NameCensus.

UK surname

Mcculloch

A Scottish surname derived from the Gaelic "Mac Cullach," meaning "son of the boar" or "son of Cullach."

In the 1881 census there were 5,650 people recorded with the Mcculloch surname, ranking it #783 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 8,733, ranked #753, up from #783 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Govan Combination, Edinburgh and Greenock. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Carrick South, Maybole and Stranraer West.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mcculloch is 8,739 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 54.6%.

1881 census count

5,650

Ranked #783

Modern count

8,733

2016, ranked #753

Peak year

2010

8,739 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mcculloch had 5,650 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #783 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 8,733 in 2016, ranked #753.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 6,944 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Mcculloch surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mcculloch surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mcculloch 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 3,682 #774
1861 historical 4,115 #677
1881 historical 5,650 #783
1891 historical 6,053 #770
1901 historical 6,944 #800
1911 historical 808 #5,438
1997 modern 8,064 #788
1998 modern 8,286 #801
1999 modern 8,396 #799
2000 modern 8,489 #785
2001 modern 8,288 #785
2002 modern 8,377 #792
2003 modern 8,152 #796
2004 modern 8,172 #795
2005 modern 8,184 #776
2006 modern 8,175 #780
2007 modern 8,338 #770
2008 modern 8,465 #764
2009 modern 8,577 #773
2010 modern 8,739 #777
2011 modern 8,583 #779
2012 modern 8,466 #773
2013 modern 8,571 #777
2014 modern 8,683 #771
2015 modern 8,664 #767
2016 modern 8,733 #753

Geography

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Where Mccullochs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Govan Combination, Edinburgh, 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 Carrick South, Maybole, Stranraer West, Newton Stewart and Rhins North. 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 Greenock Renfrew
4 Glasgow Lanark
5 Kilmarnock Ayr

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Carrick South South Ayrshire
2 Maybole South Ayrshire
3 Stranraer West Dumfries and Galloway
4 Newton Stewart Dumfries and Galloway
5 Rhins North Dumfries and Galloway

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mcculloch

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mcculloch

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Mcculloch, 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 Mcculloch surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Mcculloch 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

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Mcculloch is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Mcculloch 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

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

Meaning and origin of Mcculloch

The surname McCulloch has its origins in Scotland, tracing back to the 13th century. It is derived from the Gaelic words "mac" meaning "son" and "cuilloch" meaning "boar" or "young boar." This suggests that the name may have been a descriptive nickname for an ancestor who possessed boar-like characteristics or lived in an area populated by these animals.

The name McCulloch is closely related to the Scottish clan MacCulloch, which held lands in the counties of Wigtownshire and Kirkcudbrightshire. One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a document containing a list of Scottish nobles who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England. Among the names listed is "Patricii Makculochi."

In the 14th century, a branch of the McCulloch family settled in the parish of Plunton, near Stirling. This is evidenced by a charter from 1368 that mentions "Robert McCulloch of Plunton." The name also appears in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland in the 15th century, where a "John McCulloch" is recorded as holding lands in Wigtown.

One of the notable McCullochs in history was Sir Humphrey McCulloch (c. 1470-1536), a Scottish diplomat and clergyman who served as the Lord Privy Seal of Scotland under King James V. He played a significant role in the negotiations that led to the marriage of James V to Princess Madeleine of France.

Another prominent figure was Benjamin McCulloch (1811-1862), a Texan soldier and officer in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. He was born in Tennessee and gained fame for his military exploits, particularly his victory at the Battle of Valverde in 1862, before being killed later that year at the Battle of Pea Ridge.

In the literary world, John McCulloch (1789-1864) was a Scottish geographer, statistician, and author who published numerous works on geography, economics, and history. His most notable work was "A Descriptive and Statistical Account of the British Empire" (1824).

The name McCulloch has also been associated with several place names in Scotland, such as McCulloch's Castle in Wigtownshire and the village of McCulloch Bridge in Kirkcudbrightshire, further emphasizing the family's historical ties to the region.

While variations in spelling, such as McCullough and McCullagh, exist, the McCulloch surname has maintained a strong connection to its Scottish heritage and has been carried by individuals of note throughout history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mcculloch families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mcculloch 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 33 Mccullochs recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.59x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 33 2.59x
Ayrshire 18 22.42x
Northumberland 15 9.40x
Middlesex 11 1.03x
Yorkshire 10 0.94x
Sussex 8 4.42x
Caernarfonshire 2 4.61x
Durham 2 0.63x
Lanarkshire 2 0.58x
Pembrokeshire 2 5.87x
Surrey 2 0.38x
Devon 1 0.45x
Glamorgan 1 0.54x
Renfrewshire 1 1.20x
Suffolk 1 0.77x
Warwickshire 1 0.37x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Toxteth Park in Lancashire leads with 12 Mccullochs recorded in 1881 and an index of 27.83x.

Place Total Index
Toxteth Park 12 27.83x
Heaton Norris 9 124.14x
Worth 8 610.69x
Leeds 7 11.66x
Westgate 7 70.78x
St Giles In Fields 6 162.16x
Kirkdale 5 23.34x
Lowick 5 892.86x
Dundonald 4 135.14x
Kirkoswald 4 606.06x
Salford 4 10.68x
Girvan 3 148.51x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 3 31.45x
Ayr 2 52.77x
Barnard Castle 2 126.58x
Bettws Y Coed 2 689.66x
Hammersmith London 2 7.57x
Kingston On Thames 2 15.92x
Loudoun 2 103.63x
Sculcoates 2 11.86x
St Issells 2 277.78x
St Pancras London 2 2.32x
Beccles 1 47.62x
Birmingham 1 1.11x
Cardiff St John 1 16.39x
Chorlton On Medlock 1 4.94x
Coylton 1 87.72x
Gate Fulford 1 40.32x
Glasgow 1 1.62x
Hamilton 1 10.33x
Islington London 1 0.96x
Kilmarnock 1 10.46x
Maybole 1 40.82x
Port Glasgow 1 24.88x
Preston 1 2.94x
Tormoham 1 10.58x
West Derby 1 2.68x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 8
Sarah 6
Elizabeth 4
Ann 3
Jane 3
Ellen 2
Emma 2
Fanny 2
Margaret 2
Agnes 1
Alice 1
Annie 1
Bessie 1
Catherine 1
Coralie 1
Eliza 1
Euphenia 1
Hannah 1
Harriet 1
Isabella 1
Jessie 1
Louisa 1
Margt. 1
Martha 1
Pamelar 1
Rachael 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 6
John 6
Robert 4
George 3
William 3
David 2
Alexander 1
Douglas 1
Duncan 1
Francis 1
Frederick 1
Harrieto 1
Herbert 1
Hugh 1
Jno. 1
Latham 1
Matthew 1
Percy 1
Stanley 1
Thos. 1
Walter 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Mcculloch surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mcculloch surname in 1881?

In 1881, 5,650 people were recorded with the Mcculloch surname. That placed it at #783 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mcculloch surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 8,733 in 2016. That gives Mcculloch a modern rank of #753.

What does the Mcculloch surname mean?

A Scottish surname derived from the Gaelic "Mac Cullach," meaning "son of the boar" or "son of Cullach."

What does the Mcculloch map show?

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