UK surname
Scottish surname derived from the Gaelic "mac rath" meaning "son of grace" or "son of prosperity."
In the 1881 census there were 53 people recorded with the Mcgray surname, ranking it #26,134 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 28, ranked #36,125, down from #26,134 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Ryton and Glasgow. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mcgray is 114 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 47.2%.
1881 census count
53
Ranked #26,134
Modern count
28
2016, ranked #36,125
Peak year
1861
114 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Mcgray surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Mcgray surname density by area, 1861 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 | 44 | #25,328 |
| 1861 | historical | 114 | #19,011 |
| 1881 | historical | 53 | #26,134 |
| 1891 | historical | 44 | #30,838 |
| 1901 | historical | 54 | #28,178 |
| 1911 | historical | 24 | #30,800 |
| 1997 | modern | 25 | #35,261 |
| 1998 | modern | 21 | #35,788 |
| 1999 | modern | 20 | #35,923 |
| 2000 | modern | 24 | #35,498 |
| 2001 | modern | 26 | #35,152 |
| 2002 | modern | 26 | #35,338 |
| 2003 | modern | 27 | #35,279 |
| 2004 | modern | 24 | #35,697 |
| 2005 | modern | 21 | #36,083 |
| 2006 | modern | 21 | #36,179 |
| 2007 | modern | 23 | #36,142 |
| 2008 | modern | 23 | #36,211 |
| 2009 | modern | 25 | #36,191 |
| 2010 | modern | 22 | #36,462 |
| 2011 | modern | 23 | #36,369 |
| 2012 | modern | 25 | #36,227 |
| 2013 | modern | 27 | #36,150 |
| 2014 | modern | 28 | #36,107 |
| 2015 | modern | 28 | #36,106 |
| 2016 | modern | 28 | #36,125 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Ryton, Glasgow, Liverpool and Bishop Wearmouth. 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 | Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside | Durham |
| 2 | Ryton | Durham |
| 3 | Glasgow | Lanark |
| 4 | Liverpool | Lancashire |
| 5 | Bishop Wearmouth | Durham |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Mcgray 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 Mcgray, 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 Mcgray surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Mcgray 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, Mcgray 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 Mcgray is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Mcgray, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname MCGRAY is of Scottish origin, originating in the medieval period around the 13th century. It is derived from the Gaelic phrase "mac raith," which means "son of grace" or "son of good fortune." This name likely referred to someone who was considered fortunate or blessed.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name MCGRAY appears in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a collection of homage pledges sworn to King Edward I of England by Scottish nobles and landowners. The name is listed as "Macgray" in these records, indicating an early spelling variation.
In the 16th century, the MCGRAY surname was particularly concentrated in the regions of Ayrshire and Lanarkshire in southwestern Scotland. Historical records from this period, such as parish registers and legal documents, show various spellings including "McGray," "McGrey," and "McGrea."
A notable bearer of the MCGRAY surname was Sir James McGray (1570-1638), a Scottish lawyer and judge who served as Lord Advocate of Scotland from 1629 to 1635. He was involved in the prosecution of several high-profile cases during the reign of King Charles I.
Another prominent figure was Robert McGray (1788-1857), a Scottish-born Canadian businessman and politician. He established a successful shipping company and served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada (now Ontario) from 1836 to 1841.
In the United States, one of the earliest MCGRAY families settled in Virginia in the late 17th century. John McGray (1662-1738), a Scottish immigrant, became a prominent landowner and farmer in the colony.
Other notable individuals with the MCGRAY surname include:
1. William McGray (1802-1879), a Scottish-born Australian businessman and politician who served as a member of the New South Wales Legislative Council. 2. Mary Ann McGray (1821-1899), an American author and educator who wrote several books on etiquette and social behavior. 3. John McGray (1855-1923), an English cricketer who played for Gloucestershire County Cricket Club in the late 19th century. 4. Archibald McGray (1876-1944), a Scottish-born Australian journalist and editor who worked for several major newspapers in Sydney.
While the MCGRAY surname is not among the most common in the English-speaking world, it has a rich history spanning multiple centuries and countries, reflecting the mobility and achievements of its bearers.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mcgray 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. Caernarfonshire leads with 2 Mcgrays recorded in 1881 and an index of 72.73x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Caernarfonshire | 2 | 72.73x |
| Surrey | 2 | 6.03x |
| Berkshire | 1 | 19.57x |
| Lancashire | 1 | 1.24x |
| Middlesex | 1 | 1.47x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Abererch in Caernarfonshire leads with 2 Mcgrays recorded in 1881 and an index of 5000.00x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Abererch | 2 | 5000.00x |
| Battersea | 2 | 80.00x |
| Cheetham | 1 | 166.67x |
| Islington London | 1 | 15.15x |
| Sandhurst | 1 | 1000.00x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Mcgray 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 Mcgray 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 Mcgray households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| -- | 1 |
| Bricklayer | 1 |
| General Servant | 1 |
| Hawker | 1 |
| Soldier | 1 |
| Tailors Assistant | 1 |
| Wife | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 53 people were recorded with the Mcgray surname. That placed it at #26,134 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 28 in 2016. That gives Mcgray a modern rank of #36,125.
Scottish surname derived from the Gaelic "mac rath" meaning "son of grace" or "son of prosperity."
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Mcgray 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.