NameCensus.

UK surname

Mcgall

From a Scottish surname derived from the Gaelic 'Mac Gille' meaning 'son of the servant lad'.

In the 1881 census there were 47 people recorded with the Mcgall surname, ranking it #27,019 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 159, ranked #22,798, up from #27,019 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall, Linwood North and Farme Cross and Gallowflat North.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mcgall is 159 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 238.3%.

1881 census count

47

Ranked #27,019

Modern count

159

2016, ranked #22,798

Peak year

2014

159 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mcgall had 47 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #27,019 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 159 in 2016, ranked #22,798.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 61 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Mcgall surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mcgall surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mcgall 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 35 #27,037
1861 historical 56 #26,864
1881 historical 47 #27,019
1891 historical 61 #29,103
1901 historical 61 #27,379
1911 historical 4 #33,595
1997 modern 148 #21,295
1998 modern 145 #22,139
1999 modern 155 #21,375
2000 modern 156 #21,235
2001 modern 151 #21,375
2002 modern 139 #22,991
2003 modern 124 #24,378
2004 modern 133 #23,528
2005 modern 134 #23,406
2006 modern 139 #23,044
2007 modern 148 #22,406
2008 modern 154 #22,034
2009 modern 151 #22,816
2010 modern 154 #23,082
2011 modern 145 #23,837
2012 modern 143 #24,019
2013 modern 149 #23,765
2014 modern 159 #22,930
2015 modern 155 #23,194
2016 modern 159 #22,798

Geography

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Where Mcgalls 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 Cornwall, Linwood North and Farme Cross and Gallowflat North. 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 Cornwall 024 Cornwall
2 Cornwall 030 Cornwall
3 Cornwall 027 Cornwall
4 Linwood North Renfrewshire
5 Farme Cross and Gallowflat North South Lanarkshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mcgall

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mcgall

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

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

City Support Workers

Within London, Mcgall is most associated with areas classed as City Support Workers, part of Central Connected Professionals and Managers. 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

Scattered throughout Inner London, these areas house relatively few workers in the most senior roles within organisations, and greater prevalence of administrative roles relative to the Supergroup mean. Residents are less likely to be of Chinese ethnicity and are more likely to have been born in Africa. Relative to the Supergroup average, residents are also more likely to live in social housing and live in overcrowded conditions.

Wider London pattern

Adult residents of these neighbourhoods are typically aged 25 to 44, working full-time in professional, managerial or associate professional occupations. There are few families with dependent children. The predominantly Inner London neighbourhoods have an international character, including many residents born elsewhere in Europe alongside high numbers of individuals identifying as of Chinese ethnicity. Many individuals are never married, childless and/or living alone. Above average numbers of individuals, likely to be full-time students, live in communal establishments. Elsewhere, privately rented flats are the dominant housing type. Residents of these areas are well-qualified, with a significant number holding Level 4 or above qualifications. There is a correspondingly high level of individuals employed full-time in professional, managerial and associated professional or technical occupations. Employing industries are financial, real estate, professional, administration, and, to a lesser degree, transport and communications. Unemployment is uncommon.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Mcgall 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

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

Meaning and origin of Mcgall

The surname McGall has its origins in Scotland, with the earliest recorded instances dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to be derived from the Gaelic words "mac" meaning "son of" and "gall" meaning "stranger" or "foreigner." This suggests that the name was initially given to individuals of foreign descent or those who had settled in Scotland from abroad.

One of the earliest recorded references to the name can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a collection of homage rolls from Scottish nobles swearing allegiance to King Edward I of England. In these rolls, the name appears as "Macgal" and "Macgalle," indicating the variations in spelling that existed during that time.

In the 14th century, the McGall name was associated with the lands of Galloway in southwestern Scotland. Historical records show that a certain Duncan McGall held lands in the parish of Kirkcudbright, in what is now Dumfries and Galloway, during the reign of King David II (1329-1371).

As the centuries progressed, the McGall name spread across Scotland, with various branches establishing themselves in different regions. Notably, in the 16th century, a prominent individual named John McGall (1522-1587) served as the Bishop of Galloway and played a significant role in the Scottish Reformation.

Another noteworthy figure bearing the McGall surname was Sir James McGall (1744-1826), a Scottish merchant and politician. He served as the Lord Provost of Glasgow and was influential in the city's economic and cultural development during the late 18th and early 19th centuries.

In the literary world, Andrew McGall (1719-1789) was a Scottish poet and songwriter, best known for his collection of poems titled "The Twa Herds, or, The Hunter's Camp." His work contributed to the preservation of Scottish folklore and tradition.

The McGall name also found its way across the Atlantic, with individuals bearing this surname contributing to the development of various regions in North America. One such example is Robert McGall (1784-1854), a Scottish-born merchant and landowner who settled in Upper Canada (now Ontario) and played a role in the establishment of the town of Goderich.

Throughout history, the McGall surname has been associated with various locations and place names, including Galloway, Kirkcudbright, and Glasgow in Scotland, as well as Goderich in Canada. The spelling variations have included Macgal, Macgalle, McGall, and McGaull, among others.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mcgall families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mcgall 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. Middlesex leads with 1 Mcgalls recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.19x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 1 5.19x
Surrey 1 10.65x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kingston On Thames in Surrey leads with 1 Mcgalls recorded in 1881 and an index of 434.78x.

Place Total Index
Kingston On Thames 1 434.78x
St Luke London 1 322.58x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Thomas 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 Mcgall households.

Occupation Count
Warehousemans Assistant 1

FAQ

Mcgall surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mcgall surname in 1881?

In 1881, 47 people were recorded with the Mcgall surname. That placed it at #27,019 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mcgall surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 159 in 2016. That gives Mcgall a modern rank of #22,798.

What does the Mcgall surname mean?

From a Scottish surname derived from the Gaelic 'Mac Gille' meaning 'son of the servant lad'.

What does the Mcgall map show?

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