UK surname

Mcgrorty

An Anglicized form of the Irish surname Mag Oireachtaigh, derived from a nickname meaning "son of the husbandman or ploughman".

In the 1881 census there were 58 people recorded with the Mcgrorty surname, ranking it #25,428 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 105, ranked #30,114, down from #25,428 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to New Monkland, Govan Combination and Old Monkland. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bathgate West, Wiltshire and Bathgate East.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mcgrorty is 146 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 81.0%.

1881 census count

Ranked #25,428

Modern count

105

2016, ranked #30,114

Peak year

1998

146 bearers

Map years

1891 to 2016

Key insights

• Mcgrorty had 58 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #25,428 surname in that year.
• The latest modern count shown here is 105 in 2016, ranked #30,114.
• Within the historical census years, the highest count was 125 in 1891.
• The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Map

Mcgrorty surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mcgrorty surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Year

Loading map

Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Mcgrorty 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	21	#29,550
1861	historical	36	#29,463
1881	historical	58	#25,428
1891	historical	125	#20,713
1901	historical	123	#20,248
1911	historical	9	#32,754
1997	modern	136	#22,398
1998	modern	146	#22,031
1999	modern	137	#23,083
2000	modern	145	#22,259
2001	modern	142	#22,234
2002	modern	136	#23,296
2003	modern	125	#24,265
2004	modern	125	#24,443
2005	modern	125	#24,398
2006	modern	124	#24,750
2007	modern	123	#25,208
2008	modern	121	#25,785
2009	modern	114	#27,363
2010	modern	116	#27,704
2011	modern	112	#28,117
2012	modern	103	#29,733
2013	modern	108	#29,379
2014	modern	111	#29,113
2015	modern	108	#29,512
2016	modern	105	#30,114

Geography

Where Mcgrortys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around New Monkland, Govan Combination, Old Monkland, Greenock and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bathgate West, Wiltshire, Bathgate East, Armadale and Ballingry. 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	New Monkland	Lanark
2	Govan Combination	Lanark
3	Old Monkland	Lanark
4	Greenock	Renfrew
5	Glasgow	Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank	Area	District
1	Bathgate West	West Lothian
2	Wiltshire 019	Wiltshire
3	Bathgate East	West Lothian
4	Armadale	West Lothian
5	Ballingry	Fife

Forenames

First names often paired with Mcgrorty

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

Historical female names

Mary Margaret Annie Catherine Helen Isabella Rose Jane Ann Elizabeth

Historical male names

John Patrick James William Thomas Charles Peter Hugh Daniel Joseph

Recent female names

Margaret Caroline Mary Paula Fiona Sarah Catherine Zoe Helen Sheila

Recent male names

Thomas James John Joseph David Alexander Brian Mark Patrick Lee

Modern profile

Neighbourhood profile for Mcgrorty

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

Mcgrorty 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.

Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Mcgrorty 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.

More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Mcgrorty is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate: White - Irish

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

Origin

Meaning and origin of Mcgrorty

The surname MCGRORTY is of Irish origin, originating from the Gaelic-speaking regions of Ireland during the medieval period. It is believed to be derived from the Irish Gaelic word "groidh," meaning "horse," combined with the prefix "Mac," signifying "son of." This suggests that the name may have originated as a descriptive byname for someone associated with horses, such as a horse breeder or a skilled horseman.

The earliest recorded instances of the MCGRORTY surname trace back to the 16th century in County Donegal, located in the northwestern region of Ireland. This area was historically inhabited by the Gaelic clans and families of Ulster, where the MCGRORTY name likely emerged. Some variations in the spelling of the surname can be found in historical records, such as MCGRORTY, MCGROTTY, and MCGRODDY.

In the 17th century, the MCGRORTY surname appeared in the Hearth Money Rolls, a taxation record compiled in Ireland during the reign of Charles II. This suggests that the name was well-established and associated with landowners or households during that period.

One notable figure bearing the MCGRORTY surname was Patrick MCGRORTY (c. 1720-1785), an Irish-born clergyman who served as the Bishop of Raphoe in County Donegal from 1770 until his death. He was known for his efforts in promoting education and establishing schools in his diocese.

Another historical figure was Michael MCGRORTY (1817-1880), a prominent Irish politician and journalist. Born in County Donegal, he was actively involved in the Irish nationalist movement and served as a Member of Parliament for the city of Carlow from 1868 to 1880.

In the late 19th century, a notable MCGRORTY was John MCGRORTY (1848-1912), an Irish-American businessman and political figure. He immigrated to the United States and became involved in the coal mining industry in Pennsylvania, eventually serving as a member of the Pennsylvania State Senate from 1899 to 1903.

The MCGRORTY surname can also be found in historical records related to the Irish diaspora, as many individuals bearing this name emigrated from Ireland to various parts of the world, particularly during the 19th and early 20th centuries. This has contributed to the global distribution of the MCGRORTY name.

One final example is Francis MCGRORTY (1898-1966), an Irish-born prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as the Bishop of Allahabad in British India from 1940 to 1966 and played a significant role in the development of the Catholic Church in that region during his tenure.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Mcgrorty surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mcgrorty surname in 1881?

In 1881, 58 people were recorded with the Mcgrorty surname. That placed it at #25,428 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mcgrorty surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 105 in 2016. That gives Mcgrorty a modern rank of #30,114.

What does the Mcgrorty surname mean?