NameCensus.

UK surname

Mcgrady

Anglicized form of the Irish surname Mac Gráda, meaning "son of Gráda" (Gráda meaning "noble" or "illustrious").

In the 1881 census there were 260 people recorded with the Mcgrady surname, ranking it #10,781 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 768, ranked #7,143, up from #10,781 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St Bees, Bothwell and Govan Combination. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Copeland, Annbank, Mossblown and Tarbolton - the Coalfields and Caldercruix and Plains.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mcgrady is 832 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 195.4%.

1881 census count

260

Ranked #10,781

Modern count

768

2016, ranked #7,143

Peak year

2010

832 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mcgrady had 260 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,781 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 768 in 2016, ranked #7,143.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 326 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Mcgrady surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mcgrady surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mcgrady 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 122 #14,966
1861 historical 148 #15,452
1881 historical 260 #10,781
1891 historical 305 #10,976
1901 historical 326 #10,990
1911 historical 203 #14,831
1997 modern 720 #7,082
1998 modern 732 #7,236
1999 modern 758 #7,087
2000 modern 749 #7,107
2001 modern 740 #7,055
2002 modern 746 #7,140
2003 modern 730 #7,148
2004 modern 736 #7,119
2005 modern 734 #7,074
2006 modern 747 #7,006
2007 modern 764 #6,952
2008 modern 762 #7,024
2009 modern 800 #6,888
2010 modern 832 #6,807
2011 modern 813 #6,843
2012 modern 767 #7,115
2013 modern 759 #7,274
2014 modern 784 #7,120
2015 modern 776 #7,111
2016 modern 768 #7,143

Geography

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Where Mcgradys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St Bees, Bothwell, Govan Combination, Gateshead 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 Copeland, Annbank, Mossblown and Tarbolton - the Coalfields and Caldercruix and Plains. 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 St Bees Cumberland
2 Bothwell Lanark
3 Govan Combination Lanark
4 Gateshead Durham
5 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Copeland 005 Copeland
2 Copeland 004 Copeland
3 Annbank, Mossblown and Tarbolton - the Coalfields South Ayrshire
4 Caldercruix and Plains North Lanarkshire
5 Copeland 003 Copeland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mcgrady

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mcgrady

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Mcgrady is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Mcgrady 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

Mcgrady 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 Mcgrady 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 - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Mcgrady

The surname McGrady is of Irish origin, with roots stretching back to the 12th century. It is a variant of the Gaelic surname Mac Grádaigh, which translates to "son of the gracious one." This name is believed to have originated in County Donegal, a region in the northwest of Ireland.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Annals of Ulster, a chronicle of medieval Irish history. The Annals mention a man named Gilla Críst Mac Grádaigh, who was a notable figure in the year 1188.

The McGrady surname has a long and storied history in Ireland, with several notable bearers throughout the centuries. In the 16th century, Cormac Og McGrady was a renowned bard and poet who composed works in the traditional Irish literary style.

During the Irish Rebellion of 1641, a man named Turlough McGrady played a significant role as a captain in the Irish Confederate forces. He fought against the English and Scottish armies during this tumultuous period of Irish history.

In the 18th century, a prominent McGrady was Patrick McGrady, born in County Tyrone in 1718. He was a influential Catholic landowner and played a vital role in the local community.

Another notable bearer of the name was John McGrady, born in County Armagh in 1825. He was a successful businessman and philanthropist who donated generously to various charitable causes in his lifetime.

The McGrady surname has also been found in various locations throughout Ireland, with slight variations in spelling. For instance, the name has appeared as MacGrady, Megrady, and McGraddy in historical records from different regions.

While the name has its roots in Ireland, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly through Irish emigration. However, the rich history and origins of the McGrady surname can be traced back to the Emerald Isle and the proud Gaelic heritage of its bearers.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mcgrady families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mcgrady 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 13 Mcgradys recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.68x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 13 4.68x
Cumberland 6 29.78x
Ayrshire 3 17.13x
Northumberland 2 5.74x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Liverpool in Lancashire leads with 6 Mcgradys recorded in 1881 and an index of 35.59x.

Place Total Index
Liverpool 6 35.59x
Caldewgate 4 363.64x
Salford 4 48.96x
Dalry 3 365.85x
Oldham 3 33.48x
Ovingham Whittle Spital 2 4000.00x
Parton 2 1666.67x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 2
Sarah 2
Agnes 1
Ann 1
Anne 1
Ellen 1
Emily 1
Margaret 1
Sophia 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 2
Nicholas 2
Christopher 1
Edward 1
James 1
Marks 1
Peter 1
Thomas 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 Mcgrady households.

FAQ

Mcgrady surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mcgrady surname in 1881?

In 1881, 260 people were recorded with the Mcgrady surname. That placed it at #10,781 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mcgrady surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 768 in 2016. That gives Mcgrady a modern rank of #7,143.

What does the Mcgrady surname mean?

Anglicized form of the Irish surname Mac Gráda, meaning "son of Gráda" (Gráda meaning "noble" or "illustrious").

What does the Mcgrady map show?

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