NameCensus.

UK surname

Mcerlain

Anglicized form of an Irish Gaelic surname meaning "servant or devotee of St. Erlain."

In the 1881 census there were 1 people recorded with the Mcerlain surname, ranking it #34,027 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 136, ranked #25,377, up from #34,027 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Balgay, Sedgemoor and Tameside.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mcerlain is 154 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 13500.0%.

1881 census count

1

Ranked #34,027

Modern count

136

2016, ranked #25,377

Peak year

1998

154 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mcerlain had 1 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #34,027 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 136 in 2016, ranked #25,377.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 51 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Mcerlain surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mcerlain surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mcerlain 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
1861 historical 10 #32,589
1881 historical 1 #34,027
1891 historical 20 #32,579
1901 historical 51 #28,492
1911 historical 8 #32,903
1997 modern 135 #22,499
1998 modern 154 #21,316
1999 modern 148 #22,020
2000 modern 143 #22,457
2001 modern 139 #22,541
2002 modern 147 #22,197
2003 modern 147 #21,977
2004 modern 138 #22,997
2005 modern 129 #23,963
2006 modern 127 #24,384
2007 modern 133 #24,059
2008 modern 137 #23,883
2009 modern 134 #24,711
2010 modern 138 #24,801
2011 modern 135 #24,922
2012 modern 128 #25,852
2013 modern 135 #25,395
2014 modern 136 #25,452
2015 modern 138 #25,103
2016 modern 136 #25,377

Geography

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Where Mcerlains 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 Balgay, Sedgemoor, Tameside, North Somerset and Cornwall. 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 Balgay Dundee City
2 Sedgemoor 005 Sedgemoor
3 Tameside 001 Tameside
4 North Somerset 006 North Somerset
5 Cornwall 031 Cornwall

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mcerlain

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mcerlain

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Mcerlain surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Mcerlain household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Mcerlain 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

Mcerlain is most concentrated in decile 2 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Mcerlain falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Mcerlain 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 - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Mcerlain

The surname MCERLAIN is of Scottish origin, with roots dating back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Gaelic words "mac" meaning "son" and "Erlain," which is believed to be a personal name of unknown meaning. The name is thought to have originated in the Scottish Highlands, particularly in the regions of Argyll and the Western Isles.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the MCERLAIN name can be found in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland from the late 13th century, where a certain "Gillecrist MacErlain" is mentioned as a landholder in the Isle of Mull. This suggests that the MCERLAIN family had established a presence in the Hebrides by that time.

In the 16th century, the MCERLAIN name appeared in the records of the Clan Donald, one of the most powerful clans in the Scottish Highlands. A notable figure from this period was Angus MCERLAIN, who was a prominent warrior and supporter of the Lord of the Isles during the clan's conflicts with the Scottish Crown.

The MCERLAIN name has also been associated with various place names in Scotland, particularly in the region of Argyll. For instance, the village of Kilmerlain (sometimes spelled Kilmarlain) is believed to have derived its name from the MCERLAIN clan or their ancestors.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the MCERLAIN surname. One of the earliest was John MCERLAIN (c. 1530-1595), a Scottish clergyman who served as the Bishop of Raphoe in Ireland during the latter part of the 16th century. Another prominent figure was Archibald MCERLAIN (1675-1734), a Scottish merchant and landowner who played a significant role in the development of Glasgow's trade and commerce in the early 18th century.

In the 19th century, James MCERLAIN (1819-1891) was a Scottish-born Australian pastoralist and politician who served as a member of the Legislative Council of New South Wales. Additionally, Thomas MCERLAIN (1846-1927) was a Scottish-American inventor and entrepreneur who patented several important innovations in the field of telephony and telecommunications.

One of the most famous bearers of the MCERLAIN name in modern times was the Scottish actor and comedian Billy MCERLAIN (1926-2003), who gained widespread recognition for his work in television and film, particularly for his role in the BBC comedy series "Scotch and Wry."

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Mcerlain surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mcerlain surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1 people were recorded with the Mcerlain surname. That placed it at #34,027 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mcerlain surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 136 in 2016. That gives Mcerlain a modern rank of #25,377.

What does the Mcerlain surname mean?

Anglicized form of an Irish Gaelic surname meaning "servant or devotee of St. Erlain."

What does the Mcerlain map show?

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