NameCensus.

UK surname

Mcgarrity

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic Mac Oireachtaigh, meaning "son of the heir" or "son of the landowner."

In the 1881 census there were 242 people recorded with the Mcgarrity surname, ranking it #11,333 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 684, ranked #7,836, up from #11,333 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Port Glasgow, Bothwell and Old Monkland. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Darnley East, Greenock East and Sunderland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mcgarrity is 684 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 182.6%.

1881 census count

242

Ranked #11,333

Modern count

684

2016, ranked #7,836

Peak year

2016

684 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mcgarrity had 242 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,333 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 684 in 2016, ranked #7,836.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 309 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Mcgarrity surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mcgarrity surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mcgarrity 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 25 #28,853
1861 historical 56 #26,864
1881 historical 242 #11,333
1891 historical 234 #13,352
1901 historical 309 #11,418
1911 historical 114 #21,064
1997 modern 625 #7,916
1998 modern 661 #7,806
1999 modern 674 #7,733
2000 modern 659 #7,852
2001 modern 647 #7,824
2002 modern 640 #8,050
2003 modern 623 #8,089
2004 modern 620 #8,141
2005 modern 634 #7,932
2006 modern 644 #7,861
2007 modern 661 #7,764
2008 modern 659 #7,830
2009 modern 668 #7,913
2010 modern 676 #7,990
2011 modern 668 #7,988
2012 modern 668 #7,896
2013 modern 674 #7,979
2014 modern 675 #8,007
2015 modern 679 #7,904
2016 modern 684 #7,836

Geography

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Where Mcgarritys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Port Glasgow, Bothwell, Old Monkland, Glasgow and Paisley Abbey. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Darnley East, Greenock East, Sunderland, Shropshire and Gartcosh and Marnock. 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 Port Glasgow Renfrew
2 Bothwell Lanark
3 Old Monkland Lanark
4 Glasgow Lanark
5 Paisley Abbey Renfrew

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Darnley East Glasgow City
2 Greenock East Inverclyde
3 Sunderland 008 Sunderland
4 Shropshire 038 Shropshire
5 Gartcosh and Marnock North Lanarkshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mcgarrity

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mcgarrity

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Mcgarrity is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Mcgarrity is most concentrated in decile 2 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Mcgarrity

The surname McGarrity is of Irish origin, with its roots traced back to the Gaelic language. It is believed to have originated in the 16th or 17th century, derived from the Gaelic word "Mac Geirfhidh," which means "son of Geirfhidh." Geirfhidh was a personal name that translates to "rough" or "shaggy."

The earliest recordings of the name can be found in ancient Irish records and manuscripts from the 17th century. One notable mention is in the Petty Census of 1659, which documented landowners and their holdings in Ireland. The name was primarily concentrated in counties such as Donegal, Tyrone, and Fermanagh, suggesting that these areas were the ancestral homelands of the McGarrity clan.

In the 18th century, the name appeared in various spellings, including McGarrety, McGarritty, and McGarraghy, reflecting the fluidity of surname spellings during that time. One of the earliest recorded individuals with this surname was Pádraig McGarrity, a landowner from County Donegal who lived in the early 1700s.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the McGarrity surname. John McGarrity (1789-1853) was an Irish poet and songwriter from County Tyrone, known for his works in the Irish language. Michael McGarrity (1840-1910) was a prominent Irish nationalist and member of the Irish Republican Brotherhood, who played a role in the Fenian movement.

In the 20th century, John McGarrity (1905-1988) was an American labor leader who served as the president of the United Mine Workers of America from 1972 to 1977. Thomas McGarrity (1894-1966) was a Canadian politician and lawyer who served as a member of the Canadian House of Commons.

Another notable figure was Brendan McGarrity (1929-2001), an Irish Catholic priest and civil rights activist who campaigned for social justice and peace during the Troubles in Northern Ireland. He played a crucial role in mediating between various factions and advocating for non-violent resolution.

While the McGarrity surname may have evolved and dispersed globally over time, its origins can be traced back to the ancient Gaelic lands of Ireland, where it emerged as a distinct clan name with a rich cultural heritage.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mcgarrity families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mcgarrity 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 3 Mcgarritys recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.51x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 3 6.51x
Durham 1 8.65x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Dalton In Furness in Lancashire leads with 2 Mcgarritys recorded in 1881 and an index of 1111.11x.

Place Total Index
Dalton In Furness 2 1111.11x
Bishop Auckland 1 625.00x
Thornton In Fylde 1 1000.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Bernard 1
John 1
Peter 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 Mcgarrity households.

FAQ

Mcgarrity surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mcgarrity surname in 1881?

In 1881, 242 people were recorded with the Mcgarrity surname. That placed it at #11,333 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mcgarrity surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 684 in 2016. That gives Mcgarrity a modern rank of #7,836.

What does the Mcgarrity surname mean?

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic Mac Oireachtaigh, meaning "son of the heir" or "son of the landowner."

What does the Mcgarrity map show?

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