dubh McCrimmon is mentioned in the Book of the Dean of Lismore, an important collection of Gaelic poetry from the late 15th and early 16th centuries.

In the 17th century, the McCrimmons established a famous piping college on the island of Skye, where they taught the traditional music and skills of piping to generations of students. The college was known as the "College of Piping" or "Colaisde na Pìobaireachd" and was influential in preserving and promoting the traditional piping culture of the Highlands.

One of the most famous McCrimmons was Donald Mor McCrimmon (c. 1570-1640), who is considered one of the greatest pipers of all time and is credited with composing many iconic piobaireachd (classical bagpipe music) tunes. Another notable McCrimmon was Donald Ban McCrimmon (c. 1640-1700), who served as a piper to the chief of the MacLeods and is said to have composed several piobaireachd tunes himself.

The name McCrimmon is also associated with the Battle of Culloden in 1746, which marked the end of the Jacobite Rising and the defeat of the Highland clans. Several McCrimmons are said to have fought and died in this battle, including Patrick Mor McCrimmon, who was the last hereditary piper to the MacLeod clan.

Other notable McCrimmons throughout history include Donald Roy McCrimmon (1770-1825), a renowned piper and composer of piobaireachd, and Donald McCrimmon (1909-1964), a Canadian piper and military officer who served in World War II and was instrumental in preserving and promoting piping in Canada.

While the McCrimmon name is most closely associated with the Highland piping tradition, it has also been carried by individuals in various other fields and locations over the centuries. However, its rich heritage and significance in Scottish culture, particularly in the art of piping, remain central to the name's history and legacy.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Mccrimmon surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mccrimmon surname in 1881?

In 1881, 146 people were recorded with the Mccrimmon surname. That placed it at #15,752 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mccrimmon surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 303 in 2016. That gives Mccrimmon a modern rank of #14,637.

What does the Mccrimmon surname mean?

A Scottish surname derived from the Gaelic "Mac Criomhthain", meaning "son of the wren" or "son of the fox".

What does the Mccrimmon map show?

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