NameCensus.

UK surname

Mcgroarty

An Irish surname meaning "son of Groarty", an old Gaelic personal name of uncertain origin.

In the 1881 census there were 44 people recorded with the Mcgroarty surname, ranking it #27,447 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 563, ranked #9,114, up from #27,447 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Caldercruix and Plains, Dundyvan and IZ12.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mcgroarty is 577 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 1179.5%.

1881 census count

44

Ranked #27,447

Modern count

563

2016, ranked #9,114

Peak year

2014

577 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mcgroarty had 44 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #27,447 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 563 in 2016, ranked #9,114.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 58 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Mcgroarty surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mcgroarty surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mcgroarty 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 11 #31,309
1861 historical 22 #31,140
1881 historical 44 #27,447
1891 historical 38 #31,330
1901 historical 58 #27,724
1911 historical 10 #32,609
1997 modern 480 #9,602
1998 modern 495 #9,678
1999 modern 500 #9,661
2000 modern 508 #9,519
2001 modern 515 #9,254
2002 modern 540 #9,103
2003 modern 506 #9,404
2004 modern 510 #9,374
2005 modern 509 #9,328
2006 modern 516 #9,258
2007 modern 515 #9,357
2008 modern 529 #9,229
2009 modern 544 #9,247
2010 modern 559 #9,245
2011 modern 558 #9,152
2012 modern 572 #8,913
2013 modern 568 #9,080
2014 modern 577 #9,047
2015 modern 565 #9,108
2016 modern 563 #9,114

Geography

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Where Mcgroartys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Caldercruix and Plains, Dundyvan, IZ12, Lennoxtown and Govan and Linthouse. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Caldercruix and Plains North Lanarkshire
2 Dundyvan North Lanarkshire
3 IZ12 West Dunbartonshire
4 Lennoxtown East Dunbartonshire
5 Govan and Linthouse Glasgow City

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mcgroarty

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mcgroarty

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

Legacy Communities

Group

Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities

Nationally, the Mcgroarty surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Mcgroarty household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Households in these areas often include divorced or separated parents and commonly include children and young adults. The age structure is heavily skewed towards the most advanced age groups. Individuals identifying as members of ethnic minorities are not present in large numbers. Flats predominate, with some terraced, semi-detached, and detached units. Multiple car ownership is low, and housing is predominantly in the private and social rented sectors. Employment is less skewed towards traditional routine industrial occupations. Levels of educational attainment are generally low. The Group occurs principally in the Central Lowlands of Scotland and other Scottish towns.

Wider pattern

These neighbourhoods characteristically comprise pockets of flats that are scattered across the UK, particularly in towns that retain or have legacies of heavy industry or are in more remote seaside locations. Employed residents of these neighbourhoods work mainly in low-skilled occupations. Residents typically have limited educational qualifications. Unemployment is above average. Some residents live in overcrowded housing within the social rented sector and experience long-term disability. All adult age groups are represented, although there is an overall age bias towards elderly people in general and the very old in particular. Individuals identifying as belonging to ethnic minorities or Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups are uncommon.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Mcgroarty 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

Mcgroarty 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

Mcgroarty 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 Mcgroarty 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 Mcgroarty, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Mcgroarty

The surname MCGROARTY is of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic name "Mac Ruaidhri," which means "son of the red one" or "son of Rory." This name likely originated in County Donegal, Ireland, during the medieval period.

In ancient Irish records and manuscripts, the name is often spelled as "MacRory," "MacRorie," or "MacGrorry." One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history compiled in the 17th century.

The MCGROARTY name is closely associated with the Donegal Gaelic lordship of Inishowen, where the MacGrorys were a prominent clan. In the 16th century, Aodh MacRory, a member of this clan, was a notable chieftain and leader in the region.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, as the English colonized Ireland, the spelling of the name evolved to its current form, MCGROARTY. One notable bearer of this surname was Patrick McGroarty (c. 1725-1795), an Irish rebel who fought against British rule during the Irish Rebellion of 1798.

In the 19th century, John McGroarty (1807-1888), a prominent Irish politician and Member of Parliament, represented County Donegal in the British House of Commons. His son, Walter McGroarty (1849-1922), was a respected journalist and author who wrote extensively about Irish history and culture.

Another notable individual with this surname was Bernard McGroarty (1865-1942), an Irish-American businessman and political figure who served as the Mayor of Los Angeles, California, from 1917 to 1921.

While the MCGROARTY surname has its roots in Ireland, bearers of this name can now be found in various parts of the world, including the United States, Canada, Australia, and beyond, reflecting the impact of Irish immigration and diaspora over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Mcgroarty surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mcgroarty surname in 1881?

In 1881, 44 people were recorded with the Mcgroarty surname. That placed it at #27,447 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mcgroarty surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 563 in 2016. That gives Mcgroarty a modern rank of #9,114.

What does the Mcgroarty surname mean?

An Irish surname meaning "son of Groarty", an old Gaelic personal name of uncertain origin.

What does the Mcgroarty map show?

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