NameCensus.

UK surname

Mcdade

A surname of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic "Mac Daibhéid," meaning "son of David."

In the 1881 census there were 854 people recorded with the Mcdade surname, ranking it #4,427 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,283, ranked #2,843, up from #4,427 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Blantyre, Govan Combination and Greenock. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Port Glasgow Upper East, Bow Farm, Barrs Cottage, Cowdenknowes and Overton and Port Glasgow Mid, East and Central.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mcdade is 2,313 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 167.3%.

1881 census count

854

Ranked #4,427

Modern count

2,283

2016, ranked #2,843

Peak year

2014

2,313 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mcdade had 854 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,427 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,283 in 2016, ranked #2,843.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,114 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Mcdade surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mcdade surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mcdade 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 287 #7,909
1861 historical 509 #5,134
1881 historical 854 #4,427
1891 historical 986 #4,192
1901 historical 1,114 #4,341
1911 historical 156 #17,421
1997 modern 2,027 #3,027
1998 modern 2,075 #3,069
1999 modern 2,119 #3,039
2000 modern 2,101 #3,041
2001 modern 2,070 #3,018
2002 modern 2,138 #2,996
2003 modern 2,065 #3,035
2004 modern 2,081 #3,015
2005 modern 2,113 #2,934
2006 modern 2,126 #2,919
2007 modern 2,172 #2,888
2008 modern 2,198 #2,887
2009 modern 2,222 #2,925
2010 modern 2,276 #2,923
2011 modern 2,271 #2,891
2012 modern 2,253 #2,858
2013 modern 2,292 #2,866
2014 modern 2,313 #2,853
2015 modern 2,307 #2,830
2016 modern 2,283 #2,843

Geography

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Where Mcdades are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Blantyre, Govan Combination, Greenock, Glasgow and Paisley Abbey. 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 East, Bow Farm, Barrs Cottage, Cowdenknowes and Overton, Port Glasgow Mid, East and Central, Airdrie North and Greenock Town Centre and East Central. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Blantyre Lanark
2 Govan Combination Lanark
3 Greenock Renfrew
4 Glasgow Lanark
5 Paisley Abbey Renfrew

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Port Glasgow Upper East Inverclyde
2 Bow Farm, Barrs Cottage, Cowdenknowes and Overton Inverclyde
3 Port Glasgow Mid, East and Central Inverclyde
4 Airdrie North North Lanarkshire
5 Greenock Town Centre and East Central Inverclyde

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mcdade

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mcdade

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

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Mcdade 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

Mcdade 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

Mcdade 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 Mcdade 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 - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Mcdade

The surname McDade has its origins in Ireland, dating back to the Middle Ages. It is a variant of the Gaelic name Mac Dháibhídh, which means "son of David." The name likely originated in County Antrim, Northern Ireland, where many early bearers of the name were based.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history. In the year 1375, the annals mention a man named Donnchadh Mac Dháibhídh, who was a chieftain of the Clann Dhàibhídh sept (a branch of a larger Irish clan).

The McDade surname has also been associated with various place names in Ireland, such as Ballymadade and Ballynadade, which may have derived from the Irish "Baile Mac Dháibhídh," meaning "the town of the sons of David."

In the 16th century, the McDade family had established a strong presence in County Antrim, particularly in the baronies of Glenarm and Carey. One notable figure from this period was Sir Hugh McDade (c. 1550-1620), who served as a member of the Irish Parliament and was involved in the Ulster Plantation.

During the 17th century, many McDades were among the Irish immigrants who fled to the American colonies, seeking refuge from the religious and political turmoil in their homeland. One of the earliest recorded McDades in America was John McDade, who settled in Philadelphia in the late 1600s.

Other notable individuals with the McDade surname include:

1. James McDade (1824-1906), an Irish-American politician who served as a U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania. 2. Thomas McDade (1835-1915), an Irish-born American businessman and philanthropist, known for establishing the McDade Institute in Scranton, Pennsylvania. 3. Eugene McDade (1907-1976), an American actor and screenwriter, best known for his work on the television series "The Untouchables." 4. Alice McDade (1919-2003), an American actress and dancer, who appeared in several Broadway musicals and films. 5. Joseph McDade (1931-2017), an American politician who served as a U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania for over three decades.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mcdade families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mcdade 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. Durham leads with 6 Mcdades recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.81x.

County Total Index
Durham 6 13.81x
Essex 6 20.81x
Cornwall 3 18.14x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. East Ham in Essex leads with 6 Mcdades recorded in 1881 and an index of 1111.11x.

Place Total Index
East Ham 6 1111.11x
Antony 3 1875.00x
Heworth 2 232.56x
Seaham 2 1250.00x
Throston 2 2500.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Eliza 2
Mary 2
Alice 1
Catherine 1
Elizabeth 1
Margt. 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 2
Samuel 2
A.M. 1
Edmund 1
Thomas 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 Mcdade households.

FAQ

Mcdade surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mcdade surname in 1881?

In 1881, 854 people were recorded with the Mcdade surname. That placed it at #4,427 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mcdade surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,283 in 2016. That gives Mcdade a modern rank of #2,843.

What does the Mcdade surname mean?

A surname of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic "Mac Daibhéid," meaning "son of David."

What does the Mcdade map show?

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