NameCensus.

UK surname

Mcgeown

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic "Mac Geóghan", meaning son of the bright or shining one.

In the 1881 census there were 9 people recorded with the Mcgeown surname, ranking it #32,416 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 600, ranked #8,721, up from #32,416 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Drumoyne and Shieldhall, Amber Valley and Penilee.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mcgeown is 602 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 6566.7%.

1881 census count

9

Ranked #32,416

Modern count

600

2016, ranked #8,721

Peak year

2014

602 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mcgeown had 9 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #32,416 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 600 in 2016, ranked #8,721.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 60 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Mcgeown surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mcgeown surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Mcgeown 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 2 #33,133
1861 historical 22 #31,140
1881 historical 9 #32,416
1891 historical 24 #32,320
1901 historical 60 #27,502
1911 historical 20 #31,288
1997 modern 507 #9,204
1998 modern 512 #9,414
1999 modern 540 #9,107
2000 modern 522 #9,313
2001 modern 521 #9,174
2002 modern 552 #8,961
2003 modern 551 #8,831
2004 modern 557 #8,783
2005 modern 552 #8,759
2006 modern 550 #8,814
2007 modern 556 #8,828
2008 modern 553 #8,924
2009 modern 575 #8,866
2010 modern 597 #8,814
2011 modern 585 #8,861
2012 modern 568 #8,958
2013 modern 590 #8,848
2014 modern 602 #8,782
2015 modern 598 #8,763
2016 modern 600 #8,721

Geography

Back to top

Where Mcgeowns are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Drumoyne and Shieldhall, Amber Valley, Penilee, Keppochhill and Horsham. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Drumoyne and Shieldhall Glasgow City
2 Amber Valley 017 Amber Valley
3 Penilee Glasgow City
4 Keppochhill Glasgow City
5 Horsham 004 Horsham

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Mcgeown

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Mcgeown

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

Mcgeown is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Mcgeown

The surname MCGEOWN originates from Ireland, with its earliest recorded examples dating back to the 16th century. It is derived from the Gaelic words "Mac Geóghain," which translate to "son of Geóghan" or "son of the descendant of Eóghan." Eóghan was a popular Irish personal name that meant "well-born" or "born of nobility."

The name is believed to have originated in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland, where the McGeown family was historically concentrated. In the Annals of Ulster, a medieval manuscript that recorded events in Ireland, there are references to individuals with the surname McGeown or variations of it, such as MacGeoghegan or McGeoghegan.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name MCGEOWN appears in the Fiants of the Reign of Elizabeth I, which were records of official documents issued by the English Crown in Ireland. In these records, dated around 1586, there is a reference to a "Patrick McGeoghan" from County Tyrone.

Another early reference can be found in the Hearth Money Rolls of 1663-1665, which were tax records compiled in Ireland during the reign of Charles II. These rolls mention several individuals with the surname McGeown or similar spellings, such as "Hugh McGowan" and "Neale McGeoghan," both from County Tyrone.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals with the surname MCGEOWN. One example is Michael McGeown (1801-1879), an Irish religious leader who served as the Bishop of Raphoe in County Donegal. Another is Patrick McGeown (1856-1927), a prominent Irish politician and member of the House of Commons of the United Kingdom.

Additionally, there is Robert McGeown (1903-1983), an Irish-born British author and playwright known for his works such as "The Bells of Hell" and "The Blind Bird." Mary McGeown (1920-2004) was an Irish actress who appeared in several stage productions and television shows in the mid-20th century.

Finally, Seamus McGeown (1939-2017) was a notable Irish artist and sculptor, best known for his large-scale public sculptures and works inspired by Celtic mythology and Irish heritage.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Mcgeown surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mcgeown surname in 1881?

In 1881, 9 people were recorded with the Mcgeown surname. That placed it at #32,416 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mcgeown surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 600 in 2016. That gives Mcgeown a modern rank of #8,721.

What does the Mcgeown surname mean?

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic "Mac Geóghan", meaning son of the bright or shining one.

What does the Mcgeown map show?

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