NameCensus.

UK surname

Mcgahey

A Scottish surname derived from a Gaelic personal name meaning "son of the vigilant one."

In the 1881 census there were 73 people recorded with the Mcgahey surname, ranking it #23,220 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 364, ranked #12,748, up from #23,220 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Darlington, Newchurch and Brancepeth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Denbighshire, Birmingham and Manchester.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mcgahey is 385 in 2011. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 398.6%.

1881 census count

73

Ranked #23,220

Modern count

364

2016, ranked #12,748

Peak year

2011

385 bearers

Map years

5

1901 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mcgahey had 73 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #23,220 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 364 in 2016, ranked #12,748.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 108 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Mcgahey surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mcgahey surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mcgahey 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 28 #28,274
1861 historical 34 #29,685
1881 historical 73 #23,220
1891 historical 73 #27,677
1901 historical 108 #21,836
1911 historical 104 #22,209
1997 modern 341 #12,407
1998 modern 364 #12,201
1999 modern 361 #12,347
2000 modern 361 #12,288
2001 modern 352 #12,318
2002 modern 355 #12,471
2003 modern 342 #12,627
2004 modern 351 #12,422
2005 modern 343 #12,546
2006 modern 347 #12,515
2007 modern 354 #12,489
2008 modern 348 #12,751
2009 modern 362 #12,637
2010 modern 379 #12,483
2011 modern 385 #12,195
2012 modern 370 #12,417
2013 modern 368 #12,676
2014 modern 370 #12,712
2015 modern 363 #12,793
2016 modern 364 #12,748

Geography

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Where Mcgaheys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Darlington, Newchurch, Brancepeth, Preston and Birmingham Town: Birmingham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Denbighshire, Birmingham, Manchester, Tameside and Kingston upon Hull. 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 Darlington Durham
2 Newchurch Hampshire
3 Brancepeth Durham
4 Preston Lancashire
5 Birmingham Town: Birmingham Warwickshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Denbighshire 013 Denbighshire
2 Birmingham 122 Birmingham
3 Manchester 049 Manchester
4 Tameside 025 Tameside
5 Kingston upon Hull 028 Kingston upon Hull, City of

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mcgahey

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mcgahey

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Mcgahey, 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 Mcgahey surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Mcgahey 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, Mcgahey 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

Mcgahey is most concentrated in decile 7 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Mcgahey falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Mcgahey is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Mcgahey

The surname MCGAHEY has its origins in Ireland, dating back to the 16th century. It is a variation of the Irish Gaelic name "Mac Gadhradha," which means "son of the watchdog" or "son of the warlike one." This name likely originated in County Donegal, where many families bearing this name were once concentrated.

The earliest recorded instance of the MCGAHEY surname can be traced back to a 1602 document known as the "Fiants of the Reign of Elizabeth I," where a man named Donnell McGahey was mentioned. This document provides evidence of the name's existence during the late 16th century in Ireland.

Over time, the spelling of the name evolved, with variants such as McGahey, McGahay, McGahie, and Magee emerging. These variations were likely due to differences in pronunciation and the transcription of the name by English scribes.

One notable historical figure with the MCGAHEY surname was Reverend William McGahey (c. 1660-1725), an Irish Presbyterian minister who served as the first minister of Ballywalter Presbyterian Church in County Down, Ireland. He played a significant role in the early establishment of Presbyterianism in Ulster.

Another prominent individual was John McGahey (1823-1898), an Irish-American businessman and politician who served as the Mayor of Philadelphia from 1866 to 1869. He was born in County Donegal and immigrated to the United States, where he became a successful entrepreneur and influential figure in Philadelphia politics.

In the literary realm, James McGahey (1908-1991) was an Irish writer and poet who published several collections of poetry and plays. His works often explored themes of Irish identity and rural life in County Donegal, where he was born and raised.

Moving to the world of sports, Patrick McGahey (1861-1927) was an Irish-American baseball player who played in the Major League Baseball from 1884 to 1888. He was born in County Donegal and later immigrated to the United States, where he pursued a career in professional baseball.

Finally, Kathleen McGahey (1891-1981) was an Irish actress and singer who performed in various theater productions and musicals in the early 20th century. She was born in County Armagh and achieved success on the stage in both Ireland and England.

These are just a few examples of individuals throughout history who have borne the MCGAHEY surname, showcasing its enduring presence in Ireland and beyond.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mcgahey families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mcgahey 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. Hampshire leads with 3 Mcgaheys recorded in 1881 and an index of 50.08x.

County Total Index
Hampshire 3 50.08x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Ryde in Hampshire leads with 3 Mcgaheys recorded in 1881 and an index of 2307.69x.

Place Total Index
Ryde 3 2307.69x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Louisa 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
Charles 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 Mcgahey households.

Occupation Count
Tailor 1

FAQ

Mcgahey surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mcgahey surname in 1881?

In 1881, 73 people were recorded with the Mcgahey surname. That placed it at #23,220 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mcgahey surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 364 in 2016. That gives Mcgahey a modern rank of #12,748.

What does the Mcgahey surname mean?

A Scottish surname derived from a Gaelic personal name meaning "son of the vigilant one."

What does the Mcgahey map show?

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