NameCensus.

UK surname

Mcfaul

A Scottish surname derived from the Gaelic elements "mac" meaning "son" and "fal" meaning "handsome" or "bright."

In the 1881 census there were 30 people recorded with the Mcfaul surname, ranking it #29,363 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 289, ranked #15,137, up from #29,363 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire and Alness.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mcfaul is 300 in 2013. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 863.3%.

1881 census count

30

Ranked #29,363

Modern count

289

2016, ranked #15,137

Peak year

2013

300 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mcfaul had 30 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #29,363 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 289 in 2016, ranked #15,137.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 43 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Mcfaul surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mcfaul surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mcfaul 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 22 #29,378
1861 historical 13 #32,208
1881 historical 30 #29,363
1891 historical 41 #31,095
1901 historical 43 #29,380
1911 historical 21 #31,179
1997 modern 239 #15,718
1998 modern 240 #16,117
1999 modern 271 #14,954
2000 modern 262 #15,272
2001 modern 256 #15,273
2002 modern 246 #15,988
2003 modern 239 #16,093
2004 modern 238 #16,242
2005 modern 248 #15,721
2006 modern 258 #15,402
2007 modern 276 #14,855
2008 modern 280 #14,823
2009 modern 273 #15,436
2010 modern 283 #15,363
2011 modern 285 #15,140
2012 modern 294 #14,705
2013 modern 300 #14,744
2014 modern 300 #14,839
2015 modern 289 #15,153
2016 modern 289 #15,137

Geography

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Where Mcfauls 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 Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, Alness, Leeds and Taunton Deane. 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 Kingston upon Hull 008 Kingston upon Hull, City of
2 East Riding of Yorkshire 041 East Riding of Yorkshire
3 Alness Highland
4 Leeds 091 Leeds
5 Taunton Deane 012 Taunton Deane

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mcfaul

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mcfaul

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Mcfaul surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Mcfaul household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Mcfaul is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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 residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Mcfaul is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Mcfaul

The surname MCFAUL has its origins in Scotland, with roots dating back to the 16th century. It is believed to be derived from the Gaelic words "mac" meaning "son" and "faol" meaning "wolf" or "leader," suggesting that the name may have originally referred to a son of a chieftain or leader.

The earliest recorded mention of the name can be found in the Scottish Clan registers from the late 1500s, where it appears as "McFaul" and variations such as "McFawl" and "McFall." These spellings were common in the Scottish Lowlands, particularly in the regions of Ayrshire and Lanarkshire.

In the 17th century, the name MCFAUL appeared in various parish records and legal documents, indicating its growing presence in Scottish society. One notable figure was James McFaul (1634-1701), a prominent merchant and landowner in Glasgow, who left a substantial estate upon his death.

As Scottish migration to Ireland increased in the 17th and 18th centuries, the name MCFAUL also became established in Ulster, particularly in counties such as Antrim and Down. One of the earliest recorded instances in Ireland was the birth of Robert McFaul in 1678 in County Antrim.

The 19th century saw the spread of the MCFAUL name to other parts of the world, as Scottish and Irish emigrants sought new opportunities. John McFaul (1815-1892), a Scottish-born engineer, made significant contributions to the development of railroads in Australia, where he worked on several major projects.

Another notable figure was William McFaul (1837-1907), an Irish-born businessman and politician who served as a member of the New Zealand Parliament. He played a key role in the establishment of the country's dairy industry.

In the United States, one of the earliest recorded instances of the MCFAUL name was the arrival of James McFaul, who immigrated from Scotland to Pennsylvania in 1775. During the American Civil War, Captain John McFaul (1835-1864) served in the Union Army and was killed in action at the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House.

Throughout history, the MCFAUL surname has been carried by individuals from diverse backgrounds, including writers, artists, academics, and military personnel. While the name may have evolved in spelling and pronunciation over time, its Scottish origins and association with leadership and strength have endured.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mcfaul families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mcfaul 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. Sussex leads with 1 Mcfauls recorded in 1881 and an index of 61.35x.

County Total Index
Sussex 1 61.35x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Subdeanery in Sussex leads with 1 Mcfauls recorded in 1881 and an index of 10000.00x.

Place Total Index
Subdeanery 1 10000.00x

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 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 Mcfaul households.

Occupation Count
Private Soldier 107th Foot 1

FAQ

Mcfaul surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mcfaul surname in 1881?

In 1881, 30 people were recorded with the Mcfaul surname. That placed it at #29,363 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mcfaul surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 289 in 2016. That gives Mcfaul a modern rank of #15,137.

What does the Mcfaul surname mean?

A Scottish surname derived from the Gaelic elements "mac" meaning "son" and "fal" meaning "handsome" or "bright."

What does the Mcfaul map show?

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