NameCensus.

UK surname

Mcevilly

An Anglicized form of the Irish Gaelic name Mág Shamhradháin meaning "son of Somhairle".

In the 1881 census there were 19 people recorded with the Mcevilly surname, ranking it #30,872 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 270, ranked #15,913, up from #30,872 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Sefton, Liverpool and Salford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mcevilly is 285 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 1321.1%.

1881 census count

19

Ranked #30,872

Modern count

270

2016, ranked #15,913

Peak year

2014

285 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mcevilly had 19 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #30,872 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 270 in 2016, ranked #15,913.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 36 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Mcevilly surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mcevilly surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mcevilly 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
1861 historical 4 #33,628
1881 historical 19 #30,872
1891 historical 24 #32,320
1901 historical 17 #32,146
1911 historical 36 #29,370
1997 modern 226 #16,306
1998 modern 238 #16,218
1999 modern 241 #16,179
2000 modern 241 #16,146
2001 modern 245 #15,721
2002 modern 249 #15,855
2003 modern 246 #15,769
2004 modern 249 #15,739
2005 modern 244 #15,900
2006 modern 250 #15,749
2007 modern 246 #16,086
2008 modern 249 #16,111
2009 modern 264 #15,798
2010 modern 277 #15,595
2011 modern 275 #15,517
2012 modern 267 #15,791
2013 modern 280 #15,530
2014 modern 285 #15,416
2015 modern 264 #16,186
2016 modern 270 #15,913

Geography

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Where Mcevillys 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 Sefton, Liverpool and Salford. 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 Sefton 038 Sefton
2 Liverpool 003 Liverpool
3 Sefton 035 Sefton
4 Salford 017 Salford
5 Sefton 037 Sefton

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mcevilly

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mcevilly

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Mcevilly surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Mcevilly household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Mcevilly is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, 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

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

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

Mcevilly is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Mcevilly 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 Mcevilly is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Mcevilly

The surname McEvilly originates from Ireland, dating back to the 16th century. It is an Anglicized form of the Irish Gaelic name "Mac Uidhillí," which means "son of Uidhillí." The name Uidhillí is itself derived from the Old Norse personal name "Huídímir," meaning "bright protector" or "famous defender."

The McEvilly name is closely associated with County Donegal in Ulster, where the clan was prominent in the Barony of Kilmacrenan. Early records show various spellings of the name, including McEviley, McEvely, McEvilly, and McEvely, reflecting the challenges of transliterating Gaelic names into English.

One of the earliest recorded references to the McEvilly name is found in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history compiled in the early 17th century. The annals mention a "Brian Mac Uidhillí" who was involved in a conflict with the O'Donnell clan in 1544.

Notable individuals bearing the McEvilly surname include:

1. Reverend William McEvilly (1800-1870), an Irish Catholic priest and educator who founded several schools in County Donegal. 2. John McEvilly (1840-1915), an Irish-American politician who served as a member of the New York State Assembly from 1884 to 1885. 3. Patrick McEvilly (1856-1932), an Irish journalist and editor who worked for several newspapers in Dublin in the late 19th century. 4. Michael McEvilly (1888-1962), an Irish politician and Member of Parliament for the Donegal West constituency from 1923 to 1927. 5. Eamon McEvilly (1914-1995), an Irish writer and playwright known for his works exploring the history and culture of County Donegal.

The McEvilly name has also been associated with various place names in Ireland, such as Meevilly Townland in County Donegal and McEvilly's Hill, a prominent landmark in the same county. These place names reflect the historical presence and influence of the McEvilly clan in the region.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mcevilly families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mcevilly 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 3 Mcevillys recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.65x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 3 8.65x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bootle Cum Linacre in Lancashire leads with 3 Mcevillys recorded in 1881 and an index of 1071.43x.

Place Total Index
Bootle Cum Linacre 3 1071.43x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 1
William 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 Mcevilly households.

FAQ

Mcevilly surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mcevilly surname in 1881?

In 1881, 19 people were recorded with the Mcevilly surname. That placed it at #30,872 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mcevilly surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 270 in 2016. That gives Mcevilly a modern rank of #15,913.

What does the Mcevilly surname mean?

An Anglicized form of the Irish Gaelic name Mág Shamhradháin meaning "son of Somhairle".

What does the Mcevilly map show?

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