NameCensus.

UK surname

Mcgaw

An anglicized form of the Gaelic surname Mac Gamhna, meaning "son of the calfskin."

In the 1881 census there were 456 people recorded with the Mcgaw surname, ranking it #7,255 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 681, ranked #7,872, down from #7,255 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Borgue, Govan Combination and Girthon. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Machars North, Newton Stewart and Machars South.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mcgaw is 681 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 49.3%.

1881 census count

456

Ranked #7,255

Modern count

681

2016, ranked #7,872

Peak year

2016

681 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mcgaw had 456 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,255 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 681 in 2016, ranked #7,872.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 512 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Mcgaw surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mcgaw surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mcgaw 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 355 #6,654
1861 historical 348 #7,339
1881 historical 456 #7,255
1891 historical 488 #7,581
1901 historical 512 #7,918
1911 historical 190 #15,438
1997 modern 564 #8,501
1998 modern 585 #8,533
1999 modern 585 #8,587
2000 modern 576 #8,641
2001 modern 581 #8,469
2002 modern 582 #8,624
2003 modern 571 #8,609
2004 modern 586 #8,487
2005 modern 599 #8,283
2006 modern 613 #8,151
2007 modern 624 #8,106
2008 modern 641 #7,993
2009 modern 653 #8,042
2010 modern 673 #8,024
2011 modern 655 #8,104
2012 modern 655 #8,030
2013 modern 672 #7,992
2014 modern 675 #8,007
2015 modern 678 #7,922
2016 modern 681 #7,872

Geography

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Where Mcgaws are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Borgue, Govan Combination, Girthon, Glasgow and Ayr Newton and St Quivox. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Machars North, Newton Stewart, Machars South, Glenkens and Galston. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Borgue Kirkcudbright
2 Govan Combination Lanark
3 Girthon Kirkcudbright
4 Glasgow Lanark
5 Ayr Newton and St Quivox Ayr

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Machars North Dumfries and Galloway
2 Newton Stewart Dumfries and Galloway
3 Machars South Dumfries and Galloway
4 Glenkens Dumfries and Galloway
5 Galston East Ayrshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mcgaw

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mcgaw

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

Mcgaw 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

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

Meaning and origin of Mcgaw

The surname McGaw is of Scottish origin, with its roots tracing back to the late medieval period. It is believed to have originated from the Scottish Gaelic word "mag," meaning "son," combined with the personal name "Gaw" or "Gavyn." This suggests that the name McGaw initially referred to the son of a person named Gaw or Gavyn.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname McGaw can be found in Scottish historical documents from the 16th and 17th centuries. One notable example is the appearance of the name in the Register of the Privy Council of Scotland in 1585, where a certain John McGaw is mentioned.

During the 17th century, the McGaw surname was particularly prominent in the Scottish Lowlands, particularly in the counties of Ayrshire and Renfrewshire. Records from this period indicate that the name was also associated with various landed estates and properties in these regions.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname McGaw was Sir Robert McGaw, a Scottish landowner and nobleman who lived in the late 16th century. He was a prominent figure in the affairs of the Scottish court and held significant influence during the reign of King James VI.

Another notable figure bearing the McGaw surname was John McGaw, a Scottish merchant and trader who lived in the 17th century. He was involved in the lucrative trade between Scotland and the Netherlands, and his business ventures contributed significantly to the economic prosperity of the time.

In the 18th century, the McGaw surname gained further recognition with the birth of Robert McGaw (1714-1790), a renowned Scottish philosopher and academic. He served as a professor at the University of Glasgow and was widely respected for his contributions to the fields of moral philosophy and theology.

The name McGaw also has connections to literary history, with the Scottish poet and playwright William McGaw (1803-1873) being one of the most notable figures. His works, which often celebrated Scottish culture and folklore, were widely acclaimed and helped preserve the rich heritage of his homeland.

Another influential individual with the McGaw surname was Sir James McGaw (1821-1892), a Scottish businessman and philanthropist. He made his fortune in the textile industry and used his wealth to support various charitable causes, particularly in the field of education.

While the surname McGaw has its roots firmly planted in Scotland, it has since spread to various parts of the world due to Scottish migration and diaspora. However, the historical records and notable figures mentioned above provide valuable insights into the rich heritage and significance of this Scottish surname.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mcgaw families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mcgaw 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 7 Mcgaws recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.56x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 7 3.56x
Cheshire 5 13.67x
Kent 2 3.54x
Ayrshire 1 8.06x
Northumberland 1 4.06x
Staffordshire 1 1.79x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Sale in Cheshire leads with 5 Mcgaws recorded in 1881 and an index of 1111.11x.

Place Total Index
Sale 5 1111.11x
Everton 4 63.90x
Canterbury St Mary 2 526.32x
West Derby 2 34.78x
Kirkdale 1 30.21x
St Quivox 1 238.10x
Stoke Upon Trent 1 16.86x
Wallsend 1 128.21x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Louisa 2
Margaret 2
Eleanor 1
Julia 1
Mary 1
Susan 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Robert 2
William 2
Charles 1
Ernest 1
Geo.Wm. 1
Joseph 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 Mcgaw households.

FAQ

Mcgaw surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mcgaw surname in 1881?

In 1881, 456 people were recorded with the Mcgaw surname. That placed it at #7,255 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mcgaw surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 681 in 2016. That gives Mcgaw a modern rank of #7,872.

What does the Mcgaw surname mean?

An anglicized form of the Gaelic surname Mac Gamhna, meaning "son of the calfskin."

What does the Mcgaw map show?

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