NameCensus.

UK surname

Mcelwaine

An Anglicized form of the Gaelic surname Mac Giolla Bhuain meaning "son of the servant/devotee of St. Benan".

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include IZ06, Glenwood North and IZ05.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mcelwaine is 155 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

153

2016, ranked #23,408

Peak year

2010

155 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 153 in 2016, ranked #23,408.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 19 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Routine Occupations or Retirement.

Mcelwaine surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mcelwaine surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mcelwaine 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 1 #33,412
1891 historical 1 #34,674
1901 historical 19 #31,911
1911 historical 6 #33,255
1997 modern 115 #24,834
1998 modern 124 #24,316
1999 modern 127 #24,125
2000 modern 135 #23,250
2001 modern 137 #22,740
2002 modern 140 #22,876
2003 modern 134 #23,260
2004 modern 139 #22,891
2005 modern 137 #23,110
2006 modern 138 #23,156
2007 modern 137 #23,590
2008 modern 136 #24,004
2009 modern 139 #24,161
2010 modern 155 #22,985
2011 modern 145 #23,837
2012 modern 148 #23,457
2013 modern 147 #23,977
2014 modern 150 #23,864
2015 modern 149 #23,817
2016 modern 153 #23,408

Geography

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Where Mcelwaines 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 IZ06, Glenwood North, IZ05, IZ03 and Harrow. 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 IZ06 West Dunbartonshire
2 Glenwood North Glasgow City
3 IZ05 West Dunbartonshire
4 IZ03 West Dunbartonshire
5 Harrow 020 Harrow

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mcelwaine

These lists show first names that appear often with the Mcelwaine 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 Mcelwaine

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

Routine Occupations or Retirement

Nationally, the Mcelwaine surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Routine Occupations or Retirement, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Mcelwaine 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 are characterised by high proportions of single, often never-married adults of normal retirement age or older, including many that are in the most advanced age groups. Most adults are UK born and live at high residential densities, and many of the children living with parents are in adulthood. Individuals identifying as members of ethnic minorities are uncommon, but above average proportions of households include individuals that identify with different ethnic groups. Long-term disability is relatively common, and the dominant accommodation type is flats. Unemployment rates are high, with most of those employed working in routine occupations. Few individuals have high level qualifications. Car ownership is not high.

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Mcelwaine is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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 neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Mcelwaine is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Mcelwaine falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Mcelwaine is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Mcelwaine

The surname MCELWAINE is of Scottish origin, derived from the Gaelic personal name "Gillian Mhaoil-Dhuinn," which means "servant of the shielded or tonsured one." This name likely originated in the 12th or 13th century in the Scottish Highlands.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name dates back to the late 13th century in the Ragman Rolls, a collection of homage rolls recording those who swore fealty to King Edward I of England after the Scottish Wars of Independence. The name appears as "Makyllewyne" in these rolls.

The surname MCELWAINE is also found in various historical documents and records from the 16th and 17th centuries, particularly in the Scottish Lowlands and the Scottish Borders region. During this period, the name was often spelled as "McIlwaine," "McIlvaine," or "McIlvain."

In the 17th century, a notable bearer of the name was John McIlwaine (1624-1701), a Scottish minister and religious writer from Renfrewshire. He is known for his work "An Essay Towards a Service-Book," published in 1668.

Another prominent figure was William McIlwaine (1759-1842), a Scottish-born American settler and Revolutionary War veteran who established a successful trading post in Kentucky. He is considered one of the pioneers in the early settlement of the American West.

In the 19th century, James McIlwaine (1818-1901), born in County Antrim, Ireland, was a distinguished jurist and legal scholar who served as the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania from 1888 to 1893.

The name MCELWAINE is also associated with several place names in Scotland, such as McIlwaine's Knowe, a hill in the Scottish Borders, and McIlwaine's Burn, a stream near Ayr, which may have derived from the surname.

While the spelling and pronunciation of the name have evolved over time, the MCELWAINE surname has maintained its Scottish roots and connection to the Gaelic language, reflecting the rich cultural heritage of the Scottish Highlands and Borders regions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Mcelwaine surname: questions and answers

How common is the Mcelwaine surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 153 in 2016. That gives Mcelwaine a modern rank of #23,408.

What does the Mcelwaine surname mean?

An Anglicized form of the Gaelic surname Mac Giolla Bhuain meaning "son of the servant/devotee of St. Benan".

What does the Mcelwaine map show?

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