NameCensus.

UK surname

Mcfee

A Scottish surname derived from the Gaelic "Mac Dhuibhshíthe," meaning "son of the dark fairy" or "son of the dark peace."

In the 1881 census there were 352 people recorded with the Mcfee surname, ranking it #8,718 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 267, ranked #16,054, down from #8,718 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Dundonald, Govan Combination and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Middlesbrough, Knowsley and Birmingham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mcfee is 479 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 24.1%.

1881 census count

352

Ranked #8,718

Modern count

267

2016, ranked #16,054

Peak year

1851

479 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mcfee had 352 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,718 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 267 in 2016, ranked #16,054.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 479 in 1851.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Mcfee surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mcfee surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mcfee 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 479 #5,198
1861 historical 390 #6,567
1881 historical 352 #8,718
1891 historical 386 #9,138
1901 historical 280 #12,193
1911 historical 119 #20,535
1997 modern 207 #17,267
1998 modern 222 #16,969
1999 modern 234 #16,506
2000 modern 235 #16,423
2001 modern 232 #16,314
2002 modern 243 #16,147
2003 modern 238 #16,144
2004 modern 236 #16,335
2005 modern 235 #16,335
2006 modern 234 #16,493
2007 modern 231 #16,835
2008 modern 235 #16,777
2009 modern 237 #17,052
2010 modern 256 #16,523
2011 modern 251 #16,589
2012 modern 243 #16,839
2013 modern 263 #16,232
2014 modern 265 #16,247
2015 modern 261 #16,318
2016 modern 267 #16,054

Geography

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Where Mcfees are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Dundonald, Govan Combination, Edinburgh, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry and Greenock. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Middlesbrough, Knowsley, Birmingham and Worcester. 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 Dundonald Ayr
2 Govan Combination Lanark
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar
5 Greenock Renfrew

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Middlesbrough 004 Middlesbrough
2 Knowsley 001 Knowsley
3 Birmingham 035 Birmingham
4 Middlesbrough 007 Middlesbrough
5 Worcester 009 Worcester

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mcfee

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mcfee

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

Young Families in Industrial Towns

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

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, Mcfee 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

Mcfee 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

Mcfee 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 Mcfee 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 - British

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

Meaning and origin of Mcfee

The surname McFee has its origins in the Scottish Highlands, dating back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Gaelic "Mac Phaidein," which means "son of Paidein" or "son of the little Patrick." The name was initially used as a patronymic, indicating the father's name.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which documented Scottish landowners who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England. The name appears as "Macfee" in these rolls, suggesting that the spelling and pronunciation had already evolved from its original Gaelic form.

In the 16th century, the McFee family was prominent in the region of Argyll, Scotland. Historical records from this time mention a Duncan McFee, who was a prominent landowner and chieftain of the clan. His descendants continued to hold significant influence in the area for several generations.

The McFee name also appears in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landowners in England and Wales commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. This suggests that some members of the clan had migrated to England by the late 11th century, likely due to political or economic reasons.

One notable figure in the history of the McFee name is John McFee (1650-1725), a Scottish philosopher and theologian known for his writings on natural theology and moral philosophy. He was born in Ayrshire and studied at the University of Glasgow, later becoming a minister in the Church of Scotland.

Another prominent individual was Sir Alexander McFee (1775-1847), a Scottish-born soldier who served in the British Army during the Napoleonic Wars. He distinguished himself in various battles, including the Battle of Waterloo, and was knighted for his bravery and leadership.

In the arts, the name is associated with the Scottish poet and playwright, Robert McFee (1820-1890). Born in Dundee, he gained recognition for his works celebrating Scottish life and culture, including the play "The Laird o' Cockpen."

In the United States, one of the earliest recorded instances of the McFee name was in the late 18th century, when a family of Scottish immigrants settled in the Carolinas. Their descendants later migrated westward, contributing to the growth and development of various regions across the country.

Throughout history, the McFee name has been spelled in various ways, including MacFee, McPhee, and McVee, reflecting the evolution of language and regional variations in pronunciation and spelling.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mcfee families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mcfee 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 16 Mcfees recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.77x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 16 4.77x
Durham 6 7.13x
Isle of Man 3 57.14x
Cheshire 1 1.60x
Gloucestershire 1 1.80x
Northumberland 1 2.38x
Surrey 1 0.73x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bishopwearmouth in Durham leads with 6 Mcfees recorded in 1881 and an index of 83.10x.

Place Total Index
Bishopwearmouth 6 83.10x
Everton 5 46.77x
Liverpool 5 24.53x
Kirkdale 3 53.19x
Maughold 3 731.71x
Camberwell 1 5.54x
Cowpen 1 103.09x
Gloucester St Catherine 1 625.00x
Oldham 1 9.23x
Toxteth Park 1 8.80x
Wallasey 1 476.19x
Walton On Hill 1 54.95x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Jessie 2
Margaret 2
Alice 1
Ann 1
Celementa 1
Ellen 1
Harriet 1
Mary 1
Sarah 1
Wineford 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 6
Daniel 2
James 2
William 2
Alexander 1
Edward 1
Hugh 1
Lawrance 1
Pat. 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 Mcfee households.

FAQ

Mcfee surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mcfee surname in 1881?

In 1881, 352 people were recorded with the Mcfee surname. That placed it at #8,718 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mcfee surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 267 in 2016. That gives Mcfee a modern rank of #16,054.

What does the Mcfee surname mean?

A Scottish surname derived from the Gaelic "Mac Dhuibhshíthe," meaning "son of the dark fairy" or "son of the dark peace."

What does the Mcfee map show?

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