NameCensus.

UK surname

Mcgougan

A Scottish surname derived from the Gaelic Mac Ógáin meaning "son of the young one."

In the 1881 census there were 163 people recorded with the Mcgougan surname, ranking it #14,689 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 463, ranked #10,586, up from #14,689 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Govan Combination, Gigha and Kilmichael Glassary. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Campbeltown, Cornwall and Altonhill North and Onthank.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mcgougan is 464 in 2015. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 184.0%.

1881 census count

163

Ranked #14,689

Modern count

463

2016, ranked #10,586

Peak year

2015

464 bearers

Map years

7

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mcgougan had 163 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #14,689 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 463 in 2016, ranked #10,586.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 170 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Mcgougan surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mcgougan surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mcgougan 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 72 #20,720
1861 historical 116 #18,751
1881 historical 163 #14,689
1891 historical 156 #17,842
1901 historical 170 #16,762
1911 historical 8 #32,903
1997 modern 348 #12,229
1998 modern 350 #12,537
1999 modern 353 #12,522
2000 modern 371 #12,052
2001 modern 360 #12,127
2002 modern 372 #12,077
2003 modern 364 #12,068
2004 modern 360 #12,205
2005 modern 387 #11,463
2006 modern 381 #11,644
2007 modern 393 #11,526
2008 modern 398 #11,525
2009 modern 425 #11,161
2010 modern 432 #11,262
2011 modern 416 #11,492
2012 modern 428 #11,092
2013 modern 448 #10,870
2014 modern 458 #10,749
2015 modern 464 #10,586
2016 modern 463 #10,586

Geography

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Where Mcgougans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Govan Combination, Gigha, Kilmichael Glassary, Glasgow and Kilmarnock. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Campbeltown, Cornwall, Altonhill North and Onthank, Glenwood South and Kintyre Trail. 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 Gigha Argyll
3 Kilmichael Glassary Argyll
4 Glasgow Lanark
5 Kilmarnock Ayr

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Campbeltown Argyll and Bute
2 Cornwall 060 Cornwall
3 Altonhill North and Onthank East Ayrshire
4 Glenwood South Glasgow City
5 Kintyre Trail Argyll and Bute

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mcgougan

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mcgougan

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Mcgougan is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Mcgougan 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

Mcgougan 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 Mcgougan is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Mcgougan

The surname McGougan is of Scottish origin, originating from the Gaelic language spoken in the Highlands of Scotland. The name is derived from the Gaelic word "gobhann," which means "smith" or "blacksmith," indicating that the earliest bearers of this name were likely skilled metalworkers.

The McGougan name can be traced back to the 12th century in the region of Argyll, Scotland. It is believed to have been one of the many surnames that emerged during this time period as the use of hereditary surnames became more widespread among the Scottish population.

In historical records, the name has appeared with various spellings, such as McGougan, McGoogan, McGowgan, and McGoughan, reflecting the phonetic nature of Gaelic names and the different ways they were recorded by scribes and clerks.

One of the earliest known references to the McGougan name can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a collection of homage records from Scottish nobles who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England during the Scottish Wars of Independence. The name "Gillemor McGougan" appears on this roll, indicating the presence of the surname in Scotland during this turbulent period.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the McGougan surname:

1. William McGougan (c. 1580 - 1660), a Scottish minister and scholar who served as the Principal of the University of Glasgow from 1633 to 1660. 2. John McGougan (1637 - 1718), a Scottish Presbyterian minister and writer who was known for his controversial works on theology and church governance. 3. Robert McGougan (1723 - 1801), a Scottish merchant and landowner who played a significant role in the development of the city of Glasgow during the 18th century. 4. Alexander McGougan (1790 - 1870), a Scottish engineer and pioneer in the field of steam engines, who contributed to the development of early locomotive designs. 5. Margaret McGougan (1825 - 1905), a Scottish author and poet who wrote about rural life and the experiences of women in 19th-century Scotland.

The McGougan surname has also been associated with various place names in Scotland, such as McGougan's Glen in Argyll, reflecting the historical presence and influence of this family in certain regions of the country.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mcgougan families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mcgougan 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. Middlesex leads with 6 Mcgougans recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.27x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 6 10.27x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hackney London in Middlesex leads with 6 Mcgougans recorded in 1881 and an index of 182.93x.

Place Total Index
Hackney London 6 182.93x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Alice 1
Bella 1
Sarah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Frederick 2
Infant 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 Mcgougan households.

FAQ

Mcgougan surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mcgougan surname in 1881?

In 1881, 163 people were recorded with the Mcgougan surname. That placed it at #14,689 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mcgougan surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 463 in 2016. That gives Mcgougan a modern rank of #10,586.

What does the Mcgougan surname mean?

A Scottish surname derived from the Gaelic Mac Ógáin meaning "son of the young one."

What does the Mcgougan map show?

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