NameCensus.

UK surname

Mcdill

Irish surname transferred to 'son of the blind person' from Irish Gaelic Mac Dill.

In the 1881 census there were 70 people recorded with the Mcdill surname, ranking it #23,670 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 138, ranked #25,127, down from #23,670 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bothwell, Tongland and Dundonald. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Darvel, Shetland South and Maybole.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mcdill is 154 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 97.1%.

1881 census count

70

Ranked #23,670

Modern count

138

2016, ranked #25,127

Peak year

2002

154 bearers

Map years

5

1891 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mcdill had 70 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #23,670 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 138 in 2016, ranked #25,127.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 133 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Mcdill surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mcdill surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mcdill 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 46 #24,985
1861 historical 61 #26,170
1881 historical 70 #23,670
1891 historical 120 #21,292
1901 historical 133 #19,372
1911 historical 11 #32,463
1997 modern 122 #23,917
1998 modern 144 #22,221
1999 modern 151 #21,740
2000 modern 139 #22,855
2001 modern 144 #22,040
2002 modern 154 #21,531
2003 modern 130 #23,672
2004 modern 136 #23,207
2005 modern 127 #24,178
2006 modern 132 #23,834
2007 modern 136 #23,708
2008 modern 138 #23,763
2009 modern 145 #23,473
2010 modern 145 #24,031
2011 modern 140 #24,395
2012 modern 139 #24,485
2013 modern 143 #24,434
2014 modern 141 #24,855
2015 modern 137 #25,226
2016 modern 138 #25,127

Geography

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Where Mcdills are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bothwell, Tongland, Dundonald, Edinburgh and Riccarton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Darvel, Shetland South, Maybole, Stromness, Sandwick and Stenness and Kilmarnock South Central and Caprington. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Bothwell Lanark
2 Tongland Kirkcudbright
3 Dundonald Ayr
4 Edinburgh Edinburgh
5 Riccarton Ayr

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Darvel East Ayrshire
2 Shetland South Shetland Islands
3 Maybole South Ayrshire
4 Stromness, Sandwick and Stenness Orkney Islands
5 Kilmarnock South Central and Caprington East Ayrshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mcdill

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mcdill

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

Mcdill 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

Mcdill falls in decile 7 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Mcdill 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 - British

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

Meaning and origin of Mcdill

The surname McDill is of Scottish origin, tracing its roots back to the medieval period. It is a territorial name derived from the lands of Dull, a parish located in the county of Perthshire in central Scotland. The name is believed to have originated from the Gaelic phrase "mac duill," which translates to "son of the meadow."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a collection of homage rolls from Scottish nobles and landowners who swore fealty to King Edward I of England. The document lists a "Thomas McDuyll" from the lands of Dull.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, several variations of the spelling emerged, including McDull, McDull, and McDill. This was a common occurrence as surnames were often recorded phonetically by scribes and clerks, leading to inconsistencies in spelling.

In the 17th century, the name appears in the parish records of Dull, where a "Robert McDill" is listed as a landowner in 1632. The McDill family was well-established in the region, with several members serving as local officials and holding prominent positions within the community.

One notable figure with the surname was Sir James McDill (1763-1842), a Scottish merchant and philanthropist who made significant contributions to the city of Glasgow. He founded the McDill Chair of Theology at the University of Glasgow and was a benefactor to several charitable institutions.

Another individual of historical significance was John McDill (1787-1865), a Scottish engineer and inventor who made advancements in steam engine technology. He was granted several patents for his innovations and played a crucial role in the development of early industrial machinery.

In the 19th century, the McDill family began to spread beyond Scotland, with many members emigrating to other parts of the British Empire and North America. One such individual was William McDill (1821-1890), a Canadian politician who served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.

Samuel McDill (1828-1909) was a notable American figure who served as a Union Army officer during the American Civil War. He rose to the rank of Brigadier General and was commended for his bravery and leadership on the battlefield.

As the name spread across different regions, variations in spelling and pronunciation continued to emerge, reflecting the linguistic influences of local dialects and languages. However, the core origin of the name remains rooted in the historic lands of Dull in central Scotland.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Mcdill surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mcdill surname in 1881?

In 1881, 70 people were recorded with the Mcdill surname. That placed it at #23,670 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mcdill surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 138 in 2016. That gives Mcdill a modern rank of #25,127.

What does the Mcdill surname mean?

Irish surname transferred to 'son of the blind person' from Irish Gaelic Mac Dill.

What does the Mcdill map show?

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