NameCensus.

UK surname

Mcdonald

Son of Donald, a Scottish and Irish patronymic surname derived from the Gaelic personal name Dòmhnall, meaning "world ruler."

In the 1881 census there were 48,164 people recorded with the Mcdonald surname, ranking it #61 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 39,769, ranked #123, down from #61 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Govan Combination, Edinburgh and Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Ibrox East and Cessnock, Port Glasgow Mid, East and Central and City Centre East.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mcdonald is 49,673 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 17.4%.

1881 census count

48,164

Ranked #61

Modern count

39,769

2016, ranked #123

Peak year

1901

49,673 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mcdonald had 48,164 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #61 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 39,769 in 2016, ranked #123.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 49,673 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Mcdonald surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mcdonald surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mcdonald 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 38,634 #43
1861 historical 39,046 #47
1881 historical 48,164 #61
1891 historical 49,111 #63
1901 historical 49,673 #76
1911 historical 13,209 #370
1997 modern 36,779 #131
1998 modern 38,009 #131
1999 modern 38,403 #131
2000 modern 38,250 #132
2001 modern 37,114 #132
2002 modern 38,226 #133
2003 modern 37,226 #134
2004 modern 37,300 #135
2005 modern 37,175 #133
2006 modern 37,353 #132
2007 modern 37,839 #131
2008 modern 38,293 #127
2009 modern 39,206 #128
2010 modern 40,315 #124
2011 modern 39,583 #125
2012 modern 38,737 #125
2013 modern 39,275 #129
2014 modern 39,733 #127
2015 modern 39,552 #125
2016 modern 39,769 #123

Geography

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Where Mcdonalds are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Govan Combination, Edinburgh, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry, Aberdeen and Old Machar and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Ibrox East and Cessnock, Port Glasgow Mid, East and Central, City Centre East, Toryglen and Oatlands and Turriff. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Govan Combination Lanark
2 Edinburgh Edinburgh
3 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar
4 Aberdeen and Old Machar Aberdeen
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Ibrox East and Cessnock Glasgow City
2 Port Glasgow Mid, East and Central Inverclyde
3 City Centre East Glasgow City
4 Toryglen and Oatlands Glasgow City
5 Turriff Aberdeenshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mcdonald

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mcdonald

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

Mcdonald 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

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

Meaning and origin of Mcdonald

The surname McDonald originated in Scotland, deriving from the Gaelic 'Mac Dhomhnaill' meaning 'son of Donald'. It is a patronymic name, with 'mac' meaning 'son of'. The earliest recorded instance of the surname dates back to the 12th century in the Western Isles of Scotland.

The McDonald name has strong historical ties to the Scottish Highlands and the Clan Donald, one of the largest and most powerful Scottish clans. The clan's origins can be traced back to Somerled, a 12th-century Norse-Gael who became King of the Isles. Somerled's descendants adopted the surname McDonald, and the clan played a significant role in Scottish history, particularly during the Wars of Scottish Independence.

One of the earliest recorded bearers of the McDonald surname was Reginald McDonald, who fought alongside Robert the Bruce at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314. The name also appears in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland in the 14th century, indicating its prevalence among Scottish families at that time.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals bearing the McDonald surname. Somhairle Mor MacDonald, born around 1520, was a Scottish clan chief and Lord of the Isles. He played a pivotal role in the struggle for power in the Western Isles during the 16th century.

Flora McDonald, born in 1722, is perhaps one of the most famous bearers of the surname. She aided Bonnie Prince Charlie's escape from Scotland after the Battle of Culloden in 1746, cementing her place in Scottish history.

John McDonald, born in 1765, was a Scottish explorer and fur trader who played a significant role in the exploration of the Canadian Northwest. He is credited with mapping much of the region and establishing trade routes.

Another notable figure was Sir John McDonald, born in 1815, who served as the first Prime Minister of Canada from 1867 to 1873 and again from 1878 to 1891. He played a crucial role in the formation of the Canadian Confederation.

In the United States, Colonel Angus McDonald, born in 1770, was a prominent figure in the American Revolutionary War. He served under General George Washington and was instrumental in the Battle of King's Mountain, a pivotal victory for the American forces.

While the McDonald surname has its roots in Scotland, it has since spread across the globe, carried by Scottish emigrants and their descendants. It remains a testament to the rich cultural heritage of the Scottish Highlands and the enduring legacy of the Clan Donald.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mcdonald families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mcdonald 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 619 Mcdonalds recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.20x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 619 2.20x
Middlesex 339 1.43x
Yorkshire 222 0.94x
Durham 115 1.63x
Northumberland 94 2.66x
Cumberland 87 4.26x
Staffordshire 83 1.04x
Cheshire 77 1.47x
Inverness-shire 71 10.02x
Surrey 54 0.47x
Hampshire 52 1.07x
Kent 48 0.59x
Lanarkshire 43 0.56x
Glamorgan 41 0.99x
Flintshire 40 6.27x
Warwickshire 39 0.65x
Midlothian 36 1.13x
Essex 27 0.58x
Sussex 27 0.68x
Devon 22 0.45x
Gloucestershire 21 0.45x
Ayrshire 17 0.96x
Derbyshire 17 0.46x
Renfrewshire 17 0.92x
Lincolnshire 15 0.40x
Westmorland 14 2.69x
Royal Navy 13 4.60x
Bedfordshire 12 0.98x
Norfolk 12 0.33x
Nottinghamshire 12 0.38x
Cornwall 11 0.41x
Denbighshire 11 1.23x
Shropshire 11 0.54x
Argyllshire 10 1.51x
Isle of Man 10 2.27x
Berkshire 9 0.51x
Hertfordshire 9 0.55x
Worcestershire 9 0.29x
Cambridgeshire 8 0.53x
Leicestershire 8 0.30x
Somerset 8 0.21x
Caernarfonshire 5 0.52x
Aberdeenshire 4 0.18x
Oxfordshire 4 0.27x
Buckinghamshire 3 0.21x
Dorset 3 0.19x
Suffolk 3 0.10x
Anglesey 2 0.48x
Angus 2 0.09x
Cardiganshire 2 0.35x
East Lothian 2 0.64x
Brecknockshire 1 0.21x
Buteshire 1 0.70x
Caithness 1 0.31x
Carmarthenshire 1 0.10x
Channel Islands 1 0.14x
Herefordshire 1 0.10x
Morayshire 1 0.27x
Northamptonshire 1 0.04x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.13x
Perthshire 1 0.09x
Ross-shire 1 0.15x
Wiltshire 1 0.05x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Liverpool in Lancashire leads with 131 Mcdonalds recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.66x.

Place Total Index
Liverpool 131 7.66x
Manchester 53 4.19x
Toxteth Park 53 5.56x
Everton 49 5.46x
North Uist 48 173.60x
Kirkdale 42 8.87x
Hackney London 35 2.63x
Islington London 29 1.26x
Shoreditch London 27 2.63x
St Marylebone London 26 2.05x
Birmingham 25 1.25x
Mile End Old Town 24 6.41x
Wolverhampton 24 3.90x
Cleator 23 27.05x
West Derby 23 2.79x
Bethnal Green London 22 2.13x
Leeds 22 1.66x
Wallsend 22 19.65x
Ashton Under Lyne 21 3.41x
Bishopwearmouth 21 3.47x
Portsea 20 2.10x
Caldewgate 19 16.98x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 19 1.49x
Sculcoates 18 4.83x
Wolstanton 18 7.40x
Bromley London 17 3.26x
Hulme 17 2.89x
Preston 17 2.26x
Bootle Cum Linacre 16 7.16x
Liscard 16 16.96x
Newcastle On Tyne St John 16 34.48x
Barony 15 0.77x
Cardiff St Mary 15 6.59x
Gwaenysgor 15 675.68x
Liversedge 15 14.33x
Camberwell 14 0.92x
Oldham 14 1.54x
Lambeth 13 0.63x
Limehouse London 13 4.99x
Chorlton On Medlock 12 2.68x
St Cuthbert W O 12 12.05x
Whitehaven 12 11.02x
York St George 12 64.79x
Almondbury 11 9.68x
Aston 11 0.67x
Ayr 11 13.13x
Barrow In Furness 11 2.87x
Sheffield 11 1.47x
St George Hanover 11 3.55x
Stockport 11 4.08x
Walsall Foreign 11 2.66x
West Greenock 11 3.33x
West Ham 11 1.06x
Westminster St John 11 3.81x
Wilshampstead 11 164.67x
Chelsea London 10 1.40x
Clifton In York 10 20.34x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 10 3.27x
Hove 10 5.70x
Inverness 10 5.61x
Over Darwen 10 4.45x
Plymouth St Andrew 10 2.63x
Pontefract 10 19.75x
Salford 10 1.21x
Gravesend 9 13.13x
Huddersfield 9 2.63x
Idle 9 8.26x
New Windsor 9 15.03x
Newton 9 4.15x
Poplar London 9 2.01x
Westgate 9 4.12x
Bilton Cum Harrogate 8 9.95x
Byker 8 4.58x
Cilybebill 8 50.76x
Clitheroe 8 9.65x
Kilmorack 8 37.24x
Leckwith 8 82.30x
Portsmouth 8 7.15x
Willesden 8 3.58x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 215
Margaret 75
Elizabeth 74
Sarah 50
Ann 49
Ellen 43
Jane 43
Catherine 40
Annie 32
Alice 21
Kate 21
Bridget 19
Flora 18
Hannah 18
Anne 13
Martha 13
Emily 12
Agnes 11
Eliza 11
Emma 11
Maria 11
Janet 10
Jessie 10
Caroline 9
Helen 9
Isabella 9
Margret 9
Charlotte 7
Elizth. 7
Ada 6
Fanny 6
Florence 6
Julia 6
Rose 6
Cathrine 5
Clara 5
Eleanor 5
Louisa 5
Winifred 5
Esther 4
Francis 4
Harriet 4
Harriett 4
Margt. 4
Marion 4
Susannah 4
Anna 3
Catharine 3
Johanna 3
June 3

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 180
James 117
William 84
Thomas 76
Patrick 49
Alexander 37
Michael 33
George 31
Edward 30
Joseph 27
Robert 25
Charles 22
Donald 20
Arthur 14
Richard 14
Hugh 13
Peter 13
Daniel 12
Alfred 11
Henry 11
Archibald 9
Bernard 8
Francis 8
Frank 8
Frederick 8
Alexr. 7
Jno. 7
Matthew 7
Angus 6
David 6
Martin 6
Samuel 6
Fredrick 5
Harry 5
Herbert 5
Kenneth 5
Thos. 5
Wm. 5
Ernest 4
Owen 4
Walter 4
A. 3
Andrew 3
Anthony 3
Barnard 3
Chas. 3
Duncan 3
Lawrence 3
Mark 3
Norman 3

FAQ

Mcdonald surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mcdonald surname in 1881?

In 1881, 48,164 people were recorded with the Mcdonald surname. That placed it at #61 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mcdonald surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 39,769 in 2016. That gives Mcdonald a modern rank of #123.

What does the Mcdonald surname mean?

Son of Donald, a Scottish and Irish patronymic surname derived from the Gaelic personal name Dòmhnall, meaning "world ruler."

What does the Mcdonald map show?

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