NameCensus.

UK surname

Mcgreal

Of Scottish origin, meaning "son of the big or handsome lad".

In the 1881 census there were 66 people recorded with the Mcgreal surname, ranking it #24,256 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 403, ranked #11,815, up from #24,256 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St Mary Whitechapel, London parishes and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wirral, Kingston upon Hull and Chichester.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mcgreal is 419 in 2013. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 510.6%.

1881 census count

66

Ranked #24,256

Modern count

403

2016, ranked #11,815

Peak year

2013

419 bearers

Map years

4

1911 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mcgreal had 66 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #24,256 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 403 in 2016, ranked #11,815.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 113 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Mcgreal surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mcgreal surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Mcgreal 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 76 #20,127
1861 historical 79 #23,702
1881 historical 66 #24,256
1891 historical 81 #26,632
1901 historical 98 #23,119
1911 historical 113 #21,168
1997 modern 390 #11,215
1998 modern 394 #11,474
1999 modern 405 #11,344
2000 modern 387 #11,692
2001 modern 394 #11,344
2002 modern 412 #11,192
2003 modern 398 #11,301
2004 modern 391 #11,468
2005 modern 379 #11,662
2006 modern 381 #11,644
2007 modern 378 #11,877
2008 modern 385 #11,828
2009 modern 391 #11,925
2010 modern 404 #11,902
2011 modern 410 #11,644
2012 modern 399 #11,740
2013 modern 419 #11,511
2014 modern 412 #11,743
2015 modern 409 #11,713
2016 modern 403 #11,815

Geography

Back to top

Where Mcgreals are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St Mary Whitechapel, London parishes, Manchester, Preston and Tynemouth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wirral, Kingston upon Hull, Chichester, East Devon and Rossendale. 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 Mary Whitechapel London (East Districts)
2 London parishes London 3
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 Preston Lancashire
5 Tynemouth Northumberland

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wirral 012 Wirral
2 Kingston upon Hull 030 Kingston upon Hull, City of
3 Chichester 012 Chichester
4 East Devon 010 East Devon
5 Rossendale 003 Rossendale

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Mcgreal

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Mcgreal

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Mcgreal surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Mcgreal household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Mcgreal 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

Mcgreal is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Mcgreal 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 Mcgreal is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Mcgreal

The surname MCGREAL is of Irish origin and dates back to the 16th century. It is derived from the Irish Gaelic name 'Mac Gríobhtha', which means 'son of the griffin'. The name is believed to have originated in County Mayo, in the west of Ireland.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Annals of Lough Cé, a 17th-century manuscript that chronicles events in Ireland from the 12th to the 17th centuries. The name is also found in the Fiants of the Tudor Sovereigns, a collection of official records from the reigns of Henry VIII, Edward VI, Mary I, and Elizabeth I.

In the 16th century, the name was often spelled as 'McGrail' or 'McGrael', reflecting the local pronunciation and spelling variations of the time. The name is also closely related to the Irish surname 'McGreal', which shares a similar origin and meaning.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname MCGREAL was Conor McGreal, a 16th-century landowner from County Mayo. He is mentioned in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history.

Another notable figure with the surname MCGREAL was Pádraig McGreal (1865-1936), an Irish politician and member of the Irish Parliamentary Party. He served as a Member of Parliament for the North Leitrim constituency from 1900 to 1918.

In the 18th century, James McGreal (1717-1789) was a renowned Irish poet and songwriter from County Sligo. His works were widely popular and celebrated the natural beauty of the Irish landscape.

The name MCGREAL also has connections to the Irish diaspora. Michael McGreal (1807-1868) was an Irish-born Catholic priest who emigrated to the United States and served as the first Bishop of Richmond, Virginia, from 1841 to 1868.

In the 20th century, Seán McGreal (1904-1981) was a prominent Irish journalist and author. He worked for several Irish newspapers and wrote several books on Irish history and politics.

While the name MCGREAL is predominantly found in Ireland, it has also been carried by individuals of Irish descent in other parts of the world, reflecting the widespread migration of Irish people throughout history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Mcgreal families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mcgreal 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 5 Mcgreals recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.70x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 5 5.70x
Lancashire 2 1.92x
Derbyshire 1 7.29x
Flintshire 1 42.37x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Whitechapel London in Middlesex leads with 5 Mcgreals recorded in 1881 and an index of 581.40x.

Place Total Index
Whitechapel London 5 581.40x
West Derby 2 65.79x
Chesterfield 1 196.08x
Whitford 1 833.33x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Margaret 2
Johana 1
Julia 1
Sabina 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Michale 1
Paul 1
Richard 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 Mcgreal households.

FAQ

Mcgreal surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mcgreal surname in 1881?

In 1881, 66 people were recorded with the Mcgreal surname. That placed it at #24,256 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mcgreal surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 403 in 2016. That gives Mcgreal a modern rank of #11,815.

What does the Mcgreal surname mean?

Of Scottish origin, meaning "son of the big or handsome lad".

What does the Mcgreal map show?

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