NameCensus.

UK surname

Mcglashan

Scottish surname originating from a place name meaning "green stream".

In the 1881 census there were 803 people recorded with the Mcglashan surname, ranking it #4,638 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 766, ranked #7,167, down from #4,638 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Blair Atholl, Govan Combination and Moulin. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include IZ18, IZ15 and IZ16.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mcglashan is 912 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 4.6%.

1881 census count

803

Ranked #4,638

Modern count

766

2016, ranked #7,167

Peak year

1891

912 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mcglashan had 803 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,638 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 766 in 2016, ranked #7,167.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 912 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Mcglashan surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mcglashan surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mcglashan 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 679 #3,828
1861 historical 720 #3,780
1881 historical 803 #4,638
1891 historical 912 #4,525
1901 historical 906 #5,124
1911 historical 112 #21,274
1997 modern 751 #6,874
1998 modern 743 #7,157
1999 modern 753 #7,132
2000 modern 759 #7,038
2001 modern 745 #7,021
2002 modern 764 #7,016
2003 modern 758 #6,953
2004 modern 775 #6,843
2005 modern 773 #6,792
2006 modern 744 #7,029
2007 modern 759 #6,988
2008 modern 771 #6,950
2009 modern 774 #7,071
2010 modern 801 #7,018
2011 modern 784 #7,065
2012 modern 751 #7,220
2013 modern 750 #7,344
2014 modern 765 #7,245
2015 modern 766 #7,187
2016 modern 766 #7,167

Geography

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Where Mcglashans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Blair Atholl, Govan Combination, Moulin, Edinburgh and Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to IZ18, IZ15, IZ16, IZ17 and IZ11. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Blair Atholl Perth
2 Govan Combination Lanark
3 Moulin Perth
4 Edinburgh Edinburgh
5 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 IZ18 West Dunbartonshire
2 IZ15 West Dunbartonshire
3 IZ16 West Dunbartonshire
4 IZ17 West Dunbartonshire
5 IZ11 West Dunbartonshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mcglashan

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mcglashan

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

Mcglashan 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

Mcglashan falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Mcglashan 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 Mcglashan, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Mcglashan

The surname McGlashan has its origins in Scotland, emerging in the late 16th or early 17th century. It is believed to be a variant of the Scottish surname MacGlasrich or McGlasrich, which derives from the Gaelic words "glas" meaning green or gray, and "rìgh" meaning king or chief, suggesting a connection to a person of authority or a particular clan or territory.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the McGlashan surname can be found in the parish records of Dalry, Ayrshire, Scotland, where a John McGlashan was listed in 1642. Records from the same area also mention a William McGlashan in 1684, indicating the name's presence in that region during that time period.

While the McGlashan surname does not appear in notable historical documents like the Domesday Book, it does have some historical significance within Scotland. One noteworthy individual bearing this surname was John McGlashan (1752-1828), a Scottish minister and author who served as the minister of the Parish of Dundonald in Ayrshire.

Another prominent figure was Robert McGlashan (1791-1864), a Scottish Baptist minister and author who played a significant role in the Baptist movement in Scotland during the 19th century. He was born in Dundee and wrote several works on religious topics, including "A Scripture Catechism" and "A Treatise on the Sacrament of Baptism."

In the realm of literature, there is David McGlashan (1911-1981), a Scottish poet and writer who was born in Kilwinning, Ayrshire. He is known for his poetry collections, including "The Quiet Voice" and "The Gaunt Ledge," as well as his autobiographical work, "The Green Aisle."

Another notable figure was Robert McGlashan (1910-1991), a Scottish professional footballer who played as a forward for several clubs, including Dundee United and East Fife, between the 1930s and 1940s.

The surname McGlashan has also been associated with place names in Scotland, such as McGlashan's Hill in East Ayrshire, which may have derived its name from an individual or family bearing the McGlashan surname who resided in or owned land in that area.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mcglashan families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mcglashan 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. Devon leads with 2 Mcglashans recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.96x.

County Total Index
Devon 2 10.96x
Surrey 2 4.68x
Cheshire 1 5.17x
Hampshire 1 5.57x
Lanarkshire 1 3.53x
Middlesex 1 1.14x
Northumberland 1 7.67x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Exeter St Thomas The in Devon leads with 2 Mcglashans recorded in 1881 and an index of 1052.63x.

Place Total Index
Exeter St Thomas The 2 1052.63x
Lambeth 2 26.18x
Glasgow 1 19.88x
Lymm 1 714.29x
Preston In Tynemouth 1 2000.00x
St Pancras London 1 14.18x
St Thomas Winchester 1 769.23x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 1
Elizbth. 1
Sarah 1
Sophia 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Alex. 1
George 1
Peter 1
Walter 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 Mcglashan households.

FAQ

Mcglashan surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mcglashan surname in 1881?

In 1881, 803 people were recorded with the Mcglashan surname. That placed it at #4,638 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mcglashan surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 766 in 2016. That gives Mcglashan a modern rank of #7,167.

What does the Mcglashan surname mean?

Scottish surname originating from a place name meaning "green stream".

What does the Mcglashan map show?

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