NameCensus.

UK surname

Mcdaid

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic "Mac Dáidhídh" meaning "son of Dáidhídh".

In the 1881 census there were 137 people recorded with the Mcdaid surname, ranking it #16,358 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,017, ranked #3,194, up from #16,358 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Inveresk, Govan Combination and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Greenock Upper Central, Paisley North West and IZ02.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mcdaid is 2,017 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 1372.3%.

1881 census count

137

Ranked #16,358

Modern count

2,017

2016, ranked #3,194

Peak year

2016

2,017 bearers

Map years

6

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mcdaid had 137 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #16,358 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,017 in 2016, ranked #3,194.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 227 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Mcdaid surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mcdaid surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mcdaid 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 90 #18,317
1861 historical 96 #21,648
1881 historical 137 #16,358
1891 historical 189 #15,547
1901 historical 227 #13,970
1911 historical 36 #29,370
1997 modern 1,619 #3,659
1998 modern 1,671 #3,688
1999 modern 1,674 #3,710
2000 modern 1,693 #3,654
2001 modern 1,668 #3,635
2002 modern 1,744 #3,575
2003 modern 1,739 #3,506
2004 modern 1,756 #3,476
2005 modern 1,768 #3,425
2006 modern 1,767 #3,430
2007 modern 1,794 #3,417
2008 modern 1,818 #3,405
2009 modern 1,855 #3,425
2010 modern 1,914 #3,397
2011 modern 1,904 #3,370
2012 modern 1,905 #3,319
2013 modern 1,987 #3,258
2014 modern 2,014 #3,245
2015 modern 2,002 #3,236
2016 modern 2,017 #3,194

Geography

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Where Mcdaids are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Inveresk, Govan Combination, Edinburgh, 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 Greenock Upper Central, Paisley North West, IZ02, Muirhouse and Paisley Central. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Inveresk Edinburgh
2 Govan Combination Lanark
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 Glasgow Lanark
5 Paisley Abbey Renfrew

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Greenock Upper Central Inverclyde
2 Paisley North West Renfrewshire
3 IZ02 West Dunbartonshire
4 Muirhouse City of Edinburgh
5 Paisley Central Renfrewshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mcdaid

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mcdaid

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

Mcdaid is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Mcdaid

The surname McDaid originates from Ireland and is derived from the Gaelic Mac Dáithidh, meaning "son of Dáithidh." Dáithidh is a personal name that is a variant of the name David, which was popular among early Irish Christians. The McDaid name is most commonly found in Ulster, particularly in the counties of Donegal and Derry.

The McDaid name can be traced back to the 16th century, with records showing it being used in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name is in 1532, when Niall McDaid, the Chief of the Clan McDaid, is mentioned.

During the Plantation of Ulster in the 17th century, many Scottish and English settlers arrived in Ireland, leading to the anglicization of many Irish surnames, including McDaid. As a result, different spellings of the name emerged, such as McDade, McDade, and McDade.

Notable individuals with the surname McDaid include Feargus McDaid (1805-1885), an Irish lawyer and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Wigan; and Seamus McDaid (1898-1987), an Irish republican and member of the Irish Republican Army during the Irish War of Independence.

In the 19th century, the McDaid name appeared in the Annals of Clonmacnoise, a 17th-century chronicle of Irish history. The name was also found in records from the parish of Clondahorky, County Donegal, where many McDaids resided.

Other notable McDaids include John McDaid (1815-1890), an Irish-American politician who served as a member of the New York State Assembly; Patrick McDaid (1820-1892), an Irish-American Catholic priest and educator; and James McDaid (1879-1952), an Irish-American labor leader and politician who served as a member of the New York State Assembly.

The McDaid name has also been associated with several place names in Ireland, such as McDaid's Cross, a townland in County Donegal, and McDaid's Bridge, a bridge over the River Foyle in Derry.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Mcdaid surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mcdaid surname in 1881?

In 1881, 137 people were recorded with the Mcdaid surname. That placed it at #16,358 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mcdaid surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,017 in 2016. That gives Mcdaid a modern rank of #3,194.

What does the Mcdaid surname mean?

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic "Mac Dáidhídh" meaning "son of Dáidhídh".

What does the Mcdaid map show?

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