NameCensus.

UK surname

Mcgrail

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic "Mac Raghnaill," meaning "son of Raghnall" (Reginald).

In the 1881 census there were 276 people recorded with the Mcgrail surname, ranking it #10,305 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 630, ranked #8,380, up from #10,305 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Winwick, Govan Combination and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Tameside, Knowsley and Sheffield.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mcgrail is 690 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 128.3%.

1881 census count

276

Ranked #10,305

Modern count

630

2016, ranked #8,380

Peak year

2010

690 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mcgrail had 276 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,305 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 630 in 2016, ranked #8,380.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 386 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Mcgrail surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mcgrail surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mcgrail 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 64 #21,914
1861 historical 80 #23,566
1881 historical 276 #10,305
1891 historical 274 #11,880
1901 historical 386 #9,708
1911 historical 286 #11,810
1997 modern 638 #7,776
1998 modern 644 #7,963
1999 modern 646 #7,994
2000 modern 644 #7,990
2001 modern 639 #7,896
2002 modern 649 #7,959
2003 modern 637 #7,940
2004 modern 617 #8,178
2005 modern 624 #8,029
2006 modern 636 #7,939
2007 modern 642 #7,940
2008 modern 648 #7,930
2009 modern 662 #7,960
2010 modern 690 #7,864
2011 modern 660 #8,064
2012 modern 620 #8,373
2013 modern 637 #8,336
2014 modern 647 #8,289
2015 modern 633 #8,366
2016 modern 630 #8,380

Geography

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Where Mcgrails are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Winwick, Govan Combination, Edinburgh, Manchester and Liverpool. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Tameside, Knowsley, Sheffield and Wigan. 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 Winwick Lancashire
2 Govan Combination Lanark
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 Liverpool Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Tameside 026 Tameside
2 Knowsley 011 Knowsley
3 Sheffield 075 Sheffield
4 Wigan 010 Wigan
5 Wigan 016 Wigan

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mcgrail

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mcgrail

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Mcgrail, 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

Young Families in Industrial Towns

Nationally, the Mcgrail surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Mcgrail household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

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

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Mcgrail is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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 residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Mcgrail is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Mcgrail 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 Mcgrail is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Mcgrail

The surname McGrail is of Irish origin, with roots traced back to the medieval era in the counties of Donegal and Derry in Ulster province, Ireland. The name is derived from the Gaelic words "Mac Raith" or "Mac Rathghaille," meaning "son of Rathghal" or "son of the prosperous stranger."

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name can be found in the Annals of Ulster, a chronicle of medieval Irish history, dating back to the late 15th century. The annals reference a notable figure named Rory McGrail, who played a role in local conflicts and power struggles during that period.

In the 16th century, the McGrail surname appears in various historical documents, such as the Fiants of the Tudor Reign, which were administrative records kept by the English government in Ireland. These records often mention lands and properties owned by members of the McGrail family in the Ulster region.

As the McGrail clan spread throughout Ireland, various spellings of the name emerged, including McGrael, McGrayle, and McGrale. Some of these variations were influenced by the phonetic adaptations of the name by English scribes and record keepers.

One notable figure from the 17th century was Sir Cormac McGrail, a landowner and military leader who fought alongside the Irish Confederate forces during the Irish Confederate Wars (1641-1653). He was known for his bravery and tactical skills in battles against the English Parliamentarian forces.

In the 18th century, the McGrail surname gained prominence in the literary world with the works of Seamus McGrail, a poet and playwright born in County Donegal in 1725. His plays and poems, written in both Irish and English, explored themes of Irish culture and identity during a turbulent period of Ireland's history.

Another distinguished individual was Bridget McGrail, a renowned educationalist from County Derry, who lived from 1785 to 1868. She founded several schools in the region and was instrumental in promoting education among the local population, particularly for girls and women.

In the 19th century, Francis McGrail (1821-1891), a civil engineer from County Donegal, made significant contributions to the construction of railways and infrastructure projects in Ireland and Britain. His work played a crucial role in the development of transportation networks during the Industrial Revolution.

As the McGrail family dispersed worldwide, the name continued to make its mark in various fields. One such example is Eamon McGrail (1917-2005), a respected historian and author from County Derry, who wrote extensively on the history and culture of Ulster, preserving valuable insights into the region's past.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mcgrail families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mcgrail 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 25 Mcgrails recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.03x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 25 5.03x
Yorkshire 17 4.09x
Cheshire 1 1.08x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Golborne in Lancashire leads with 14 Mcgrails recorded in 1881 and an index of 2153.85x.

Place Total Index
Golborne 14 2153.85x
Sheffield 9 68.03x
Clifford Cum Boston 7 1891.89x
Ormskirk 7 736.84x
Hulme 4 38.50x
Holy Trinity 1 10.01x
Sale 1 87.72x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 5
Margaret 4
Catherine 3
Ellen 2
Kate 2
Bridget 1
Matilda 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 6
Thomas 6
Patrick 4
James 2
Michael 2
Paul 2
William 2
Joseph 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 Mcgrail households.

FAQ

Mcgrail surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mcgrail surname in 1881?

In 1881, 276 people were recorded with the Mcgrail surname. That placed it at #10,305 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mcgrail surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 630 in 2016. That gives Mcgrail a modern rank of #8,380.

What does the Mcgrail surname mean?

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic "Mac Raghnaill," meaning "son of Raghnall" (Reginald).

What does the Mcgrail map show?

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