NameCensus.

UK surname

Mcgettigan

Son of a young lad or servant boy.

In the 1881 census there were 25 people recorded with the Mcgettigan surname, ranking it #30,077 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 394, ranked #12,012, up from #30,077 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Hamilton, London parishes and Govan Combination. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Dunterlie, East Arthurlie and Dovecothall, Castle Point and Selby.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mcgettigan is 395 in 2015. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 1476.0%.

1881 census count

25

Ranked #30,077

Modern count

394

2016, ranked #12,012

Peak year

2015

395 bearers

Map years

4

1901 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mcgettigan had 25 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #30,077 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 394 in 2016, ranked #12,012.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 102 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Mcgettigan surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mcgettigan surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mcgettigan 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 8 #31,867
1861 historical 9 #32,724
1881 historical 25 #30,077
1891 historical 57 #29,533
1901 historical 102 #22,596
1911 historical 14 #32,045
1997 modern 350 #12,172
1998 modern 374 #11,963
1999 modern 391 #11,640
2000 modern 389 #11,645
2001 modern 371 #11,881
2002 modern 385 #11,771
2003 modern 358 #12,208
2004 modern 359 #12,222
2005 modern 354 #12,270
2006 modern 360 #12,198
2007 modern 358 #12,383
2008 modern 376 #12,039
2009 modern 384 #12,100
2010 modern 393 #12,157
2011 modern 388 #12,121
2012 modern 376 #12,262
2013 modern 376 #12,472
2014 modern 394 #12,144
2015 modern 395 #12,015
2016 modern 394 #12,012

Geography

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Where Mcgettigans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Hamilton, London parishes, Govan Combination, St Bartholomew the Great and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Dunterlie, East Arthurlie and Dovecothall, Castle Point, Selby, Battlefield and Wyndford. 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 Hamilton Lanark
2 London parishes London 1
3 Govan Combination Lanark
4 St Bartholomew the Great London (Central Districts)
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Dunterlie, East Arthurlie and Dovecothall East Renfrewshire
2 Castle Point 007 Castle Point
3 Selby 001 Selby
4 Battlefield Glasgow City
5 Wyndford Glasgow City

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mcgettigan

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mcgettigan

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Mcgettigan, 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 Mcgettigan surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Mcgettigan household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

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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, Mcgettigan 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.

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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

Mcgettigan 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

Mcgettigan 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 Mcgettigan 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 - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Mcgettigan

The surname McGettigan has its origins in Ireland, where it first emerged in the late 16th or early 17th century. It is an anglicized form of the Irish Gaelic name "Mac Gheitigáin," which means "son of Geitigan." The name Geitigan itself is derived from the Irish word "geiteach," meaning "wind-beaten" or "wind-exposed."

The McGettigan surname is particularly associated with County Donegal in Ulster, where it was first recorded in the early 17th century. It is believed to have originated in the Rosguill peninsula area of the county. Some early recorded variations of the spelling include McGettigan, McGitigan, and McGittigan.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Fiants of the Reign of Elizabeth I, which were Irish government records from the late 16th century. In these records, a man named Donnell McGettigan is mentioned as having received a pardon in 1596.

Another notable early bearer of the name was Captain John McGettigan, who fought in the Irish Confederate Wars during the 1640s. He was a member of the Irish Catholic gentry and commanded a troop of horse in the Confederate forces.

In the 18th century, a prominent McGettigan was Reverend Patrick McGettigan, who was born in County Donegal in 1718. He was a Catholic priest and served as the Vicar General of the Diocese of Raphoe.

During the 19th century, one of the most well-known individuals with the surname was John McGettigan, who was born in County Donegal in 1809. He was a successful businessman and landowner, and served as a Justice of the Peace.

Another notable bearer of the name was Reverend William McGettigan, who was born in County Donegal in 1854. He was a Catholic priest and served as the Bishop of Raphoe from 1900 until his death in 1923.

While the McGettigan surname has its roots in Ireland, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly through Irish emigration. However, it remains most closely associated with its origins in County Donegal and the surrounding areas of Ulster.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Mcgettigan surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mcgettigan surname in 1881?

In 1881, 25 people were recorded with the Mcgettigan surname. That placed it at #30,077 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mcgettigan surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 394 in 2016. That gives Mcgettigan a modern rank of #12,012.

What does the Mcgettigan surname mean?

Son of a young lad or servant boy.

What does the Mcgettigan map show?

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