NameCensus.

UK surname

Mcgoff

Anglo-Irish surname meaning "son of the blacksmith."

In the 1881 census there were 87 people recorded with the Mcgoff surname, ranking it #21,334 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 192, ranked #20,118, up from #21,334 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Leicester, Trafford and Paisley Glenburn East.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mcgoff is 205 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 120.7%.

1881 census count

87

Ranked #21,334

Modern count

192

2016, ranked #20,118

Peak year

2010

205 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mcgoff had 87 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #21,334 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 192 in 2016, ranked #20,118.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 99 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Mcgoff surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mcgoff surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mcgoff 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 7 #32,070
1861 historical 50 #27,636
1881 historical 87 #21,334
1891 historical 71 #27,934
1901 historical 99 #22,999
1911 historical 30 #30,073
1997 modern 188 #18,324
1998 modern 197 #18,283
1999 modern 201 #18,179
2000 modern 189 #18,860
2001 modern 184 #18,907
2002 modern 200 #18,294
2003 modern 185 #18,999
2004 modern 191 #18,723
2005 modern 188 #18,866
2006 modern 195 #18,564
2007 modern 196 #18,737
2008 modern 188 #19,387
2009 modern 197 #19,218
2010 modern 205 #19,140
2011 modern 191 #19,871
2012 modern 183 #20,356
2013 modern 190 #20,201
2014 modern 192 #20,230
2015 modern 192 #20,138
2016 modern 192 #20,118

Geography

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Where Mcgoffs 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 Leicester, Trafford, Paisley Glenburn East, Redcar and Cleveland and IZ08. 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 Leicester 012 Leicester
2 Trafford 027 Trafford
3 Paisley Glenburn East Renfrewshire
4 Redcar and Cleveland 005 Redcar and Cleveland
5 IZ08 East Lothian

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mcgoff

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mcgoff

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

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

Senior Professionals

Within London, Mcgoff is most associated with areas classed as Senior Professionals, part of Central Connected Professionals and Managers. 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 very central neighbourhoods house residents whose ages are more skewed towards older age cohorts than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Few households have young children. Rates of illness are low. Indian ethnicity is rare compared to the Supergroup mean. Property under occupation is more common, despite the centrality of neighbourhoods, and more residents live in communal establishments than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Adult residents of these neighbourhoods are typically aged 25 to 44, working full-time in professional, managerial or associate professional occupations. There are few families with dependent children. The predominantly Inner London neighbourhoods have an international character, including many residents born elsewhere in Europe alongside high numbers of individuals identifying as of Chinese ethnicity. Many individuals are never married, childless and/or living alone. Above average numbers of individuals, likely to be full-time students, live in communal establishments. Elsewhere, privately rented flats are the dominant housing type. Residents of these areas are well-qualified, with a significant number holding Level 4 or above qualifications. There is a correspondingly high level of individuals employed full-time in professional, managerial and associated professional or technical occupations. Employing industries are financial, real estate, professional, administration, and, to a lesser degree, transport and communications. Unemployment is uncommon.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Mcgoff is most concentrated in decile 6 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Mcgoff 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 Mcgoff is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Mcgoff

The surname MCGOFF has its origins in Ireland, originating in the 16th century. It is thought to be derived from the Gaelic words "mac" meaning "son of" and "gobha" meaning "smith" or "blacksmith". This suggests that the name originally referred to the son of a blacksmith or someone who worked in a metalsmithing trade.

The earliest recorded instance of the name MCGOFF can be found in the Fiants of the Tudor Sovereigns, a collection of official documents from the 16th century. In these records, the name appears spelled as "McGoughe" and "McGowghe", likely reflecting regional variations in pronunciation and spelling at the time.

Throughout the 17th and 18th centuries, the MCGOFF name can be found in various Irish historical records, such as parish registers and land deeds. One notable example is Daniel MCGOFF, a landowner from County Donegal who was involved in a legal dispute over property rights in the 1680s.

In the 19th century, the MCGOFF surname began to spread beyond Ireland as a result of immigration. One prominent individual with this name was Patrick MCGOFF (1825-1892), an Irish-American politician who served as a member of the New York State Assembly and the New York City Board of Aldermen.

Other notable individuals with the MCGOFF surname include:

1. Thomas MCGOFF (1844-1919), an Irish immigrant to the United States who became a successful businessman and philanthropist in Philadelphia.

2. Margaret MCGOFF (1879-1962), an American teacher and education advocate who played a key role in establishing the first public kindergarten in San Francisco.

3. James MCGOFF (1901-1975), an Irish-born writer and journalist who worked for several newspapers in New York City and authored several books on Irish history and culture.

4. Michael MCGOFF (1937-2011), an American architect best known for his work on the design of several major sports stadiums and arenas across the United States.

5. Sarah MCGOFF (born 1971), a Canadian academic and author who has written extensively on topics related to gender studies and feminist theory.

While the MCGOFF name has its roots in Ireland, it has since spread throughout the English-speaking world, with individuals bearing this surname making contributions in various fields, from politics and business to education and the arts.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mcgoff families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mcgoff 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. Lancashire leads with 9 Mcgoffs recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.58x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 9 4.58x
Yorkshire 6 3.66x
Hampshire 1 2.95x
Middlesex 1 0.60x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bradford in Yorkshire leads with 6 Mcgoffs recorded in 1881 and an index of 151.13x.

Place Total Index
Bradford 6 151.13x
Toxteth Park 6 90.09x
Everton 3 47.92x
Alverstoke 1 81.30x
Hampstead London 1 38.76x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 3
Catherine 2
Agnes 1
Ann 1
Bridget 1
Ellen 1
Harriet 1
Kate 1
Margaret 1
Margt. 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Martin 2
Edward 1
Peter 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 Mcgoff households.

FAQ

Mcgoff surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mcgoff surname in 1881?

In 1881, 87 people were recorded with the Mcgoff surname. That placed it at #21,334 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mcgoff surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 192 in 2016. That gives Mcgoff a modern rank of #20,118.

What does the Mcgoff surname mean?

Anglo-Irish surname meaning "son of the blacksmith."

What does the Mcgoff map show?

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