NameCensus.

UK surname

Mcguire

A surname of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic "Mag Uidhir," meaning "son of the pale-colored one."

In the 1881 census there were 5,267 people recorded with the Mcguire surname, ranking it #845 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 9,774, ranked #657, up from #845 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Govan Combination, Edinburgh and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Banknock, Haggs and Longcroft, Fankerton, Stoneywood and Denny Town and Valleyfield Culross and Torryburn.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mcguire is 9,897 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 85.6%.

1881 census count

5,267

Ranked #845

Modern count

9,774

2016, ranked #657

Peak year

2010

9,897 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mcguire had 5,267 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #845 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 9,774 in 2016, ranked #657.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 5,602 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Mcguire surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mcguire surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mcguire 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 2,469 #1,204
1861 historical 2,979 #966
1881 historical 5,267 #845
1891 historical 4,728 #983
1901 historical 5,602 #996
1911 historical 2,152 #2,335
1997 modern 8,851 #712
1998 modern 9,078 #721
1999 modern 9,214 #720
2000 modern 9,094 #726
2001 modern 8,927 #722
2002 modern 9,172 #720
2003 modern 8,936 #722
2004 modern 8,886 #726
2005 modern 8,968 #703
2006 modern 9,059 #698
2007 modern 9,236 #687
2008 modern 9,363 #677
2009 modern 9,638 #670
2010 modern 9,897 #665
2011 modern 9,679 #673
2012 modern 9,460 #678
2013 modern 9,655 #674
2014 modern 9,797 #666
2015 modern 9,744 #663
2016 modern 9,774 #657

Geography

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Where Mcguires are most common

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

The modern local-area list points to Banknock, Haggs and Longcroft, Fankerton, Stoneywood and Denny Town, Valleyfield Culross and Torryburn, Dunterlie, East Arthurlie and Dovecothall and Carntyne West and Haghill. 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 Manchester Lancashire
4 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Banknock, Haggs and Longcroft Falkirk
2 Fankerton, Stoneywood and Denny Town Falkirk
3 Valleyfield Culross and Torryburn Fife
4 Dunterlie, East Arthurlie and Dovecothall East Renfrewshire
5 Carntyne West and Haghill Glasgow City

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mcguire

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mcguire

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

Mcguire is most concentrated in decile 2 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Mcguire

The surname McGuire is of Irish origin, deriving from the Gaelic surname "Mag Uidhir" or "Mac Uidhir," meaning "son of Odhar" or "son of the dun-colored one." This name first appeared in County Fermanagh, Ulster, in the northern part of Ireland, as early as the 10th century.

In Irish tradition, the name McGuire was associated with the Clan Uidhir, a prominent Ulster family who held lands and territories in Fermanagh. The McGuires were renowned for their military prowess and played a significant role in the many conflicts that took place in Ulster during the medieval and early modern periods.

One of the earliest recorded references to the name McGuire can be found in the Annals of Ulster, a chronicle of medieval Irish history. In 1256, the Annals mention "Aedh Mac Uidhir," which is believed to be one of the first documented instances of the surname.

Throughout the centuries, the name has undergone various spellings, including MacGuire, Maguire, and McGuyre, reflecting the fluidity of surname spellings in earlier times. Additionally, the name is sometimes associated with places like Enniskillen and Fermanagh, where the Clan Uidhir held significant influence.

Notable individuals with the surname McGuire include:

1. Thomas McGuire (1892-1923), an American World War I fighter pilot and one of the highest-scoring American aces of the war. 2. Butterfly McQueen (1911-1995), an American actress best known for her role as Prissy in the film "Gone with the Wind." 3. Paul McGuire (1904-1993), an American actor and singer who appeared in numerous films and television shows. 4. Dominick McGuire (1835-1923), an Irish-American prelate who served as the Bishop of Glasgow from 1892 to 1923. 5. Philip McGuire (1890-1952), an American actor known for his roles in films like "The Wizard of Oz" and "It Happened One Night."

The surname McGuire has a rich history rooted in the ancient Irish clans and has maintained its presence throughout the centuries, spanning various regions and fields of influence.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mcguire families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mcguire 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 129 Mcguires recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.63x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 129 2.63x
Durham 45 3.66x
Northumberland 44 7.15x
Yorkshire 37 0.90x
Middlesex 32 0.77x
Cheshire 22 2.41x
Kent 17 1.20x
Cumberland 15 4.21x
Devon 14 1.63x
Hampshire 11 1.30x
Staffordshire 11 0.79x
Monmouthshire 8 2.68x
Essex 5 0.61x
Lanarkshire 4 0.30x
Montgomeryshire 4 4.22x
Orkney 4 8.79x
Warwickshire 4 0.38x
Glamorgan 3 0.42x
Surrey 3 0.15x
Flintshire 2 1.80x
Lincolnshire 2 0.30x
Northamptonshire 2 0.51x
Argyllshire 1 0.87x
Caernarfonshire 1 0.60x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.76x
Royal Navy 1 2.03x
Selkirkshire 1 2.67x
West Lothian 1 1.61x

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 17 Mcguires recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.70x.

Place Total Index
Liverpool 17 5.70x
Manchester 16 7.25x
Salford 13 9.01x
Westgate 13 34.11x
Gillingham 12 41.25x
Darlington 11 23.15x
Heworth 11 45.36x
Hulme 11 10.73x
Gorton 10 21.67x
Stoke Damerel 10 16.59x
Goole 9 131.00x
Birtley 8 159.36x
Byker 8 26.30x
Cleator 8 53.98x
Preston 8 6.09x
Upper Cwmyoy 8 3333.33x
Altrincham 7 43.89x
Dukinfield 7 16.59x
Toxteth Park 7 4.21x
Bromley London 6 6.59x
Handsworth 6 17.44x
West Derby 6 4.18x
Alverstoke 5 16.29x
Birkenhead 5 6.87x
Bootle Cum Linacre 5 12.83x
Mile End Old Town 5 7.66x
Aston 4 1.39x
Batley 4 10.27x
Bishop Auckland 4 24.23x
Blackburn 4 3.06x
Cowpen 4 28.23x
Hoyland Nether 4 39.80x
Kirkwall St Ola 4 58.65x
Linthorpe 4 16.35x
Middlesbrough 4 7.49x
Pool 4 55.94x
Sedgley 4 7.71x
Shoreditch London 4 2.23x
Accrington 3 6.72x
Burnley 3 7.26x
Chirton 3 21.54x
Crumpsall 3 25.93x
Harrington 3 69.77x
Poplar London 3 3.84x
Preston In Tynemouth 3 123.97x
Royton 3 19.99x
St Marylebone London 3 1.36x
Thornton In Fylde 3 27.93x
Winlaton 3 25.42x
Aldershot 2 7.04x
Alnwick 2 18.90x
Ashford 2 14.56x
Barony 2 0.59x
Boston 2 9.97x
Bradford 2 2.02x
Chorlton On Medlock 2 2.57x
Croydon 2 1.79x
Habergham Eaves 2 4.46x
Hawarden 2 22.91x
Hexham 2 21.01x
Holbeck 2 7.37x
Islington London 2 0.50x
Lancaster 2 6.85x
Monkwearmouth Shore 2 8.33x
Newborough 2 202.02x
Newcastle On Tyne St 2 6.27x
Old Monkland 2 3.77x
Pendleton In Salford 2 3.42x
Portsea 2 1.20x
Shotley High Quarter 2 487.80x
St Anne Soho London 2 8.47x
St George In East 2 7.11x
Swansea Town 2 3.39x
Tyldesley Cum Shakerley 2 14.15x
Tynemouth 2 6.07x
West Tilbury 2 400.00x
Westoe 2 2.87x
Whitehaven 2 10.54x
York St Margaret 2 78.74x
Stanley Cum Wrenthorpe 1 5.25x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 44
Ann 15
Margaret 14
Elizabeth 12
Bridget 11
Catherine 10
Jane 9
Sarah 9
Ellen 8
Annie 5
Eliza 5
Hannah 5
Kate 5
Alice 4
Agnes 3
Maria 3
Dinah 2
Helen 2
Jessie 2
Amelia 1
Anne 1
Cath 1
Charlotte 1
Clare 1
Elisa 1
Elizbh. 1
Elizbth. 1
Emma 1
Esther 1
Fanny 1
Florence 1
Frances 1
Francis 1
Grace 1
Harriett 1
Honora 1
Isabella 1
Julia 1
Lizy 1
Louisa 1
Maggie 1
Margret 1
Nora 1
Norah 1
Rosannah 1
Rose 1
Selina 1
Sophia 1
Susan 1
Thomas 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 51
James 26
Thomas 23
Michael 15
Patrick 13
William 11
Edward 6
Joseph 6
Bernard 5
Francis 5
Thos. 5
Charles 4
George 4
Peter 4
Henry 3
Martin 3
Chas. 2
Wm. 2
Brian 1
D.T. 1
Daniel 1
David 1
Dennis 1
Elizabeth 1
Fenton 1
Frances 1
Geo.H. 1
Herbert 1
Jno. 1
Jos. 1
Marriss 1
Melross 1
Michel 1
Mick 1
Pat 1
Philip 1
Richd. 1
Robert 1
Stephen 1
Susan 1
Terence 1

FAQ

Mcguire surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mcguire surname in 1881?

In 1881, 5,267 people were recorded with the Mcguire surname. That placed it at #845 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mcguire surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 9,774 in 2016. That gives Mcguire a modern rank of #657.

What does the Mcguire surname mean?

A surname of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic "Mag Uidhir," meaning "son of the pale-colored one."

What does the Mcguire map show?

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