UK surname
A Scottish surname meaning "son of the Dermott", derived from the Irish name Diarmaid.
In the 1881 census there were 163 people recorded with the Mcdermaid surname, ranking it #14,689 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 76, ranked #33,304, down from #14,689 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Duirnish, Govan Combination and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mcdermaid is 163 in 1881. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 53.4%.
1881 census count
163
Ranked #14,689
Modern count
76
2016, ranked #33,304
Peak year
1881
163 bearers
Map years
5
1851 to 1901
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Mcdermaid surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Mcdermaid surname density by area, 1881 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 130 | #14,314 |
| 1861 | historical | 158 | #14,644 |
| 1881 | historical | 163 | #14,689 |
| 1891 | historical | 124 | #20,818 |
| 1901 | historical | 135 | #19,203 |
| 1911 | historical | 22 | #31,030 |
| 1997 | modern | 82 | #29,325 |
| 1998 | modern | 80 | #29,966 |
| 1999 | modern | 87 | #29,398 |
| 2000 | modern | 88 | #29,284 |
| 2001 | modern | 89 | #28,932 |
| 2002 | modern | 91 | #29,181 |
| 2003 | modern | 87 | #29,615 |
| 2004 | modern | 88 | #29,758 |
| 2005 | modern | 77 | #31,156 |
| 2006 | modern | 80 | #31,149 |
| 2007 | modern | 81 | #31,408 |
| 2008 | modern | 81 | #31,713 |
| 2009 | modern | 81 | #32,172 |
| 2010 | modern | 84 | #32,289 |
| 2011 | modern | 85 | #32,127 |
| 2012 | modern | 72 | #33,502 |
| 2013 | modern | 79 | #33,142 |
| 2014 | modern | 78 | #33,270 |
| 2015 | modern | 76 | #33,351 |
| 2016 | modern | 76 | #33,304 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Duirnish, Govan Combination, Edinburgh, Bonhill and Killarow and Kilmeny. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Duirnish | Inverness |
| 2 | Govan Combination | Lanark |
| 3 | Edinburgh | Edinburgh |
| 4 | Bonhill | Dunbarton |
| 5 | Killarow and Kilmeny | Argyll |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Mcdermaid surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Mcdermaid, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Mcdermaid surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Mcdermaid household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Mcdermaid is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Mcdermaid is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Mcdermaid, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname MCDERMAID is of Scottish origin, derived from the Gaelic "Mac Dhiarmaid," meaning "son of Dermaid." Dermaid is a personal name that means "without enemy" or "free from envy." The name can be traced back to the 12th century in the Scottish Highlands.
The earliest recorded instance of the name MCDERMAID appears in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a record of Scottish nobles who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England. The name is listed as "Gillecrist McDermyd" from the county of Inverness.
In the 15th century, the MCDERMAID clan was prominent in the region of Argyll, with connections to the powerful Campbell clan. The name is found in the Black Book of Taymouth, a manuscript dating back to 1407, which records the genealogies of Highland clans.
One notable figure in the MCDERMAID history is Angus MCDERMAID (1499-1563), a Scottish chieftain and warrior who fought alongside the Campbells in the Battle of Pinkie Cleugh against the English in 1547. He is mentioned in the Chronicles of the Campbells, a historical account of the clan's exploits.
Another significant individual was Alasdair MCDERMAID (1678-1741), a poet and bard from Lochaber. His works, which were written in Scottish Gaelic, were widely celebrated and preserved in the Book of the Dean of Lismore, a 16th-century manuscript containing poetry from prominent Gaelic bards.
In the 18th century, the name MCDERMAID is associated with the Jacobite Uprisings, with several members of the clan fighting for the Stuart cause. One such figure was Duncan MCDERMAID (1712-1785), who participated in the Battle of Culloden in 1746 and later sought refuge in France after the defeat of the Jacobites.
The name is also found in the records of the Highland Clearances, a period of forced evictions of Scottish Highlanders from their ancestral lands in the late 18th and 19th centuries. John MCDERMAID (1789-1862) is recorded as being among those evicted from the Breadalbane estate in Argyll in the 1820s.
Throughout history, the MCDERMAID name has been associated with various place names, such as Dalmally, Glencoe, and Inveraray, all located in the Scottish Highlands. The name has also been spelled in various ways, including McDermid, McDermott, and McDermaid, reflecting regional variations and linguistic shifts over time.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mcdermaid surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Surrey leads with 3 Mcdermaids recorded in 1881 and an index of 21.08x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Surrey | 3 | 21.08x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Croydon in Surrey leads with 3 Mcdermaids recorded in 1881 and an index of 379.75x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Croydon | 3 | 379.75x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Mcdermaid surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Mcdermaid surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Neil | 1 |
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 Mcdermaid households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Marine Engineers Wife | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 163 people were recorded with the Mcdermaid surname. That placed it at #14,689 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 76 in 2016. That gives Mcdermaid a modern rank of #33,304.
A Scottish surname meaning "son of the Dermott", derived from the Irish name Diarmaid.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Mcdermaid bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.