NameCensus.

UK surname

Mcfadyen

Scottish surname transferred from the Gaelic personal name Pàdraig meaning "son of Patrick" or "descendent of Patrick".

In the 1881 census there were 1,881 people recorded with the Mcfadyen surname, ranking it #2,318 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,719, ranked #2,473, down from #2,318 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Govan Combination, Tiree and Coll and Greenock. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Castlemilk, Campbeltown and Port Glasgow Upper, West and Central.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mcfadyen is 2,727 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 44.6%.

1881 census count

1,881

Ranked #2,318

Modern count

2,719

2016, ranked #2,473

Peak year

2014

2,727 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mcfadyen had 1,881 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,318 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,719 in 2016, ranked #2,473.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,174 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Mcfadyen surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mcfadyen surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mcfadyen 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 1,074 #2,610
1861 historical 1,214 #2,340
1881 historical 1,881 #2,318
1891 historical 1,989 #2,318
1901 historical 2,174 #2,477
1911 historical 148 #18,023
1997 modern 2,442 #2,576
1998 modern 2,522 #2,590
1999 modern 2,550 #2,581
2000 modern 2,534 #2,585
2001 modern 2,484 #2,577
2002 modern 2,529 #2,590
2003 modern 2,465 #2,597
2004 modern 2,472 #2,594
2005 modern 2,471 #2,564
2006 modern 2,484 #2,558
2007 modern 2,555 #2,524
2008 modern 2,584 #2,513
2009 modern 2,625 #2,534
2010 modern 2,665 #2,553
2011 modern 2,604 #2,577
2012 modern 2,577 #2,555
2013 modern 2,658 #2,529
2014 modern 2,727 #2,491
2015 modern 2,711 #2,481
2016 modern 2,719 #2,473

Geography

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Where Mcfadyens are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Govan Combination, Tiree and Coll, Greenock, Killarow and Kilmeny and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Castlemilk, Campbeltown, Port Glasgow Upper, West and Central, Pollok North and East and Parkhead West and Barrowfield. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Govan Combination Lanark
2 Tiree and Coll Argyll
3 Greenock Renfrew
4 Killarow and Kilmeny Argyll
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Castlemilk Glasgow City
2 Campbeltown Argyll and Bute
3 Port Glasgow Upper, West and Central Inverclyde
4 Pollok North and East Glasgow City
5 Parkhead West and Barrowfield Glasgow City

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mcfadyen

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mcfadyen

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

Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities

Nationally, the Mcfadyen surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Mcfadyen household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Households in these areas often include divorced or separated parents and commonly include children and young adults. The age structure is heavily skewed towards the most advanced age groups. Individuals identifying as members of ethnic minorities are not present in large numbers. Flats predominate, with some terraced, semi-detached, and detached units. Multiple car ownership is low, and housing is predominantly in the private and social rented sectors. Employment is less skewed towards traditional routine industrial occupations. Levels of educational attainment are generally low. The Group occurs principally in the Central Lowlands of Scotland and other Scottish towns.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Mcfadyen is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Mcfadyen 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

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

Meaning and origin of Mcfadyen

The surname McFadyen has its origins in Scotland, and is believed to date back to the 13th century. It is a variant of the surname Fadyen, which is derived from the Gaelic personal name "Padene" or "Padhain," meaning "little Patrick." The prefix "Mc" indicates "son of."

The name McFadyen is thought to have originated in the regions of Argyll and Bute in western Scotland. It is believed to have been first recorded in the mid-13th century, around the time of the reign of King Alexander III of Scotland (1241-1286). However, the earliest known written record of the name dates back to 1539, when a certain David McFadyen was mentioned in a charter from the Isle of Islay.

Throughout the centuries, the name has appeared in various historical documents and records, including the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which document Scottish landowners who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England after the Wars of Scottish Independence. The name is also found in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland from the 14th and 15th centuries, which recorded Crown revenues and expenses.

One of the earliest notable individuals with the surname McFadyen was Sir John McFadyen (c. 1585-1650), a Scottish military officer who served as Governor of Duart Castle on the Isle of Mull. Another prominent figure was Duncan McFadyen (c. 1610-1680), a Scottish Presbyterian minister who played a significant role in the religious conflicts of the 17th century.

Other historical figures with the surname McFadyen include:

1. Archibald McFadyen (c. 1675-1745), a Scottish merchant and landowner in Argyll. 2. James McFadyen (c. 1730-1790), a Scottish poet and schoolmaster from Ayrshire. 3. Mary McFadyen (c. 1775-1835), a Scottish botanical artist and illustrator. 4. Angus McFadyen (1850-1923), a Scottish-born Australian politician and farmer in Victoria. 5. John McFadyen (1870-1937), a Scottish Anglican clergyman and author who served as Bishop of Mackenzie River in Canada.

Over time, variations in spelling have emerged, including McFadyen, McFaden, McFaddyen, and McVadyen, among others. These alternative spellings often reflect regional differences or changes in pronunciation.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mcfadyen families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mcfadyen 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. Renfrewshire leads with 9 Mcfadyens recorded in 1881 and an index of 54.15x.

County Total Index
Renfrewshire 9 54.15x
Northumberland 5 15.67x
Lanarkshire 4 5.77x
Midlothian 2 6.96x
Cheshire 1 2.11x
Yorkshire 1 0.47x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Renfrew in Renfrewshire leads with 9 Mcfadyens recorded in 1881 and an index of 1636.36x.

Place Total Index
Renfrew 9 1636.36x
Longbenton 5 370.37x
Barony 3 17.09x
Liberton 2 454.55x
Leeds 1 8.33x
Newton In Ashton Under 1 212.77x
Tradeston 1 10000.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Margaret 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 2
Alexander 1
Allen 1
Angus 1
George 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 Mcfadyen households.

FAQ

Mcfadyen surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mcfadyen surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,881 people were recorded with the Mcfadyen surname. That placed it at #2,318 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mcfadyen surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,719 in 2016. That gives Mcfadyen a modern rank of #2,473.

What does the Mcfadyen surname mean?

Scottish surname transferred from the Gaelic personal name Pàdraig meaning "son of Patrick" or "descendent of Patrick".

What does the Mcfadyen map show?

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