UK surname
An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic name Mac Gilli Inn meaning "son of the servant of the Lord".
In the 1881 census there were 97 people recorded with the Mcglinn surname, ranking it #20,127 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 73, ranked #33,502, down from #20,127 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Rochdale, Govan Combination and Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mcglinn is 135 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 24.7%.
1881 census count
97
Ranked #20,127
Modern count
73
2016, ranked #33,502
Peak year
1891
135 bearers
Map years
2
1891 to 1901
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Mcglinn surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Mcglinn surname density by area, 1901 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 59 | #22,756 |
| 1861 | historical | 43 | #28,562 |
| 1881 | historical | 97 | #20,127 |
| 1891 | historical | 135 | #19,692 |
| 1901 | historical | 107 | #21,955 |
| 1911 | historical | 33 | #29,703 |
| 1997 | modern | 87 | #28,749 |
| 1998 | modern | 87 | #29,240 |
| 1999 | modern | 87 | #29,398 |
| 2000 | modern | 86 | #29,484 |
| 2001 | modern | 84 | #29,508 |
| 2002 | modern | 83 | #30,070 |
| 2003 | modern | 77 | #30,762 |
| 2004 | modern | 82 | #30,468 |
| 2005 | modern | 81 | #30,740 |
| 2006 | modern | 76 | #31,633 |
| 2007 | modern | 69 | #32,662 |
| 2008 | modern | 72 | #32,656 |
| 2009 | modern | 79 | #32,372 |
| 2010 | modern | 76 | #33,009 |
| 2011 | modern | 80 | #32,652 |
| 2012 | modern | 77 | #33,124 |
| 2013 | modern | 76 | #33,329 |
| 2014 | modern | 81 | #33,061 |
| 2015 | modern | 77 | #33,272 |
| 2016 | modern | 73 | #33,502 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Rochdale, Govan Combination, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry, Greenock and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rochdale | Lancashire |
| 2 | Govan Combination | Lanark |
| 3 | Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry | Forfar |
| 4 | Greenock | Renfrew |
| 5 | Glasgow | Lanark |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Mcglinn surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Mcglinn, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Mcglinn surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Mcglinn household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Mcglinn is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Mcglinn is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Mcglinn, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname McGlinn is an Irish name that originated from the Gaelic Mac Gille Fhinn, meaning "son of the servant of St. Finn". It is believed to have originated in County Donegal, Ireland, in the 13th century.
The name McGlinn is derived from the Irish personal name Finn, which means "fair" or "white". This name has its roots in ancient Celtic mythology and was associated with the legendary Irish hero Finn MacCool, also known as Finn MacCumhaill, a famous warrior and leader of the Fianna.
One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name McGlinn can be found in the Annals of Ulster, a chronicle of medieval Irish history. In 1305, the Annals mention a "Mac Gille Fhinn" who was involved in a conflict in County Donegal.
The McGlinn family was prominent in County Donegal and surrounding areas during the medieval and early modern periods. Some notable members of the McGlinn family include:
1. Niall McGlinn (c. 1570 - c. 1640), a Gaelic poet and scholar from County Donegal. 2. Pádraig McGlinn (c. 1620 - c. 1690), a Catholic priest and historian who wrote about the history of Ireland during the 17th century. 3. Eoghan McGlinn (c. 1650 - c. 1720), a renowned harpist and composer from County Donegal. 4. Caitríona McGlinn (c. 1700 - c. 1780), a traditional Irish healer and midwife from County Donegal. 5. Séamus McGlinn (1759 - 1830), a leader during the Irish Rebellion of 1798 and a member of the Society of United Irishmen.
Over time, the spelling of the name evolved, with variations such as McGlynn, McGlinn, and McGlynn appearing in historical records. The name has also been associated with various place names in Ireland, such as Ballymcglinn and Drumcoglinn, which may have contributed to the development of different spellings.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mcglinn surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Yorkshire leads with 8 Mcglinns recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.53x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Yorkshire | 8 | 5.53x |
| Lancashire | 4 | 2.31x |
| Staffordshire | 3 | 6.08x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Leeds in Yorkshire leads with 8 Mcglinns recorded in 1881 and an index of 97.92x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Leeds | 8 | 97.92x |
| Hulme | 4 | 110.50x |
| Stoke Upon Trent | 3 | 57.36x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Mcglinn surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Mcglinn surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Mcglinn households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 5 |
| Flax Spinner | 3 |
| Charwoman | 1 |
| Factory Operative | 1 |
| Gas Labourer | 1 |
| None | 1 |
| Plasters Labourer | 1 |
| Stonemasons Laberer | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 97 people were recorded with the Mcglinn surname. That placed it at #20,127 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 73 in 2016. That gives Mcglinn a modern rank of #33,502.
An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic name Mac Gilli Inn meaning "son of the servant of the Lord".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Mcglinn bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.