NameCensus.

UK surname

Mcgarvey

A surname of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic "Mac Gairbhith," meaning "son of the rough peace."

In the 1881 census there were 112 people recorded with the Mcgarvey surname, ranking it #18,501 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,151, ranked #5,129, up from #18,501 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Govan Combination, Edinburgh and Greenock. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Portsoy, Fordyce and Cornhill, Nitshill and Mount Florida.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mcgarvey is 1,151 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 927.7%.

1881 census count

112

Ranked #18,501

Modern count

1,151

2016, ranked #5,129

Peak year

2016

1,151 bearers

Map years

6

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mcgarvey had 112 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #18,501 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,151 in 2016, ranked #5,129.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 132 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Mcgarvey surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mcgarvey surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mcgarvey 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 39 #26,319
1861 historical 96 #21,648
1881 historical 112 #18,501
1891 historical 101 #23,870
1901 historical 132 #19,469
1911 historical 74 #25,423
1997 modern 978 #5,601
1998 modern 998 #5,682
1999 modern 1,031 #5,575
2000 modern 1,050 #5,469
2001 modern 1,020 #5,497
2002 modern 1,025 #5,588
2003 modern 1,001 #5,589
2004 modern 996 #5,619
2005 modern 1,000 #5,549
2006 modern 1,028 #5,434
2007 modern 1,049 #5,398
2008 modern 1,041 #5,464
2009 modern 1,055 #5,526
2010 modern 1,087 #5,493
2011 modern 1,092 #5,413
2012 modern 1,073 #5,397
2013 modern 1,108 #5,338
2014 modern 1,136 #5,261
2015 modern 1,148 #5,164
2016 modern 1,151 #5,129

Geography

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Where Mcgarveys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Govan Combination, Edinburgh, Greenock, Glasgow and Liverpool. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Portsoy, Fordyce and Cornhill, Nitshill, Mount Florida, Drumoyne and Shieldhall and Govanhill East and Aikenhead. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Govan Combination Lanark
2 Edinburgh Edinburgh
3 Greenock Renfrew
4 Glasgow Lanark
5 Liverpool Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Portsoy, Fordyce and Cornhill Aberdeenshire
2 Nitshill Glasgow City
3 Mount Florida Glasgow City
4 Drumoyne and Shieldhall Glasgow City
5 Govanhill East and Aikenhead Glasgow City

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mcgarvey

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mcgarvey

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Mcgarvey surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Mcgarvey household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Mcgarvey 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

Mcgarvey 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

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

Meaning and origin of Mcgarvey

The surname McGarvey has its origins in Ireland, with roots dating back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Irish Gaelic name "Mac Garbháin," which translates to "son of Garbhán." Garbhán was a personal name that meant "rough" or "coarse," possibly referring to a person's physical appearance or demeanor.

The McGarvey name was initially concentrated in County Tyrone, located in the northern part of Ireland. Over time, it spread to other regions of the country as families migrated and settled in new areas. Variations in spelling, such as McGarvie, McGarvery, and McGarvy, emerged due to differences in pronunciation and recording practices.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the McGarvey name can be found in the Annals of Ulster, a chronicle of medieval Irish history. This manuscript, compiled by monks in the 15th century, mentions a "Murchadh Mac Garbháin" in an entry dated 1244.

In the 16th century, the McGarvey name appeared in the Fiants of the Tudor Sovereigns, a collection of official documents from the reign of the Tudor monarchs in England and Ireland. These records provide insight into land grants, appointments, and other administrative matters involving individuals with the McGarvey surname.

Notable figures bearing the McGarvey name include:

1. Patrick McGarvey (1640-1692), an Irish Catholic priest who played a significant role in preserving the faith during the Penal Laws era in Ireland. 2. John McGarvey (1780-1853), an Irish-born teacher and educational reformer who established several schools in County Tyrone and advocated for improved educational opportunities. 3. Emma McGarvey (1855-1938), a prominent Irish suffragist and activist who campaigned for women's rights and social reforms in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. 4. Michael McGarvey (1892-1979), an American labor leader and politician who served as the President of the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers and represented Ohio in the United States House of Representatives. 5. Seamus McGarvey (born 1967), an Irish cinematographer known for his work on films such as "The Avengers," "Atonement," and "Anna Karenina," for which he received an Academy Award nomination.

The McGarvey surname has a rich history that spans centuries and reflects the cultural heritage of Ireland. Its origins can be traced back to ancient personal names and its presence can be found in various historical records, demonstrating the enduring legacy of this Irish family name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mcgarvey families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mcgarvey 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. Durham leads with 1 Mcgarveys recorded in 1881 and an index of 34.84x.

County Total Index
Durham 1 34.84x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hedworth Monkton Jarrow in Durham leads with 1 Mcgarveys recorded in 1881 and an index of 833.33x.

Place Total Index
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 1 833.33x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Jane 1

FAQ

Mcgarvey surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mcgarvey surname in 1881?

In 1881, 112 people were recorded with the Mcgarvey surname. That placed it at #18,501 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mcgarvey surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,151 in 2016. That gives Mcgarvey a modern rank of #5,129.

What does the Mcgarvey surname mean?

A surname of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic "Mac Gairbhith," meaning "son of the rough peace."

What does the Mcgarvey map show?

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