UK surname
Scottish surname derived from a Gaelic personal name meaning "son of Padden".
In the 1881 census there were 107 people recorded with the Mcfadzen surname, ranking it #18,982 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 49, ranked #34,957, down from #18,982 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Girvan, Carsphairn and Govan Combination. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mcfadzen is 125 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 54.2%.
1881 census count
107
Ranked #18,982
Modern count
49
2016, ranked #34,957
Peak year
1861
125 bearers
Map years
3
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Mcfadzen surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Mcfadzen surname density by area, 1881 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 95 | #17,707 |
| 1861 | historical | 125 | #17,678 |
| 1881 | historical | 107 | #18,982 |
| 1891 | historical | 115 | #21,878 |
| 1901 | historical | 88 | #24,270 |
| 1911 | historical | 17 | #31,675 |
| 1997 | modern | 42 | #33,459 |
| 1998 | modern | 39 | #33,967 |
| 1999 | modern | 35 | #34,418 |
| 2000 | modern | 36 | #34,317 |
| 2001 | modern | 37 | #34,082 |
| 2002 | modern | 38 | #34,307 |
| 2003 | modern | 36 | #34,522 |
| 2004 | modern | 38 | #34,555 |
| 2005 | modern | 40 | #34,562 |
| 2006 | modern | 40 | #34,854 |
| 2007 | modern | 46 | #34,634 |
| 2008 | modern | 54 | #34,232 |
| 2009 | modern | 52 | #34,544 |
| 2010 | modern | 47 | #35,009 |
| 2011 | modern | 46 | #35,047 |
| 2012 | modern | 45 | #35,105 |
| 2013 | modern | 47 | #35,071 |
| 2014 | modern | 49 | #34,991 |
| 2015 | modern | 48 | #35,004 |
| 2016 | modern | 49 | #34,957 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Girvan, Carsphairn, Govan Combination, Old Luce and Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Girvan | Ayr |
| 2 | Carsphairn | Kirkcudbright |
| 3 | Govan Combination | Lanark |
| 4 | Old Luce | Wigtown |
| 5 | Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry | Forfar |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Mcfadzen surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Mcfadzen, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Mcfadzen surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Mcfadzen household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Mcfadzen is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Mcfadzen is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Mcfadzen, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname MCFADZEN is of Scottish origin, originating from the regions of Argyll and Bute in the western Highlands of Scotland. The name is derived from the Gaelic personal name "Macfadzean" or "MacFadyen," which means "son of the bald one."
The earliest recorded instances of the MCFADZEN name can be traced back to the 16th century. One of the earliest documented references is found in the Black Book of Taymouth, a historical record of the Breadalbane region, which mentions a certain "John Makfadezean" in the year 1543.
In the 17th century, the name appeared in various records and manuscripts, including the Commissariot Records of Argyll and the Isles, which document a "Donald McFadzean" in 1629. The name was also found in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland, with a "Gilchrist Makfadzane" listed in 1623.
During the 18th century, the MCFADZEN name was associated with several notable individuals. One of the most prominent figures was John McFadzen (1718-1789), a Scottish minister and philosopher who served as the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 1784.
Another notable bearer of the name was Archibald McFadzen (1744-1821), a Scottish merchant and landowner who established a successful trading company in the West Indies. His son, Archibald McFadzen Jr. (1770-1842), followed in his footsteps and became a prominent figure in the British colonial administration.
In the 19th century, the MCFADZEN name continued to be associated with various prominent individuals. One such figure was Alexander McFadzen (1801-1875), a Scottish physician and writer who published several works on medical topics.
Another notable bearer of the name was John McFadzen (1825-1899), a Scottish politician and lawyer who served as a Member of Parliament for the Arbroath Burghs constituency from 1868 to 1874.
While the MCFADZEN surname originated in Scotland, it has since spread to various parts of the world, including North America, Australia, and New Zealand, due to Scottish immigration and diaspora.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mcfadzen surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Ayrshire leads with 4 Mcfadzens recorded in 1881 and an index of 137.46x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Ayrshire | 4 | 137.46x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Ayr in Ayrshire leads with 4 Mcfadzens recorded in 1881 and an index of 2857.14x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Ayr | 4 | 2857.14x |
FAQ
In 1881, 107 people were recorded with the Mcfadzen surname. That placed it at #18,982 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 49 in 2016. That gives Mcfadzen a modern rank of #34,957.
Scottish surname derived from a Gaelic personal name meaning "son of Padden".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Mcfadzen bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.