NameCensus.

UK surname

Mcguffie

A Scottish surname thought to derive from the Gaelic "Mac Duibhshithe" meaning "son of the dun-colored one".

In the 1881 census there were 480 people recorded with the Mcguffie surname, ranking it #6,976 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 540, ranked #9,422, down from #6,976 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Mochrum, Sorbie and Whithorn. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Stranraer South, County Durham and Lochside and Lincluden.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mcguffie is 597 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 12.5%.

1881 census count

480

Ranked #6,976

Modern count

540

2016, ranked #9,422

Peak year

2002

597 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mcguffie had 480 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,976 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 540 in 2016, ranked #9,422.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 498 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Mcguffie surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mcguffie surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mcguffie 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 332 #7,031
1861 historical 351 #7,278
1881 historical 480 #6,976
1891 historical 462 #7,917
1901 historical 498 #8,081
1911 historical 225 #13,874
1997 modern 583 #8,313
1998 modern 572 #8,663
1999 modern 591 #8,530
2000 modern 568 #8,717
2001 modern 564 #8,645
2002 modern 597 #8,494
2003 modern 582 #8,500
2004 modern 578 #8,559
2005 modern 559 #8,693
2006 modern 551 #8,799
2007 modern 562 #8,750
2008 modern 536 #9,139
2009 modern 550 #9,169
2010 modern 550 #9,368
2011 modern 553 #9,228
2012 modern 543 #9,264
2013 modern 551 #9,320
2014 modern 561 #9,242
2015 modern 538 #9,489
2016 modern 540 #9,422

Geography

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Where Mcguffies are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Mochrum, Sorbie, Whithorn, Balmaghie and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Stranraer South, County Durham, Lochside and Lincluden, Dundonald, Loans and Symington and Lichfield. 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 Mochrum Wigtown
2 Sorbie Wigtown
3 Whithorn Wigtown
4 Balmaghie Kirkcudbright
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Stranraer South Dumfries and Galloway
2 County Durham 011 County Durham
3 Lochside and Lincluden Dumfries and Galloway
4 Dundonald, Loans and Symington South Ayrshire
5 Lichfield 002 Lichfield

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mcguffie

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mcguffie

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

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

Senior Professionals

Within London, Mcguffie is most associated with areas classed as Senior Professionals, part of Central Connected Professionals and Managers. 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 very central neighbourhoods house residents whose ages are more skewed towards older age cohorts than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Few households have young children. Rates of illness are low. Indian ethnicity is rare compared to the Supergroup mean. Property under occupation is more common, despite the centrality of neighbourhoods, and more residents live in communal establishments than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Adult residents of these neighbourhoods are typically aged 25 to 44, working full-time in professional, managerial or associate professional occupations. There are few families with dependent children. The predominantly Inner London neighbourhoods have an international character, including many residents born elsewhere in Europe alongside high numbers of individuals identifying as of Chinese ethnicity. Many individuals are never married, childless and/or living alone. Above average numbers of individuals, likely to be full-time students, live in communal establishments. Elsewhere, privately rented flats are the dominant housing type. Residents of these areas are well-qualified, with a significant number holding Level 4 or above qualifications. There is a correspondingly high level of individuals employed full-time in professional, managerial and associated professional or technical occupations. Employing industries are financial, real estate, professional, administration, and, to a lesser degree, transport and communications. Unemployment is uncommon.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Mcguffie 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

Mcguffie 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 Mcguffie is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Mcguffie

The surname MCGUFFIE is of Scottish origin, originating in the late medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Gaelic "Mac Dhuibhshíthe," meaning "son of the dark one" or "son of the swarthy man." This suggests that the name may have been initially a descriptive nickname referring to a person's physical appearance.

The earliest recorded spelling of the name dates back to the late 15th century, where it appeared as "McGuffok" in the Rental Book of Cupar-Angus in 1473. Other early variants include "McGuffog," "McGuffock," and "McGuffie." These variations likely stem from the name's transition from Gaelic to English and the challenges of transliterating the Gaelic spelling.

One of the earliest recorded bearers of the name was John McGuffie, who was mentioned in the Register of the Great Seal of Scotland in 1501. Another early reference is found in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland, where a Robert McGuffok is listed in 1531.

The name has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One of the earliest was Sir John McGuffie (1551-1634), a Scottish landowner and member of the Scottish Parliament. In the 18th century, Alexander McGuffie (1746-1828) was a prominent Scottish minister and author.

During the 19th century, several McGuffies made significant contributions. James McGuffie (1811-1890) was a Scottish journalist and editor, while John McGuffie (1827-1905) was a Canadian lawyer and politician who served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.

In more recent times, Alistair McGuffie (1920-2002) was a Scottish actor and writer known for his roles in films and television shows. His cousin, Ian McGuffie (1924-2018), was a Scottish footballer who played for several clubs, including Falkirk and Dunfermline Athletic.

While the name MCGUFFIE is not among the most common Scottish surnames, it has a rich history dating back to the late medieval period and has been borne by individuals from various walks of life throughout the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mcguffie families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mcguffie 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. Lancashire leads with 20 Mcguffies recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.40x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 20 5.40x
Cumberland 7 26.06x
Buckinghamshire 2 10.60x
Durham 1 1.08x
Middlesex 1 0.32x
Surrey 1 0.66x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Liverpool in Lancashire leads with 8 Mcguffies recorded in 1881 and an index of 35.57x.

Place Total Index
Liverpool 8 35.57x
Walton On Hill 8 398.01x
Beckermet St John 5 7142.86x
Kirkdale 4 64.21x
Turweston 2 6666.67x
Bishopwearmouth 1 12.55x
Lambeth 1 3.68x
Low Bolton 1 1428.57x
St Pancras London 1 3.98x
Wetheral 1 277.78x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Margaret 3
Agnes 2
Hannah 2
Jane 2
Ann 1
Annie 1
Constance 1
Elizabeth 1
Florence 1
Mary 1
Rachel 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 4
James 2
Peter 2
Robert 2
Alexander 1
Andrew 1
John 1
Joseph 1
Mathew 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 Mcguffie households.

FAQ

Mcguffie surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mcguffie surname in 1881?

In 1881, 480 people were recorded with the Mcguffie surname. That placed it at #6,976 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mcguffie surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 540 in 2016. That gives Mcguffie a modern rank of #9,422.

What does the Mcguffie surname mean?

A Scottish surname thought to derive from the Gaelic "Mac Duibhshithe" meaning "son of the dun-colored one".

What does the Mcguffie map show?

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