NameCensus.

UK surname

Mcgilvray

A Scottish surname derived from the Gaelic meaning "son of the servant of St Finnan".

In the 1881 census there were 737 people recorded with the Mcgilvray surname, ranking it #4,971 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 515, ranked #9,793, down from #4,971 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Govan Combination, Kilfinichen and Iona and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Greenock Town Centre and East Central, Milton of Campsie and Lower Bow and Larkfield, Fancy Farm, Mallard Bowl.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mcgilvray is 805 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 30.1%.

1881 census count

737

Ranked #4,971

Modern count

515

2016, ranked #9,793

Peak year

1851

805 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mcgilvray had 737 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,971 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 515 in 2016, ranked #9,793.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 805 in 1851.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Mcgilvray surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mcgilvray surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mcgilvray 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 805 #3,328
1861 historical 575 #4,585
1881 historical 737 #4,971
1891 historical 663 #5,863
1901 historical 747 #5,961
1911 historical 41 #28,802
1997 modern 489 #9,453
1998 modern 509 #9,462
1999 modern 502 #9,634
2000 modern 518 #9,366
2001 modern 488 #9,645
2002 modern 530 #9,242
2003 modern 516 #9,275
2004 modern 510 #9,374
2005 modern 524 #9,135
2006 modern 502 #9,463
2007 modern 511 #9,422
2008 modern 500 #9,630
2009 modern 501 #9,843
2010 modern 512 #9,870
2011 modern 517 #9,719
2012 modern 506 #9,776
2013 modern 512 #9,847
2014 modern 510 #9,945
2015 modern 511 #9,864
2016 modern 515 #9,793

Geography

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Where Mcgilvrays are most common

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

The modern local-area list points to Greenock Town Centre and East Central, Milton of Campsie, Lower Bow and Larkfield, Fancy Farm, Mallard Bowl, Westburn and Newton and Sunderland. 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 Govan Combination Lanark
2 Kilfinichen and Iona Argyll
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 Ardnamurchan Argyll
5 Greenock Renfrew

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Greenock Town Centre and East Central Inverclyde
2 Milton of Campsie East Dunbartonshire
3 Lower Bow and Larkfield, Fancy Farm, Mallard Bowl Inverclyde
4 Westburn and Newton South Lanarkshire
5 Sunderland 036 Sunderland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mcgilvray

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mcgilvray

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Mcgilvray, 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 Mcgilvray surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Mcgilvray 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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Mcgilvray is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Mcgilvray 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

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

Meaning and origin of Mcgilvray

The surname McGilvray has its origins in Scotland, dating back to the 12th century. It is a variant of the Gaelic name MacGilleBhrath, which means "son of the servant of truth". The name is thought to have originated in the Scottish Highlands, particularly in the regions of Argyll and Perthshire.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name is found in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland from 1264, where a person named Gillecrist McGillevrau is mentioned. The spelling of the name has evolved over time, with variations such as McGillivray, McGillvray, and McGilray appearing in historical documents.

The McGilvray name has been associated with several notable figures throughout history. One prominent example is Alasdair McGillvray (c. 1640–1703), a Scottish Jacobite military leader who fought in the Jacobite risings of the late 17th century. He was known for his bravery and leadership during the Battle of Killiecrankie in 1689.

Another historical figure with this surname is William McGilvray (1828–1910), a Scottish-born Australian explorer and surveyor. He played a significant role in the exploration and mapping of the Northern Territory in Australia during the 19th century.

In the United States, John McGilvray (1770–1831) was a Scottish-born trader and businessman who established a successful trading empire in the Pacific Northwest during the early 19th century. He was a prominent figure in the fur trade and helped establish trade relations between the Native American tribes and European settlers.

The name McGilvray has also been associated with literary figures, such as Alexander McGilvray (1914–1996), a Scottish poet and writer known for his works that explored themes of identity, place, and the natural world.

Another notable bearer of the name is Donald McGilvray (1837–1909), a Scottish-born Canadian entrepreneur and politician who served as a member of the Canadian Parliament and was involved in various business ventures, including mining and transportation.

While the McGilvray surname has Scottish roots, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly through immigration and exploration. The name continues to be associated with individuals from various fields, carrying on the legacy of its historical significance.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mcgilvray families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mcgilvray 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. Ayrshire leads with 2 Mcgilvrays recorded in 1881 and an index of 68.73x.

County Total Index
Ayrshire 2 68.73x
Argyllshire 1 92.59x
Renfrewshire 1 33.22x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Dunlop in Ayrshire leads with 2 Mcgilvrays recorded in 1881 and an index of 10000.00x.

Place Total Index
Dunlop 2 10000.00x
Kilfinichen 1 3333.33x
West Greenock 1 185.19x

FAQ

Mcgilvray surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mcgilvray surname in 1881?

In 1881, 737 people were recorded with the Mcgilvray surname. That placed it at #4,971 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mcgilvray surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 515 in 2016. That gives Mcgilvray a modern rank of #9,793.

What does the Mcgilvray surname mean?

A Scottish surname derived from the Gaelic meaning "son of the servant of St Finnan".

What does the Mcgilvray map show?

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