NameCensus.

UK surname

Mcgregor

A Scottish surname meaning "son of Gregor," with Gregor being a given name derived from the Latin "Gregorius."

In the 1881 census there were 13,456 people recorded with the Mcgregor surname, ranking it #302 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 12,884, ranked #502, down from #302 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Govan Combination, Edinburgh and Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Stobswell, Broughty Ferry West and Annan East.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mcgregor is 15,088 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 4.3%.

1881 census count

13,456

Ranked #302

Modern count

12,884

2016, ranked #502

Peak year

1901

15,088 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mcgregor had 13,456 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #302 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 12,884 in 2016, ranked #502.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 15,088 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Mcgregor surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mcgregor surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mcgregor 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 10,179 #250
1861 historical 10,748 #234
1881 historical 13,456 #302
1891 historical 14,115 #298
1901 historical 15,088 #347
1911 historical 2,870 #1,811
1997 modern 11,857 #520
1998 modern 12,376 #518
1999 modern 12,485 #517
2000 modern 12,399 #516
2001 modern 12,067 #517
2002 modern 12,466 #515
2003 modern 12,147 #515
2004 modern 12,235 #512
2005 modern 12,130 #510
2006 modern 12,183 #505
2007 modern 12,276 #506
2008 modern 12,471 #500
2009 modern 12,792 #498
2010 modern 13,093 #498
2011 modern 12,756 #505
2012 modern 12,551 #503
2013 modern 12,729 #510
2014 modern 12,886 #509
2015 modern 12,821 #503
2016 modern 12,884 #502

Geography

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Where Mcgregors are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Govan Combination, Edinburgh, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry, Perth and Greenock. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Stobswell, Broughty Ferry West, Annan East, Luncarty and Dunkeld and Logie and Blackness. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Govan Combination Lanark
2 Edinburgh Edinburgh
3 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar
4 Perth Perth
5 Greenock Renfrew

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Stobswell Dundee City
2 Broughty Ferry West Dundee City
3 Annan East Dumfries and Galloway
4 Luncarty and Dunkeld Perth and Kinross
5 Logie and Blackness Dundee City

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mcgregor

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mcgregor

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Mcgregor is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Mcgregor 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

Mcgregor 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 Mcgregor 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 - British

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

Meaning and origin of Mcgregor

The surname McGregor is of Scottish origin, derived from the Gaelic "Gregor" meaning "watchful" or "vigilant". The name is thought to have originated in the Highlands of Scotland, specifically in the areas of Perthshire and Argyll.

The earliest recorded instance of the name dates back to the 13th century, when a Gillecrist McGrigor is mentioned in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland in 1263. This early spelling variation, McGrigor, highlights the name's evolution over time.

In the 14th century, the McGregor clan played a significant role in Scottish history, particularly during the Wars of Scottish Independence. One notable figure was John McGregor, who fought alongside Robert the Bruce at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the McGregors were engaged in feuds with other clans, such as the Campbells and Colquhouns. This period saw the proscription of the clan name by King James VI, leading many McGregors to adopt alternative surnames like Murray or Grant.

The name McGregor has been associated with several prominent individuals throughout history. Gregor Roy McGregor (c. 1570-1623) was a famous clan chief known for his defiance of the proscription laws. Rob Roy MacGregor (1671-1734) was a notorious cattle rustler and folk hero whose exploits have been immortalized in literature and film.

Other notable figures include Sir Evan John Murray McGregor (1785-1841), a British army officer who served in the Napoleonic Wars, and John McGregor (1834-1892), a Canadian politician and lawyer who served as the seventh Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia.

John Marshall McGregor (1892-1952) was a British soldier and recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest military decoration awarded for valor in the British armed forces, for his actions during World War I.

Lastly, Ewan McGregor (born 1971) is a renowned Scottish actor known for his roles in films such as Trainspotting, Star Wars, and Moulin Rouge!, among others.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mcgregor families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mcgregor 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 83 Mcgregors recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.15x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 83 2.15x
Lancashire 59 1.29x
Northumberland 25 4.35x
Durham 24 2.09x
Perthshire 21 12.11x
Yorkshire 16 0.42x
Kent 15 1.14x
Lanarkshire 15 1.20x
Surrey 15 0.80x
Cumberland 12 3.61x
Denbighshire 9 6.17x
Nottinghamshire 9 1.73x
Ayrshire 7 2.42x
Cambridgeshire 7 2.86x
Devon 7 0.87x
Hampshire 7 0.88x
Sussex 6 0.92x
Warwickshire 6 0.62x
Berkshire 5 1.72x
Derbyshire 5 0.83x
Essex 5 0.66x
Midlothian 5 0.97x
Kinross-shire 4 40.94x
Gloucestershire 3 0.40x
Leicestershire 3 0.70x
Morayshire 3 5.00x
Glamorgan 2 0.30x
Hertfordshire 2 0.75x
Royal Navy 2 4.35x
Angus 1 0.28x
Argyllshire 1 0.93x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.43x
Channel Islands 1 0.87x
Cheshire 1 0.12x
Dorset 1 0.39x
Flintshire 1 0.96x
Herefordshire 1 0.63x
Norfolk 1 0.17x
Northamptonshire 1 0.28x
Somerset 1 0.16x
Staffordshire 1 0.08x
Worcestershire 1 0.20x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Everton in Lancashire leads with 13 Mcgregors recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.90x.

Place Total Index
Everton 13 8.90x
Hackney London 12 5.54x
Kirkdale 12 15.56x
Tynemouth 9 29.24x
Barony 8 2.53x
Crieff 8 124.03x
Lenton 8 65.25x
Mile End Old Town 8 13.12x
Poplar London 8 10.97x
Wallsend 8 43.88x
Bow London 7 14.23x
Methven 7 275.59x
Westoe 7 10.74x
Whickham 7 66.23x
Fulham London 6 10.71x
Hatley East 6 3529.41x
Llanrwst 6 118.81x
Manchester 6 2.91x
Stoke 6 67.57x
Whitehaven 6 33.84x
York St Mary Castlegate 6 530.97x
Bishopwearmouth 5 5.07x
Chelsea London 5 4.30x
Elswick 5 10.90x
Finchley 5 33.76x
Gillingham 5 18.40x
Girvan 5 68.87x
Great Bolton 5 8.24x
Kilmadock 5 125.31x
Moss Side 5 20.73x
Shettleston 5 44.68x
Stoke Newington London 5 16.62x
West Derby 5 3.73x
West Ham 5 2.97x
Bray 4 46.95x
Croydon 4 3.83x
East Stonehouse 4 25.25x
Kensington London 4 1.86x
Kinross 4 119.40x
Richmond 4 15.16x
Ringwood 4 78.90x
Salford 4 2.97x
Workington 4 21.01x
Eltham 3 38.86x
Hayfield 3 80.86x
Ilkley 3 47.92x
Liverpool 3 1.08x
New Spynie 3 138.89x
Old Stratford 3 54.35x
Portsea 3 1.93x
St Marylebone London 3 1.45x
Wrexham Regis 3 27.68x
Birmingham 2 0.62x
Bristol All Sts 2 1111.11x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 2 0.96x
Glossop Dale 2 7.06x
Govan 2 0.65x
Greenwich 2 3.25x
Hove 2 7.00x
Islington London 2 0.53x
Kilmarnock 2 5.81x
Lewisham 2 2.85x
Loughborough 2 10.29x
Newton 2 5.66x
Shadwell London 2 18.50x
Shoreditch London 2 1.19x
South Leith 2 3.43x
St Luke London 2 3.23x
St Pancras London 2 0.64x
Stoke 2 61.35x
Walmer 2 34.90x
Walton On Hill 2 8.05x
Westminster St 2 14.04x
Ardoch 1 68.49x
Burnley 1 2.59x
Grindon 1 217.39x
Hereford All Sts 1 13.77x
South Shields 1 9.77x
Tottenham 1 1.63x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 22
John 19
James 18
Robert 10
Alexander 7
Donald 6
Duncan 6
Edward 5
Thomas 5
George 4
Arthur 3
David 3
Peter 3
Alexr. 2
Benjamin 2
Henry 2
Hugh 2
Joseph 2
Robt. 2
Robt.J. 2
Stewart 2
Walter 2
Albert 1
Alexand 1
Alfred 1
Allan 1
Andrew 1
Angus 1
Cameron 1
Charles 1
Chas. 1
Dikon 1
Dixon 1
Dougald 1
Dougdale 1
Ducan 1
Francis 1
Harry 1
Herbert 1
Hy. 1
J. 1
Joe 1
Lewis 1
Malcolme 1
Mathew 1
Murdock 1
Philip 1
Robt.Campbell 1
Sydney 1

FAQ

Mcgregor surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mcgregor surname in 1881?

In 1881, 13,456 people were recorded with the Mcgregor surname. That placed it at #302 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mcgregor surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 12,884 in 2016. That gives Mcgregor a modern rank of #502.

What does the Mcgregor surname mean?

A Scottish surname meaning "son of Gregor," with Gregor being a given name derived from the Latin "Gregorius."

What does the Mcgregor map show?

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