NameCensus.

UK surname

Mceleney

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic "Mac Giolla Éanáin", meaning "son of the servant of St John".

In the 1881 census there were 15 people recorded with the Mceleney surname, ranking it #31,451 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 168, ranked #21,984, up from #31,451 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Roystonhill, Blochairn, and Provanmill, Bonnybridge and Parkhead East and Braidfauld North.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mceleney is 176 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 1020.0%.

1881 census count

15

Ranked #31,451

Modern count

168

2016, ranked #21,984

Peak year

2010

176 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mceleney had 15 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #31,451 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 168 in 2016, ranked #21,984.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 28 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Mceleney surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mceleney surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mceleney 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 2 #33,133
1861 historical 2 #34,135
1881 historical 15 #31,451
1891 historical 24 #32,320
1901 historical 28 #30,951
1911 historical 9 #32,754
1997 modern 156 #20,593
1998 modern 160 #20,832
1999 modern 159 #21,030
2000 modern 153 #21,520
2001 modern 152 #21,294
2002 modern 153 #21,609
2003 modern 149 #21,766
2004 modern 154 #21,432
2005 modern 152 #21,572
2006 modern 153 #21,643
2007 modern 155 #21,726
2008 modern 166 #20,966
2009 modern 173 #20,869
2010 modern 176 #21,101
2011 modern 170 #21,407
2012 modern 166 #21,683
2013 modern 167 #21,984
2014 modern 169 #22,006
2015 modern 169 #21,888
2016 modern 168 #21,984

Geography

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Where Mceleneys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Roystonhill, Blochairn, and Provanmill, Bonnybridge, Parkhead East and Braidfauld North, High Bonnybridge and Greenhill and Garthamlock, Auchinlea and Gartloch. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Roystonhill, Blochairn, and Provanmill Glasgow City
2 Bonnybridge Falkirk
3 Parkhead East and Braidfauld North Glasgow City
4 High Bonnybridge and Greenhill Falkirk
5 Garthamlock, Auchinlea and Gartloch Glasgow City

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mceleney

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mceleney

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Mceleney 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

Mceleney 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

Mceleney 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 Mceleney is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 40-50 mbit/s.

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

7
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Mceleney

The surname McEleney is of Irish origin, originating from the county of Donegal in Ulster province. The name is derived from the Gaelic Mac Giolla Éanáin, meaning "son of the servant of St. Énán". St. Énán was a 7th-century Irish saint who established a monastery in Drumhome, County Donegal.

The McEleney name can be traced back to the 12th century, with early records showing various spellings such as MacGillEanain, MacGillEnane, and MacGillenane. The name is first mentioned in the Annals of Ulster, an ancient chronicle of medieval Irish history, in the year 1199.

In the 16th century, the McEleney clan was prominent in the Inishowen peninsula of County Donegal. During this time, the name appears in the Fiants of the Tudor Sovereigns, a collection of administrative records from the reign of the Tudor monarchs in Ireland.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the McEleney surname was Turlough McEleney, a chieftain who lived in the late 15th century. He was a descendant of the ancient Cenél Conaill dynasty and held significant influence in the region.

Another notable figure was Neachtan McEleney, a Catholic priest who lived in the late 16th century. He was active during the time of the Plantation of Ulster and played a role in preserving the Catholic faith in the region.

In the 17th century, the McEleney name is found in the Ulster Inquisitions, a series of surveys conducted by the English Crown to determine land ownership and distribution in Ireland. These records provide valuable insights into the family's landholdings and social status during this period.

One of the most famous individuals with the McEleney surname was Sir Cahir McEleney, a military commander who fought for the Irish Confederates during the Irish Confederate Wars (1641-1653). He led troops in several battles against the English Parliamentarian forces.

In the 18th century, the McEleney name is associated with the Penal Laws, a series of oppressive laws imposed on Catholics in Ireland. Many McEleneys, like other Catholic families, faced discrimination and had their lands and rights curtailed during this period.

Throughout history, the McEleney name has been closely tied to the history and struggles of the Irish people, particularly in the counties of Donegal and Derry. Despite facing challenges, the McEleney family has maintained a strong presence in these regions and has contributed significantly to the cultural fabric of Ireland.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mceleney families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mceleney 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. Middlesex leads with 3 Mceleneys recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.27x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 3 10.27x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Isleworth in Middlesex leads with 3 Mceleneys recorded in 1881 and an index of 2307.69x.

Place Total Index
Isleworth 3 2307.69x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 1
Sophie 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Harry 1

FAQ

Mceleney surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mceleney surname in 1881?

In 1881, 15 people were recorded with the Mceleney surname. That placed it at #31,451 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mceleney surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 168 in 2016. That gives Mceleney a modern rank of #21,984.

What does the Mceleney surname mean?

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic "Mac Giolla Éanáin", meaning "son of the servant of St John".

What does the Mceleney map show?

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