NameCensus.

UK surname

Mcdermot

An anglicized form of the Scottish Gaelic surname Mac Diarmaid meaning "son of the freeman".

In the 1881 census there were 880 people recorded with the Mcdermot surname, ranking it #4,309 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 134, ranked #25,636, down from #4,309 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wolverhampton, Edinburgh and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Manchester, Milton Keynes and Camden.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mcdermot is 880 in 1881. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 84.8%.

1881 census count

880

Ranked #4,309

Modern count

134

2016, ranked #25,636

Peak year

1881

880 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mcdermot had 880 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,309 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 134 in 2016, ranked #25,636.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 880 in 1881.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Mcdermot surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mcdermot surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mcdermot 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 655 #3,970
1861 historical 602 #4,399
1881 historical 880 #4,309
1891 historical 503 #7,395
1901 historical 411 #9,300
1911 historical 165 #16,808
1997 modern 121 #24,019
1998 modern 118 #25,041
1999 modern 124 #24,508
2000 modern 126 #24,220
2001 modern 122 #24,366
2002 modern 124 #24,616
2003 modern 112 #25,948
2004 modern 113 #25,999
2005 modern 102 #27,689
2006 modern 117 #25,695
2007 modern 128 #24,632
2008 modern 132 #24,476
2009 modern 142 #23,791
2010 modern 139 #24,688
2011 modern 139 #24,507
2012 modern 137 #24,731
2013 modern 146 #24,107
2014 modern 142 #24,734
2015 modern 133 #25,729
2016 modern 134 #25,636

Geography

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Where Mcdermots are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wolverhampton, Edinburgh, Manchester, Liverpool and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Manchester, Milton Keynes, Camden, Barnet and Hertsmere. 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 Wolverhampton Staffordshire
2 Edinburgh Edinburgh
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 Liverpool Lancashire
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Manchester 042 Manchester
2 Milton Keynes 008 Milton Keynes
3 Camden 006 Camden
4 Barnet 004 Barnet
5 Hertsmere 005 Hertsmere

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mcdermot

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mcdermot

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Mcdermot, 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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Mcdermot surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Mcdermot household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Mcdermot is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Mcdermot 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

Mcdermot 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 Mcdermot is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Mcdermot

The surname McDermot is of Irish origin, originating in the early medieval period. It is an anglicized version of the Irish Gaelic name Mac Diarmada, which means "son of Diarmaid". Diarmaid is an ancient Irish personal name derived from the Old Irish words "diar" meaning "without" and "mada" meaning "wealth".

McDermot is a variant spelling of the more common Irish surnames McDermott or MacDermot. The name is found primarily in counties Roscommon, Sligo, and Mayo in the province of Connacht. The McDermots were a prominent family and chiefs of the Moylurg territory in County Roscommon.

One of the earliest recorded references to the name is in the Annals of the Four Masters, a 17th-century chronicle of medieval Irish history. The annals mention Muircheartach Mac Diarmada, who was the chief of Moylurg in the 12th century.

Another notable bearer of the name was Domhnall Mac Diarmada, who was the abbot of the monastery at Boyle, County Roscommon in the late 15th century. The name is also found in the Pipe Rolls of Cloyne, a record of landholders in County Cork from the 14th century.

In the 16th century, Rory Mac Diarmada was a prominent member of the McDermot clan and is mentioned in the Book of Howth, a manuscript detailing the history of the McDermot family.

Other notable individuals with the surname McDermot include:

1. Hugh McDermot (c. 1590-1644), an Irish Catholic priest and philosopher. 2. Martin McDermott (1823-1905), an Irish-born American Civil War general. 3. Grace McDermot (1890-1957), an American actress and vaudeville performer. 4. John McDermott (1891-1971), an Irish-born American politician and lawyer. 5. Terry McDermott (born 1951), an English singer and member of the band Frankie Goes to Hollywood.

The McDermot surname has been recorded with various spellings over the centuries, including McDermott, MacDermot, McDermid, and McDermitt, reflecting the regional variations in the pronunciation and spelling of the name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mcdermot families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mcdermot 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 71 Mcdermots recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.45x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 71 3.45x
Yorkshire 26 1.51x
Cheshire 15 3.91x
Buckinghamshire 14 13.34x
Surrey 11 1.30x
Staffordshire 9 1.54x
Midlothian 7 3.01x
Derbyshire 6 2.21x
Ayrshire 4 3.08x
Cumberland 4 2.68x
Middlesex 4 0.23x
Northumberland 2 0.77x
Channel Islands 1 1.94x
Denbighshire 1 1.52x
Hampshire 1 0.28x
Renfrewshire 1 0.74x
Warwickshire 1 0.23x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Wycombe in Buckinghamshire leads with 13 Mcdermots recorded in 1881 and an index of 166.24x.

Place Total Index
Wycombe 13 166.24x
Barton Upon Irwell 12 77.37x
Liverpool 12 9.59x
Leeds 11 11.32x
Lambeth 9 5.94x
Altrincham 8 119.40x
Hulme 8 18.60x
Newton Upon Ouse 8 2285.71x
Chester St Oswald 7 100.86x
Habergham Eaves 7 37.17x
Toxteth Park 7 10.03x
Chesterfield 6 58.88x
Kirkdale 6 17.31x
Kirknewton 5 746.27x
Dalmellington 4 104.71x
Manchester 4 4.32x
Wolstanton Chesterton 4 133.33x
Blackburn 3 5.47x
Newcastle Under Lyme 3 28.93x
Preston 3 5.44x
Burnley 2 11.53x
Caldewgate 2 24.42x
Cheetham 2 13.01x
Elswick 2 9.70x
Harrington 2 111.11x
Poplar London 2 6.10x
Rotherhithe 2 9.32x
Upperthong 2 136.99x
Wakefield 2 15.14x
Bradford 1 2.40x
Doncaster 1 7.96x
Edgbaston 1 7.36x
Edinburgh Greenside 1 32.57x
Eton 1 42.02x
Little Bolton 1 3.78x
Middleton In Oldham 1 16.18x
North Meols 1 4.96x
Ormskirk 1 25.38x
Portsea 1 1.43x
South Leith 1 3.82x
St George Hanover 1 4.41x
St Helier 1 5.97x
St Luke London 1 3.59x
West Derby 1 1.66x
West Greenock 1 4.14x
Wolstanton 1 5.62x
Wolverhampton 1 2.22x
Wrexham Abbot 1 60.61x
York Minster Yard W 1 250.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 22
Bridget 8
Catherine 7
Elizabeth 6
Margaret 5
Sarah 5
Ann 4
Kate 4
Jane 3
Annie 2
Ellen 2
Helen 2
Rose 2
Theresa 2
Ada 1
Agnes 1
Alice 1
Andrew 1
Eleanor 1
Isabella 1
Julia 1
M.Jane 1
Margret 1
Maria 1
Pamela 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 12
William 7
Edward 6
James 6
Michael 6
Patrick 5
Thomas 4
Luke 3
Alfred 2
Frank 2
Henry 2
Joseph 2
Albert 1
Bernard 1
Bryan 1
Charles 1
Chas. 1
Daniel 1
David 1
Denby 1
Francis 1
George 1
Henery 1
Hy. 1
Jane 1
Jas. 1
Laurence 1
Martin 1
Mathew 1
Pat 1
Peter 1
Phillip 1
Robert 1
Thos. 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Mcdermot surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mcdermot surname in 1881?

In 1881, 880 people were recorded with the Mcdermot surname. That placed it at #4,309 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mcdermot surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 134 in 2016. That gives Mcdermot a modern rank of #25,636.

What does the Mcdermot surname mean?

An anglicized form of the Scottish Gaelic surname Mac Diarmaid meaning "son of the freeman".

What does the Mcdermot map show?

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