NameCensus.

UK surname

Mcelvaney

Son of the tonsured one or son of the student.

In the 1881 census there were 17 people recorded with the Mcelvaney surname, ranking it #31,170 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 164, ranked #22,314, up from #31,170 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Redcar and Cleveland, Chesterfield and Middlesbrough.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mcelvaney is 176 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 864.7%.

1881 census count

17

Ranked #31,170

Modern count

164

2016, ranked #22,314

Peak year

2010

176 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mcelvaney had 17 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #31,170 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 164 in 2016, ranked #22,314.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 25 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Mcelvaney surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mcelvaney surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mcelvaney 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
1881 historical 17 #31,170
1891 historical 6 #33,800
1901 historical 13 #32,633
1911 historical 25 #30,654
1997 modern 123 #23,792
1998 modern 134 #23,202
1999 modern 138 #22,983
2000 modern 130 #23,785
2001 modern 133 #23,132
2002 modern 131 #23,793
2003 modern 138 #22,823
2004 modern 144 #22,379
2005 modern 151 #21,667
2006 modern 158 #21,229
2007 modern 154 #21,804
2008 modern 161 #21,431
2009 modern 171 #21,024
2010 modern 176 #21,101
2011 modern 173 #21,172
2012 modern 163 #21,989
2013 modern 169 #21,826
2014 modern 169 #22,006
2015 modern 168 #21,971
2016 modern 164 #22,314

Geography

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Where Mcelvaneys 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 Redcar and Cleveland, Chesterfield and Middlesbrough. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Redcar and Cleveland 022 Redcar and Cleveland
2 Redcar and Cleveland 011 Redcar and Cleveland
3 Redcar and Cleveland 015 Redcar and Cleveland
4 Chesterfield 004 Chesterfield
5 Middlesbrough 004 Middlesbrough

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mcelvaney

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mcelvaney

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

Young Families in Industrial Towns

Nationally, the Mcelvaney surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Mcelvaney household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

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, Mcelvaney 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

Mcelvaney is most concentrated in decile 5 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Mcelvaney

The surname MCELVANEY has its origins in Ireland, with the name emerging in the early medieval period. The name is derived from the Gaelic 'Mac Giolla Bhánaidh', which translates to 'son of the fair-haired servant' or 'son of the servant of the fair-haired one'. The name is believed to have originated in the northern regions of Ireland, particularly in counties such as Tyrone and Donegal.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname MCELVANEY can be found in the Annals of Ulster, a chronicle of medieval Irish history. The name appears in entries dating back to the 13th century, often in reference to individuals from the region of Tyrone. The surname is also present in various Irish genealogical records and manuscripts from the 16th and 17th centuries.

In the 18th century, the MCELVANEY name gained prominence with several notable individuals. John McElvaney (1720-1794), a prominent merchant and landowner in County Tyrone, was instrumental in establishing trade routes between Ireland and the Americas. Another notable figure was Patrick McElvaney (1742-1812), a Catholic priest who played a significant role in the struggle for religious freedom in Ireland during the late 18th century.

As the Irish diaspora spread across the world, the MCELVANEY surname was carried to various parts of the globe. In the 19th century, James McElvaney (1824-1897), a successful businessman and philanthropist, settled in Philadelphia, USA, and established a prominent family line there. Meanwhile, in Australia, Thomas McElvaney (1856-1932) gained recognition as a pioneering farmer and community leader in the state of Victoria.

The 20th century saw the name MCELVANEY continue to be associated with notable individuals. One such figure was Mary McElvaney (1902-1988), a renowned educator and advocate for women's rights in Ireland. She was instrumental in establishing several educational institutions and promoting gender equality in the country.

Throughout its history, the MCELVANEY surname has undergone various spelling variations, such as McElvany, McIlvenny, and McIlwaine, reflecting the diversity of regional dialects and scribal interpretations. Despite these variations, the name has maintained its distinctive Irish heritage and continues to be a source of pride for those who bear it.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mcelvaney families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mcelvaney 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. Berkshire leads with 1 Mcelvaneys recorded in 1881 and an index of 138.89x.

County Total Index
Berkshire 1 138.89x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Sandhurst in Berkshire leads with 1 Mcelvaneys recorded in 1881 and an index of 10000.00x.

Place Total Index
Sandhurst 1 10000.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Eleanor 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 Mcelvaney households.

Occupation Count
Not Known 1

FAQ

Mcelvaney surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mcelvaney surname in 1881?

In 1881, 17 people were recorded with the Mcelvaney surname. That placed it at #31,170 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mcelvaney surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 164 in 2016. That gives Mcelvaney a modern rank of #22,314.

What does the Mcelvaney surname mean?

Son of the tonsured one or son of the student.

What does the Mcelvaney map show?

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