NameCensus.

UK surname

Mcgeachy

A locational surname derived from a Scottish place name meaning "the son of the inhabitant of the windy pass".

In the 1881 census there were 262 people recorded with the Mcgeachy surname, ranking it #10,721 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 646, ranked #8,212, up from #10,721 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Killean and Kilchenzie, Southend and Govan Combination. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Campbeltown, Breckland and Greenock Town Centre and East Central.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mcgeachy is 646 in 2015. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 146.6%.

1881 census count

262

Ranked #10,721

Modern count

646

2016, ranked #8,212

Peak year

2015

646 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mcgeachy had 262 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,721 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 646 in 2016, ranked #8,212.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 386 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Mcgeachy surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mcgeachy surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mcgeachy 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 134 #14,033
1861 historical 172 #13,619
1881 historical 262 #10,721
1891 historical 381 #9,213
1901 historical 386 #9,708
1911 historical 9 #32,754
1997 modern 531 #8,900
1998 modern 579 #8,581
1999 modern 590 #8,540
2000 modern 581 #8,592
2001 modern 577 #8,514
2002 modern 594 #8,519
2003 modern 579 #8,530
2004 modern 591 #8,442
2005 modern 573 #8,544
2006 modern 589 #8,395
2007 modern 601 #8,349
2008 modern 607 #8,330
2009 modern 622 #8,359
2010 modern 618 #8,587
2011 modern 619 #8,482
2012 modern 611 #8,486
2013 modern 632 #8,391
2014 modern 644 #8,324
2015 modern 646 #8,236
2016 modern 646 #8,212

Geography

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Where Mcgeachys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Killean and Kilchenzie, Southend, Govan Combination, Gigha and Killarow and Kilmeny. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Campbeltown, Breckland, Greenock Town Centre and East Central, Kintyre Trail and Whisky Isles. 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 Killean and Kilchenzie Argyll
2 Southend Argyll
3 Govan Combination Lanark
4 Gigha Argyll
5 Killarow and Kilmeny Argyll

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Campbeltown Argyll and Bute
2 Breckland 011 Breckland
3 Greenock Town Centre and East Central Inverclyde
4 Kintyre Trail Argyll and Bute
5 Whisky Isles Argyll and Bute

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mcgeachy

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mcgeachy

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

Legacy Communities

Group

Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities

Nationally, the Mcgeachy surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Mcgeachy household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Households in these areas often include divorced or separated parents and commonly include children and young adults. The age structure is heavily skewed towards the most advanced age groups. Individuals identifying as members of ethnic minorities are not present in large numbers. Flats predominate, with some terraced, semi-detached, and detached units. Multiple car ownership is low, and housing is predominantly in the private and social rented sectors. Employment is less skewed towards traditional routine industrial occupations. Levels of educational attainment are generally low. The Group occurs principally in the Central Lowlands of Scotland and other Scottish towns.

Wider pattern

These neighbourhoods characteristically comprise pockets of flats that are scattered across the UK, particularly in towns that retain or have legacies of heavy industry or are in more remote seaside locations. Employed residents of these neighbourhoods work mainly in low-skilled occupations. Residents typically have limited educational qualifications. Unemployment is above average. Some residents live in overcrowded housing within the social rented sector and experience long-term disability. All adult age groups are represented, although there is an overall age bias towards elderly people in general and the very old in particular. Individuals identifying as belonging to ethnic minorities or Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups are uncommon.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Mcgeachy is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Mcgeachy 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

Mcgeachy 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 Mcgeachy is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Mcgeachy, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Mcgeachy

The surname McGeachy originated in Scotland, with its roots traced back to the 16th century. It is derived from the Gaelic "Mac Geidich," meaning "son of the tall or big man." The name is predominantly found in the regions of Argyll and the Western Isles, where it is believed to have originated.

One of the earliest known records of the surname can be found in the Black Book of Taymouth, a 16th-century manuscript containing genealogical records of Scottish clans. The name is mentioned in connection with the Clan Campbell, suggesting a strong association between the two.

In the 17th century, a prominent figure bearing the name was John McGeachy, a Scottish minister who served in the parish of Lismore from 1639 to 1673. He played a significant role in the religious life of the community during a turbulent period of Scottish history.

Another notable individual was Robert McGeachy (1679-1744), a Scottish merchant and landowner who made his fortune in the West Indies trade. He acquired substantial estates in Argyll and became a respected figure in the local community.

In the 19th century, the name gained recognition through the achievements of James McGeachy (1825-1897), a Scottish architect who designed several notable buildings in Glasgow, including the iconic City Chambers.

The surname also has ties to place names in Scotland, such as McGeachy's Point, a coastal headland in Argyll, and McGeachy's Loch, a small body of water located in the same region. These place names reflect the historical presence of the McGeachy family in the area.

Throughout history, variations in the spelling of the surname have been observed, including McGecchy, McGechie, and McGachy, reflecting the challenges of transcribing and recording names accurately in earlier times.

While the McGeachy surname may not be as widespread as some other Scottish surnames, it has left an indelible mark on the history and culture of Scotland, with several notable figures contributing to various fields over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mcgeachy families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mcgeachy 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. Lanarkshire leads with 4 Mcgeachys recorded in 1881 and an index of 31.82x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 4 31.82x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Govan in Lanarkshire leads with 4 Mcgeachys recorded in 1881 and an index of 128.62x.

Place Total Index
Govan 4 128.62x

FAQ

Mcgeachy surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mcgeachy surname in 1881?

In 1881, 262 people were recorded with the Mcgeachy surname. That placed it at #10,721 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mcgeachy surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 646 in 2016. That gives Mcgeachy a modern rank of #8,212.

What does the Mcgeachy surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a Scottish place name meaning "the son of the inhabitant of the windy pass".

What does the Mcgeachy map show?

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