NameCensus.

UK surname

Mccurdy

A surname of Scottish and Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic "Mac Mhuircheartaigh," meaning "son of Mhuircheartach" (sea-ruler).

In the 1881 census there were 191 people recorded with the Mccurdy surname, ranking it #13,224 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 600, ranked #8,721, up from #13,224 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Glossop, Toxteth Park and Cardross. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cumnock South and Craigens, Lower Bow and Larkfield, Fancy Farm, Mallard Bowl and Dacorum.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mccurdy is 620 in 2013. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 214.1%.

1881 census count

191

Ranked #13,224

Modern count

600

2016, ranked #8,721

Peak year

2013

620 bearers

Map years

7

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mccurdy had 191 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,224 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 600 in 2016, ranked #8,721.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 200 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Mccurdy surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mccurdy surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mccurdy 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 102 #16,933
1861 historical 85 #22,922
1881 historical 191 #13,224
1891 historical 151 #18,242
1901 historical 200 #15,120
1911 historical 91 #23,684
1997 modern 497 #9,340
1998 modern 504 #9,531
1999 modern 525 #9,307
2000 modern 515 #9,408
2001 modern 505 #9,404
2002 modern 536 #9,163
2003 modern 533 #9,050
2004 modern 543 #8,949
2005 modern 554 #8,745
2006 modern 568 #8,626
2007 modern 572 #8,657
2008 modern 571 #8,720
2009 modern 592 #8,681
2010 modern 598 #8,802
2011 modern 611 #8,558
2012 modern 606 #8,541
2013 modern 620 #8,515
2014 modern 607 #8,721
2015 modern 605 #8,678
2016 modern 600 #8,721

Geography

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Where Mccurdys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Glossop, Toxteth Park, Cardross, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry and Greenock. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cumnock South and Craigens, Lower Bow and Larkfield, Fancy Farm, Mallard Bowl, Dacorum, Stranraer West and Stranraer South. 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 Glossop Derbyshire
2 Toxteth Park Lancashire
3 Cardross Dunbarton
4 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar
5 Greenock Renfrew

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cumnock South and Craigens East Ayrshire
2 Lower Bow and Larkfield, Fancy Farm, Mallard Bowl Inverclyde
3 Dacorum 001 Dacorum
4 Stranraer West Dumfries and Galloway
5 Stranraer South Dumfries and Galloway

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mccurdy

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mccurdy

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Mccurdy, 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 Mccurdy surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Mccurdy 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, Mccurdy 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

Mccurdy 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

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

Meaning and origin of Mccurdy

The surname McCurdy is of Scottish origin, with its roots traced back to the medieval period in the Scottish Highlands. It is derived from the Gaelic personal name "Curaidh," meaning "champion" or "brave warrior." This name was commonly bestowed upon individuals who exhibited exceptional courage and prowess in battle.

The earliest recorded instances of the McCurdy surname can be found in the ancient charters and records of Scotland from the 13th century onwards. One notable early bearer of this name was Gilchrist McCurdy, a prominent Scottish landowner and chieftain who lived in the 14th century and was mentioned in the Ragman Rolls of 1296.

The McCurdy name has been associated with several notable figures throughout history. One such individual was Sir John McCurdy (1550-1628), a Scottish soldier and diplomat who served as Ambassador to the Court of France during the reign of King James VI of Scotland.

Another significant bearer of the McCurdy surname was Robert McCurdy (1742-1814), an Irish-born merchant and politician who played a pivotal role in the establishment of the United States Merchant Marine and served as a member of the Pennsylvania State Legislature.

In the realm of literature, the McCurdy name is represented by the renowned Canadian author and poet, Lori McCurdy (born 1958), whose works have garnered critical acclaim and numerous literary awards.

The McCurdy surname has also been associated with several place names in Scotland, such as McCurdy's Hill in Dumfries and Galloway, and McCurdy's Loch in the Scottish Highlands. These place names serve as a testament to the historical presence and influence of the McCurdy clan in various regions of Scotland.

One notable figure from more recent times is Gordon McCurdy (1907-1993), a Canadian aviator and entrepreneur who played a pioneering role in the development of commercial aviation in Canada. He founded the company that later became Canadian Airlines International.

Throughout its history, the McCurdy surname has been closely tied to the rich cultural heritage of Scotland, with its bearers contributing to various aspects of society, from warfare and diplomacy to literature and aviation. The name continues to be carried proudly by individuals of Scottish descent around the world, serving as a reminder of their ancestral roots and the valor of their forebears.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mccurdy families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mccurdy 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 2 Mccurdys recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.34x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 2 4.34x
Cumberland 1 29.85x
Northumberland 1 17.30x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. West Derby in Lancashire leads with 2 Mccurdys recorded in 1881 and an index of 148.15x.

Place Total Index
West Derby 2 148.15x
Beckermet St Bridget 1 10000.00x
Newcastle On Tyne St 1 333.33x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Christina 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Alexander 1
Robert 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 Mccurdy households.

FAQ

Mccurdy surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mccurdy surname in 1881?

In 1881, 191 people were recorded with the Mccurdy surname. That placed it at #13,224 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mccurdy surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 600 in 2016. That gives Mccurdy a modern rank of #8,721.

What does the Mccurdy surname mean?

A surname of Scottish and Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic "Mac Mhuircheartaigh," meaning "son of Mhuircheartach" (sea-ruler).

What does the Mccurdy map show?

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