NameCensus.

UK surname

Mcdevitt

A surname of Irish origin meaning "son of David," an anglicized form of the Gaelic "Mac Dáibhéid."

In the 1881 census there were 136 people recorded with the Mcdevitt surname, ranking it #16,433 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 788, ranked #7,006, up from #16,433 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Rochdale, Silkstone and Govan Combination. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Braeside, Branchton, Lower Larkfield and Ravenscraig, Carnwadric West and Stranraer East.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mcdevitt is 832 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 479.4%.

1881 census count

136

Ranked #16,433

Modern count

788

2016, ranked #7,006

Peak year

2010

832 bearers

Map years

6

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mcdevitt had 136 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #16,433 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 788 in 2016, ranked #7,006.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 281 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Mcdevitt surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mcdevitt surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mcdevitt 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 65 #21,747
1861 historical 81 #23,431
1881 historical 136 #16,433
1891 historical 164 #17,205
1901 historical 281 #12,167
1911 historical 66 #26,249
1997 modern 782 #6,659
1998 modern 797 #6,772
1999 modern 813 #6,709
2000 modern 794 #6,816
2001 modern 781 #6,771
2002 modern 804 #6,747
2003 modern 780 #6,796
2004 modern 759 #6,963
2005 modern 758 #6,899
2006 modern 777 #6,792
2007 modern 784 #6,805
2008 modern 789 #6,834
2009 modern 800 #6,888
2010 modern 832 #6,807
2011 modern 807 #6,884
2012 modern 771 #7,073
2013 modern 795 #7,003
2014 modern 795 #7,037
2015 modern 785 #7,047
2016 modern 788 #7,006

Geography

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Where Mcdevitts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Rochdale, Silkstone, Govan Combination, Toxteth Park and Greenock. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Braeside, Branchton, Lower Larkfield and Ravenscraig, Carnwadric West, Stranraer East, Cornwall and Burnley. 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 Rochdale Lancashire
2 Silkstone Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Govan Combination Lanark
4 Toxteth Park Lancashire
5 Greenock Renfrew

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Braeside, Branchton, Lower Larkfield and Ravenscraig Inverclyde
2 Carnwadric West Glasgow City
3 Stranraer East Dumfries and Galloway
4 Cornwall 039 Cornwall
5 Burnley 002 Burnley

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mcdevitt

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mcdevitt

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

Mcdevitt is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Mcdevitt

The surname McDevitt is of Irish origin and dates back to the Middle Ages. It is an anglicized form of the Gaelic name Mac Dhuibhidhir, which means "son of the dark one" or "son of the dark visor". The name is derived from the Gaelic words "mac" meaning "son of" and "dubh" meaning "black" or "dark".

The McDevitt name is believed to have originated in County Donegal, located in the northern part of Ireland. It was a prominent surname among the ancient Irish clans and is closely associated with the region's history and culture. The name was often found in old records and manuscripts from the 13th to 16th centuries, indicating its long-standing presence in the area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name McDevitt can be found in the Annals of Ulster, a chronicle of medieval Irish history. In the year 1338, a man named Conor McDevitt was mentioned as a participant in a battle between rival clans. This entry provides evidence of the name's existence and its connection to the region during that time period.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the McDevitt name was also documented in various historical records and documents related to land ownership and legal proceedings in County Donegal. One notable individual from this era was Fergus McDevitt, who was born in 1585 and served as a local chieftain and landowner in the area.

In the 19th century, the McDevitt name gained further recognition with the birth of Bernard McDevitt (1818-1892), an Irish-American politician and lawyer who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from Pennsylvania. Another prominent figure was James McDevitt (1842-1911), a Scottish-American labor leader and co-founder of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers.

Other notable individuals with the surname McDevitt include:

1. Michael McDevitt (1907-1993), an Irish-American actor known for his roles in films such as "The Godfather Part II" and "The Untouchables". 2. John McDevitt (1915-1999), a Canadian professional ice hockey player who played for the Boston Bruins and the Montreal Canadiens. 3. Maureen McDevitt (born 1961), an American actress and voice artist known for her work in various animated series and video games. 4. James McDevitt (1933-2018), an American lawyer and judge who served as a United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. 5. Cillian McDevitt (born 1986), an Irish professional footballer who played as a defender for various clubs in Ireland and England.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mcdevitt families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mcdevitt 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 11 Mcdevitts recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.65x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 11 8.65x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Tonge in Lancashire leads with 9 Mcdevitts recorded in 1881 and an index of 3333.33x.

Place Total Index
Tonge 9 3333.33x
Great Crosby 2 571.43x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Margaret 2
Agnes 1
Caroline 1
Catherine 1
Elizabeth 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 2
Charles 1
Edward 1
Hugh 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 Mcdevitt households.

FAQ

Mcdevitt surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mcdevitt surname in 1881?

In 1881, 136 people were recorded with the Mcdevitt surname. That placed it at #16,433 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mcdevitt surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 788 in 2016. That gives Mcdevitt a modern rank of #7,006.

What does the Mcdevitt surname mean?

A surname of Irish origin meaning "son of David," an anglicized form of the Gaelic "Mac Dáibhéid."

What does the Mcdevitt map show?

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