NameCensus.

UK surname

Mccune

A Scottish surname derived from the Gaelic "Mac Eoghain," meaning "son of Eoghain" (a personal name of unknown meaning).

In the 1881 census there were 85 people recorded with the Mccune surname, ranking it #21,573 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 270, ranked #15,913, up from #21,573 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Kirkby Thore, Toxteth Park and Glasgow. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Allerdale, East Riding of Yorkshire and Kettering.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mccune is 271 in 2015. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 217.6%.

1881 census count

85

Ranked #21,573

Modern count

270

2016, ranked #15,913

Peak year

2015

271 bearers

Map years

6

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mccune had 85 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #21,573 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 270 in 2016, ranked #15,913.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 124 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Mccune surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mccune surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mccune 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 101 #17,036
1861 historical 50 #27,636
1881 historical 85 #21,573
1891 historical 112 #22,291
1901 historical 124 #20,163
1911 historical 85 #24,322
1997 modern 230 #16,109
1998 modern 251 #15,631
1999 modern 247 #15,932
2000 modern 246 #15,914
2001 modern 247 #15,637
2002 modern 252 #15,714
2003 modern 249 #15,653
2004 modern 244 #15,948
2005 modern 236 #16,286
2006 modern 238 #16,288
2007 modern 243 #16,243
2008 modern 243 #16,397
2009 modern 252 #16,323
2010 modern 266 #16,067
2011 modern 262 #16,098
2012 modern 261 #16,041
2013 modern 262 #16,273
2014 modern 262 #16,380
2015 modern 271 #15,881
2016 modern 270 #15,913

Geography

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Where Mccunes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Kirkby Thore, Toxteth Park, Glasgow, Sculcoates and Ulverstone. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Allerdale, East Riding of Yorkshire, Kettering and Renfrewshire Rural South and Howwood. 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 Kirkby Thore Westmorland
2 Toxteth Park Lancashire
3 Glasgow Lanark
4 Sculcoates Yorkshire, East Riding
5 Ulverstone Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Allerdale 003 Allerdale
2 East Riding of Yorkshire 039 East Riding of Yorkshire
3 Kettering 004 Kettering
4 Renfrewshire Rural South and Howwood Renfrewshire
5 East Riding of Yorkshire 013 East Riding of Yorkshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mccune

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mccune

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Mccune surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Mccune household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Mccune 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

Mccune is most concentrated in decile 2 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Mccune falls in decile 4 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Mccune 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 - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Mccune, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Mccune

The surname McCune has its origins in Scotland, with records dating back to the 12th century. The name is derived from the Gaelic Mac Cuinn, meaning "son of Conn." Conn was a personal name that held significance in ancient Irish and Scottish history, often associated with kings and warriors.

The earliest recorded instances of the McCune surname can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a collection of homage rolls submitted to King Edward I of England. These rolls documented Scottish landowners and prominent individuals who swore allegiance to the English king during the Wars of Scottish Independence.

During the Middle Ages, the McCune family was predominantly concentrated in the regions of Ayrshire and Renfrewshire, located in the western central lowlands of Scotland. The name is closely linked to the historic parish of Kilwinning in Ayrshire, where a branch of the McCune clan is believed to have originated.

In the 16th century, a notable figure bearing the McCune surname was Robert McCune, a Scottish clergyman who served as the Bishop of Raphoe in Ireland from 1571 to 1589. Another prominent individual was John McCune, a Scottish Presbyterian minister who lived in the late 17th century and was known for his role in the Covenanters' struggle for religious freedom.

In the 18th century, the McCune name gained recognition through individuals like Archibald McCune, a Scottish merchant and landowner who lived from 1707 to 1785. He was known for his extensive business ventures and acquisition of significant landholdings in the Ayrshire region.

As the McCune family spread throughout the centuries, various spelling variations emerged, including McCoon, McCoune, and McQuin. These variations were often influenced by regional dialects and the phonetic interpretation of the name by scribes and record-keepers.

One notable figure from the 19th century was John McCune Smith, an African-American physician, abolitionist, and educator who lived from 1823 to 1863. He played a crucial role in advocating for the rights of African Americans and was the first African American to hold a medical degree and obtain a professorship at a university in the United States.

Another significant individual with the McCune surname was George McCune, an American Presbyterian missionary who lived from 1808 to 1835. He was one of the first American missionaries to establish a Christian presence in Siam (now Thailand) and made significant contributions to the translation of religious texts into the Thai language.

The McCune surname has a rich history rooted in Scotland, with connections to influential figures spanning various fields, including religion, commerce, and social activism. While the name's origins can be traced back to the 12th century, its legacy continues to endure across generations and geographical boundaries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mccune families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mccune 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. Kent leads with 3 Mccunes recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.27x.

County Total Index
Kent 3 11.27x
Yorkshire 3 3.88x
Flintshire 1 47.62x
Westmorland 1 58.48x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Lewisham in Kent leads with 3 Mccunes recorded in 1881 and an index of 211.27x.

Place Total Index
Lewisham 3 211.27x
Great Driffield 2 1250.00x
Flint 1 833.33x
Ormesby 1 476.19x
Ormside 1 10000.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Emma 1
Hannah 1
Jane 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 2
Robert 1
Tom 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 Mccune households.

FAQ

Mccune surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mccune surname in 1881?

In 1881, 85 people were recorded with the Mccune surname. That placed it at #21,573 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mccune surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 270 in 2016. That gives Mccune a modern rank of #15,913.

What does the Mccune surname mean?

A Scottish surname derived from the Gaelic "Mac Eoghain," meaning "son of Eoghain" (a personal name of unknown meaning).

What does the Mccune map show?

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