NameCensus.

UK surname

Mccrystal

A Scottish surname derived from "mac Crìosdaidh" meaning "son of Cristie" or "son of Christian".

In the 1881 census there were 37 people recorded with the Mccrystal surname, ranking it #28,418 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 349, ranked #13,189, up from #28,418 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Johnstone North West, Johnstone North East and Johnstone South West.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mccrystal is 349 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 843.2%.

1881 census count

37

Ranked #28,418

Modern count

349

2016, ranked #13,189

Peak year

2016

349 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mccrystal had 37 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #28,418 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 349 in 2016, ranked #13,189.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 61 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Mccrystal surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mccrystal surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mccrystal 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 19 #29,904
1861 historical 29 #30,287
1881 historical 37 #28,418
1891 historical 39 #31,257
1901 historical 61 #27,379
1911 historical 27 #30,437
1997 modern 272 #14,451
1998 modern 285 #14,351
1999 modern 296 #14,081
2000 modern 292 #14,165
2001 modern 295 #13,867
2002 modern 319 #13,448
2003 modern 302 #13,752
2004 modern 299 #13,904
2005 modern 286 #14,242
2006 modern 298 #13,973
2007 modern 320 #13,442
2008 modern 322 #13,487
2009 modern 324 #13,689
2010 modern 342 #13,440
2011 modern 333 #13,577
2012 modern 326 #13,691
2013 modern 336 #13,574
2014 modern 339 #13,581
2015 modern 344 #13,332
2016 modern 349 #13,189

Geography

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Where Mccrystals are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Johnstone North West, Johnstone North East, Johnstone South West, Stockton-on-Tees and Paisley North. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Johnstone North West Renfrewshire
2 Johnstone North East Renfrewshire
3 Johnstone South West Renfrewshire
4 Stockton-on-Tees 002 Stockton-on-Tees
5 Paisley North Renfrewshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mccrystal

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mccrystal

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Mccrystal surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Mccrystal household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Mccrystal 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

Mccrystal 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

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

Meaning and origin of Mccrystal

The surname McCrystal is of Scottish Gaelic origin and is believed to have originated in the late 12th or early 13th century. The name is derived from the Gaelic words "mac" meaning "son of" and "Criostail" which is a form of the name "Chrystal" or "Crystal". The root of the name is thought to be the Latin word "crystallum" meaning "crystal" or "ice".

The earliest recorded reference to the name is found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a collection of homage rolls recording those who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England during his conquest of Scotland. The name appears as "MacCrystal" in these records, indicating its early presence in Scotland.

In the 16th century, the McCrystals were concentrated in the Scottish counties of Ayrshire, Lanarkshire, and Renfrewshire. The name is also found in historical records from the Isle of Arran, where it is believed to have originated.

Notable individuals with the surname McCrystal include:

1. John McCrystal (1828-1898), an Irish-born American Catholic priest and educator who served as the first president of the University of Detroit Mercy from 1877 to 1888.

2. Andrew McCrystal (1886-1961), a Scottish professional footballer who played as a forward for several clubs, including Rangers and Aberdeen.

3. James McCrystal (1910-1993), a Scottish professional footballer who played as a defender for Celtic and the Scottish national team in the 1930s.

4. Charles McCrystal (born 1936), a Canadian lawyer and former justice of the Supreme Court of British Columbia.

5. Gerard McCrystal (born 1977), a Scottish professional golfer who has competed on the European Tour and Challenge Tour.

The name McCrystal has also been found in historical records from Ireland, particularly in Ulster, though it is believed to have originated in Scotland before spreading to other regions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mccrystal families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mccrystal 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. Northumberland leads with 4 Mccrystals recorded in 1881 and an index of 69.20x.

County Total Index
Northumberland 4 69.20x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hexham in Northumberland leads with 4 Mccrystals recorded in 1881 and an index of 4444.44x.

Place Total Index
Hexham 4 4444.44x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Ellen 2
Rose 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Michael 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 Mccrystal households.

Occupation Count
Scholar 3
Housekeeper 1

FAQ

Mccrystal surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mccrystal surname in 1881?

In 1881, 37 people were recorded with the Mccrystal surname. That placed it at #28,418 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mccrystal surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 349 in 2016. That gives Mccrystal a modern rank of #13,189.

What does the Mccrystal surname mean?

A Scottish surname derived from "mac Crìosdaidh" meaning "son of Cristie" or "son of Christian".

What does the Mccrystal map show?

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