NameCensus.

UK surname

Mccullagh

Of Irish origin, a habitational surname referring to one from Cooley in County Louth.

In the 1881 census there were 143 people recorded with the Mccullagh surname, ranking it #15,955 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,255, ranked #4,763, up from #15,955 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bebbington, Darlington and Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Port Glasgow Upper, West and Central, Port Glasgow Mid, East and Central and Doncaster.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mccullagh is 1,284 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 777.6%.

1881 census count

143

Ranked #15,955

Modern count

1,255

2016, ranked #4,763

Peak year

2010

1,284 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mccullagh had 143 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #15,955 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,255 in 2016, ranked #4,763.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 293 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Mccullagh surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mccullagh surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mccullagh 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 70 #21,020
1861 historical 85 #22,922
1881 historical 143 #15,955
1891 historical 165 #17,143
1901 historical 254 #13,005
1911 historical 293 #11,650
1997 modern 1,133 #4,945
1998 modern 1,175 #4,965
1999 modern 1,216 #4,865
2000 modern 1,215 #4,842
2001 modern 1,186 #4,848
2002 modern 1,209 #4,872
2003 modern 1,144 #5,014
2004 modern 1,175 #4,899
2005 modern 1,185 #4,818
2006 modern 1,201 #4,768
2007 modern 1,215 #4,760
2008 modern 1,242 #4,711
2009 modern 1,240 #4,812
2010 modern 1,284 #4,749
2011 modern 1,270 #4,749
2012 modern 1,249 #4,749
2013 modern 1,244 #4,838
2014 modern 1,264 #4,805
2015 modern 1,255 #4,785
2016 modern 1,255 #4,763

Geography

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Where Mccullaghs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bebbington, Darlington, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, Gateshead and Nottingham St Mary. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Port Glasgow Upper, West and Central, Port Glasgow Mid, East and Central, Doncaster, Wycombe and Coventry. 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 Bebbington Cheshire
2 Darlington Durham
3 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
4 Gateshead Durham
5 Nottingham St Mary Nottinghamshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Port Glasgow Upper, West and Central Inverclyde
2 Port Glasgow Mid, East and Central Inverclyde
3 Doncaster 037 Doncaster
4 Wycombe 001 Wycombe
5 Coventry 004 Coventry

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mccullagh

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mccullagh

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Mccullagh, 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 Mccullagh surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Mccullagh 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, Mccullagh 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

Mccullagh is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Mccullagh

The surname McCullagh is a Scottish surname that originated in the 16th century. It is derived from the Gaelic words "mac" meaning "son" and "Cuileag" meaning "fly". The name is thought to have originated in the areas of Argyll and the Hebrides, where it was first recorded.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name is in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which lists several McCullagh men who swore fealty to King Edward I of England. This suggests that the name was well-established by the late 13th century.

In the 16th century, the McCullagh clan was known to have held lands in the Isle of Islay and the surrounding Hebridean islands. The name is also found in records from this period in the areas of Kintyre and Knapdale in Argyll.

One notable McCullagh from the 17th century was Angus McCullagh, a Scottish soldier who fought for the Royalist cause during the English Civil War. He was killed at the Battle of Marston Moor in 1644.

In the 18th century, the name spread to other parts of Scotland and Ireland, likely due to the Highland Clearances and the displacement of many Scottish families.

Another historical figure with the surname was Archibald McCullagh, a Scottish writer and poet who lived from 1770 to 1835. He is known for his works celebrating Scottish culture and traditions.

In the 19th century, the McCullagh name can be found in various records and documents from both Scotland and Ireland, including the birth and marriage records of several individuals.

One prominent McCullagh from this period was Sir James McCullagh, an Irish businessman and politician who lived from 1835 to 1907. He served as a Member of Parliament for the constituency of Londonderry.

Throughout its history, the surname McCullagh has maintained a strong presence in Scotland and Ireland, and it continues to be a recognizable name in these regions today.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mccullagh families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mccullagh 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. Yorkshire leads with 4 Mccullaghs recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.91x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 4 6.91x
Lancashire 1 1.44x
Surrey 1 3.51x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Eston in Yorkshire leads with 3 Mccullaghs recorded in 1881 and an index of 2307.69x.

Place Total Index
Eston 3 2307.69x
Clapham 1 136.99x
Liverpool 1 23.75x
Normanby In 1 666.67x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Grace 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
A. 1
Jamess 1
John 1
Mich. 1
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 Mccullagh households.

FAQ

Mccullagh surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mccullagh surname in 1881?

In 1881, 143 people were recorded with the Mccullagh surname. That placed it at #15,955 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mccullagh surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,255 in 2016. That gives Mccullagh a modern rank of #4,763.

What does the Mccullagh surname mean?

Of Irish origin, a habitational surname referring to one from Cooley in County Louth.

What does the Mccullagh map show?

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