NameCensus.

UK surname

Mcgarva

Of uncertain origin but possibly derives from a place name meaning "son of the man from Garva".

In the 1881 census there were 253 people recorded with the Mcgarva surname, ranking it #10,980 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 531, ranked #9,559, up from #10,980 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Girvan, Govan Combination and Dailly. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Stranraer West, Rhins North and Machars South.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mcgarva is 531 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 109.9%.

1881 census count

253

Ranked #10,980

Modern count

531

2016, ranked #9,559

Peak year

2016

531 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mcgarva had 253 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,980 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 531 in 2016, ranked #9,559.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 384 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Mcgarva surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mcgarva surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Mcgarva 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 167 #11,936
1861 historical 204 #11,814
1881 historical 253 #10,980
1891 historical 313 #10,723
1901 historical 384 #9,745
1911 historical 58 #27,001
1997 modern 473 #9,706
1998 modern 488 #9,780
1999 modern 521 #9,362
2000 modern 505 #9,561
2001 modern 501 #9,448
2002 modern 527 #9,285
2003 modern 503 #9,446
2004 modern 507 #9,419
2005 modern 506 #9,367
2006 modern 488 #9,648
2007 modern 499 #9,574
2008 modern 508 #9,521
2009 modern 508 #9,733
2010 modern 510 #9,899
2011 modern 503 #9,908
2012 modern 510 #9,722
2013 modern 517 #9,766
2014 modern 525 #9,745
2015 modern 528 #9,633
2016 modern 531 #9,559

Geography

Back to top

Where Mcgarvas are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Girvan, Govan Combination, Dailly, Kirkmabreck and Manchester. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Stranraer West, Rhins North, Machars South, Stranraer East and Braeside, Branchton, Lower Larkfield and Ravenscraig. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Girvan Ayr
2 Govan Combination Lanark
3 Dailly Ayr
4 Kirkmabreck Kirkcudbright
5 Manchester Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Stranraer West Dumfries and Galloway
2 Rhins North Dumfries and Galloway
3 Machars South Dumfries and Galloway
4 Stranraer East Dumfries and Galloway
5 Braeside, Branchton, Lower Larkfield and Ravenscraig Inverclyde

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Mcgarva

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Mcgarva

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

Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles

Group

Established Homeowners with Children

Within London, Mcgarva is most associated with areas classed as Established Homeowners with Children, part of Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles. 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 predominantly British-born residents are typically married/in civil partnerships and own the properties in which they are raising their children. Parents are typically over 45, and many other residents are beyond normal retirement age. Detached and semi-detached houses predominate and multiple car ownership is common.

Wider London pattern

These neighbourhoods house people of all ages, predominantly of White British or European extraction. Resident turnover is low. Religious affiliation is less common than average and tends to be Christian if expressed. Homeownership, typically of terraced houses, is common but use of the social rented sector is not. Employment is typically in professional, managerial and associate professional or technical occupations. There are few full-time students. Level 4 qualifications are common. More households lack dependent children than have them which, considered alongside low levels of crowding and over-all age structure, indicates that many households may be post child-rearing and in late middle age. Incidence of disability is low, as is residence in communal establishments.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Mcgarva 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

Mcgarva falls in decile 4 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Mcgarva 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 Mcgarva, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Mcgarva

The surname MCGARVA is of Scottish origin, originating from the Highland region of Scotland during the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Gaelic words "mac" meaning "son of" and "garbh" meaning "rough" or "rugged." This suggests that the name was likely given to someone who lived in a harsh or rugged environment or had a rough or rugged appearance.

One of the earliest recorded references to the name MCGARVA can be found in the Ragman Rolls, a collection of homage rolls from the late 13th century, which recorded the names of Scottish nobles and landowners who swore fealty to King Edward I of England. This indicates that the MCGARVA name was already established among the Scottish gentry by this time.

The name MCGARVA is also found in various historical documents from the 15th and 16th centuries, such as the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland and the Register of the Great Seal of Scotland. These records often mention individuals with the name MCGARVA in relation to land transactions, legal disputes, and other official matters.

One notable bearer of the MCGARVA name was Finlay MCGARVA, a Scottish soldier who fought alongside Robert the Bruce during the Wars of Scottish Independence in the early 14th century. Finlay MCGARVA was said to have been a fierce warrior and played a significant role in several battles against the English forces.

Another historical figure was John MCGARVA (1612-1687), a Scottish minister and theologian who served as the Principal of the University of Edinburgh from 1674 until his death. He was a prominent figure in the Church of Scotland and played a role in the religious debates and controversies of his time.

In the 18th century, Malcolm MCGARVA (1720-1793) was a Scottish merchant and landowner who made his fortune through trade and investments. He was known for his philanthropic endeavors, including the establishment of a school and hospital in his native town.

One of the most famous bearers of the MCGARVA name was Sir James MCGARVA (1876-1945), a Scottish industrialist and philanthropist. He founded the MCGARVA Steel Company, which became one of the largest steel manufacturers in Scotland, and he also donated a significant portion of his wealth to various charitable causes.

The MCGARVA name has also been associated with several place names in Scotland, such as MCGARVA Glen, MCGARVA Loch, and MCGARVA Croft, which likely derived from the presence of MCGARVA families in those areas over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Mcgarva families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mcgarva 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. Ayrshire leads with 8 Mcgarvas recorded in 1881 and an index of 136.99x.

County Total Index
Ayrshire 8 136.99x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Girvan in Ayrshire leads with 4 Mcgarvas recorded in 1881 and an index of 2666.67x.

Place Total Index
Girvan 4 2666.67x
Straiton 3 10000.00x
Ayr 1 357.14x

FAQ

Mcgarva surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mcgarva surname in 1881?

In 1881, 253 people were recorded with the Mcgarva surname. That placed it at #10,980 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mcgarva surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 531 in 2016. That gives Mcgarva a modern rank of #9,559.

What does the Mcgarva surname mean?

Of uncertain origin but possibly derives from a place name meaning "son of the man from Garva".

What does the Mcgarva map show?

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