NameCensus.

UK surname

Mccusker

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic "Mac Oscair," meaning "son of Oscar" or "descendant of Oscar."

In the 1881 census there were 313 people recorded with the Mccusker surname, ranking it #9,436 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,517, ranked #4,078, up from #9,436 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bothwell, Dalziel and Govan Combination. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Glenwood South, Toryglen and Oatlands and Renfrewshire Rural South and Howwood.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mccusker is 1,517 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 384.7%.

1881 census count

313

Ranked #9,436

Modern count

1,517

2016, ranked #4,078

Peak year

2016

1,517 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mccusker had 313 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,436 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,517 in 2016, ranked #4,078.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 578 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Mccusker surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mccusker surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mccusker 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 61 #22,412
1861 historical 121 #18,148
1881 historical 313 #9,436
1891 historical 346 #9,920
1901 historical 578 #7,272
1911 historical 145 #18,255
1997 modern 1,299 #4,400
1998 modern 1,340 #4,435
1999 modern 1,373 #4,378
2000 modern 1,383 #4,332
2001 modern 1,333 #4,388
2002 modern 1,349 #4,437
2003 modern 1,306 #4,467
2004 modern 1,334 #4,399
2005 modern 1,333 #4,348
2006 modern 1,335 #4,359
2007 modern 1,369 #4,308
2008 modern 1,397 #4,267
2009 modern 1,431 #4,266
2010 modern 1,493 #4,198
2011 modern 1,447 #4,256
2012 modern 1,426 #4,241
2013 modern 1,459 #4,230
2014 modern 1,504 #4,170
2015 modern 1,504 #4,126
2016 modern 1,517 #4,078

Geography

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Where Mccuskers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bothwell, Dalziel, Govan Combination, Edinburgh and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Glenwood South, Toryglen and Oatlands, Renfrewshire Rural South and Howwood, Gorbals and Hutchesontown 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 Bothwell Lanark
2 Dalziel Lanark
3 Govan Combination Lanark
4 Edinburgh Edinburgh
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Glenwood South Glasgow City
2 Toryglen and Oatlands Glasgow City
3 Renfrewshire Rural South and Howwood Renfrewshire
4 Gorbals and Hutchesontown Glasgow City
5 Coventry 036 Coventry

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mccusker

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mccusker

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

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Mccusker 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

Mccusker 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

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

Meaning and origin of Mccusker

The surname McCusker has its origins in Ireland, with the earliest records dating back to the late 16th century. It is derived from the Gaelic Mac Oisdeir, which means "son of the hospitable one." This suggests that the name may have originated from an ancestor who was known for their hospitality and generosity.

The McCusker name was prominent in counties such as Antrim, Armagh, and Down in Ulster, Ireland. It is believed that the name may have originated in the area around Cusher, a townland in County Armagh. The earliest known spelling variation of the name was "MacCusker," which was recorded in the Fiants of the Reign of Queen Elizabeth I in the late 1500s.

One of the earliest recorded references to the McCusker name can be found in the Hearth Money Rolls of 1663-1665, which were tax records compiled during the reign of King Charles II. These rolls list several McCusker families living in various parts of Ulster.

In the 18th century, a notable figure with the McCusker surname was Patrick McCusker (1702-1783), a Catholic priest and scholar from County Armagh. He was renowned for his knowledge of Greek and Latin and served as a tutor to several prominent families in Ireland.

Another significant individual was John McCusker (1766-1836), a successful merchant and ship owner from Belfast. He played a crucial role in the city's maritime trade and was involved in the establishment of the Belfast Chamber of Commerce.

During the 19th century, James McCusker (1837-1914) was a prominent figure in the Irish nationalist movement. He was a member of the Irish Republican Brotherhood and participated in the Fenian Rising of 1867, which aimed to establish an independent Irish republic.

In the literary realm, the McCusker name is associated with Mary McCusker (1890-1963), an Irish novelist and short story writer. Her works often explored the lives of ordinary people in rural Ireland and were praised for their realism and attention to detail.

John McCusker (1940-2005) was a notable figure in the field of education. He served as the Principal of St. Mary's University College in Belfast and was instrumental in establishing the college as a leading institution for teacher training in Northern Ireland.

These are just a few examples of individuals who have carried the McCusker surname throughout history, highlighting the name's Irish roots and its presence across various fields and eras.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mccusker families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mccusker 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 12 Mccuskers recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.48x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 12 6.48x
Cumberland 2 14.89x
Essex 1 3.25x
Kent 1 1.88x

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 8 Mccuskers recorded in 1881 and an index of 127.59x.

Place Total Index
Toxteth Park 8 127.59x
Tyldesley Cum Shakerley 3 566.04x
Cleator 2 357.14x
Barrow In Furness 1 39.68x
Deptford St Paul 1 24.33x
Little Warley 1 2500.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 2
Ann 1
Catherine 1
Margaret 1
Sarah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 2
Thomas 2
Daniel 1
Dominick 1
Hugh 1
Hughy 1
John 1
Joseph 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 Mccusker households.

FAQ

Mccusker surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mccusker surname in 1881?

In 1881, 313 people were recorded with the Mccusker surname. That placed it at #9,436 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mccusker surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,517 in 2016. That gives Mccusker a modern rank of #4,078.

What does the Mccusker surname mean?

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic "Mac Oscair," meaning "son of Oscar" or "descendant of Oscar."

What does the Mccusker map show?

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