NameCensus.

UK surname

Mcgurk

A surname of Irish origin meaning "the son of the round-headed person."

In the 1881 census there were 556 people recorded with the Mcgurk surname, ranking it #6,212 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,120, ranked #3,052, up from #6,212 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Govan Combination and Gateshead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Glenwood South, Newcastle upon Tyne and Valleyfield Culross and Torryburn.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mcgurk is 2,144 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 281.3%.

1881 census count

556

Ranked #6,212

Modern count

2,120

2016, ranked #3,052

Peak year

2010

2,144 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mcgurk had 556 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,212 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,120 in 2016, ranked #3,052.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 777 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Mcgurk surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mcgurk surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mcgurk 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 270 #8,275
1861 historical 264 #9,385
1881 historical 556 #6,212
1891 historical 645 #6,016
1901 historical 777 #5,782
1911 historical 491 #7,928
1997 modern 1,906 #3,168
1998 modern 1,946 #3,224
1999 modern 2,007 #3,172
2000 modern 1,973 #3,201
2001 modern 1,948 #3,176
2002 modern 2,008 #3,161
2003 modern 1,930 #3,204
2004 modern 1,902 #3,233
2005 modern 1,925 #3,184
2006 modern 1,975 #3,126
2007 modern 1,988 #3,138
2008 modern 2,017 #3,130
2009 modern 2,092 #3,093
2010 modern 2,144 #3,082
2011 modern 2,129 #3,069
2012 modern 2,065 #3,105
2013 modern 2,089 #3,123
2014 modern 2,130 #3,082
2015 modern 2,124 #3,063
2016 modern 2,120 #3,052

Geography

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Where Mcgurks are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Govan Combination, Gateshead, 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 Glenwood South, Newcastle upon Tyne, Valleyfield Culross and Torryburn, Port Glasgow Mid, East and Central and Viewpark. 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 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
2 Govan Combination Lanark
3 Gateshead Durham
4 Greenock Renfrew
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Glenwood South Glasgow City
2 Newcastle upon Tyne 014 Newcastle upon Tyne
3 Valleyfield Culross and Torryburn Fife
4 Port Glasgow Mid, East and Central Inverclyde
5 Viewpark North Lanarkshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mcgurk

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mcgurk

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

Mcgurk 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

Mcgurk 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 Mcgurk 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 - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Mcgurk

The surname McGurk has its origins in Ireland, where it first emerged in the 13th century. The name is derived from the Gaelic word "murgach," meaning "sailor" or "navigator." This suggests that the earliest bearers of this name were likely involved in maritime activities or resided in coastal areas.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name McGurk can be found in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history. The annals mention a prominent figure named Eoghan McGurk, who lived in the 15th century and was a respected leader in County Donegal.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the McGurk name gained prominence in the northern regions of Ireland, particularly in counties such as Antrim, Derry, and Tyrone. Historical records from this period often list variations of the spelling, including McGurck, McGurch, and McGirk.

In the late 17th century, a notable figure named Patrick McGurk (1650-1712) rose to prominence as a prominent landowner and politician in County Antrim. He played a significant role in the local affairs of the region during the turbulent times of the Williamite War in Ireland.

Another individual of historical significance was John McGurk (1798-1877), a Catholic priest and educator who founded several schools in Ireland and worked tirelessly to promote education among the Irish Catholic population.

The McGurk surname also gained recognition in the literary world with the work of the Irish poet and playwright Patrick McGurk (1865-1938), who wrote extensively about the experiences of the Irish diaspora in America.

As Irish immigrants settled in various parts of the world, the McGurk name spread to other countries, including the United States, Canada, and Australia. One notable figure was James McGurk (1901-1980), an Australian labor leader and politician who served as a member of the Australian House of Representatives.

Throughout its history, the McGurk surname has been associated with diverse professions and achievements, reflecting the rich tapestry of Irish heritage and culture.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mcgurk families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mcgurk 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. Durham leads with 67 Mcgurks recorded in 1881 and an index of 23.32x.

County Total Index
Durham 67 23.32x
Lancashire 13 1.13x
Yorkshire 8 0.84x
Surrey 5 1.06x
Northumberland 3 2.09x
Lincolnshire 2 1.30x
Kent 1 0.30x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Iveston in Durham leads with 16 Mcgurks recorded in 1881 and an index of 1212.12x.

Place Total Index
Iveston 16 1212.12x
Ebchester 11 2500.00x
Medomsley 8 597.01x
Westoe 8 49.14x
Birtley 7 598.29x
Preston 7 22.84x
Greencroft 6 1132.08x
Liverpool 6 8.62x
Lambeth 5 5.94x
Wolsingham 5 190.84x
Winlaton 4 144.93x
Normanby In 3 117.19x
Boston Hall Hills 2 769.23x
Eston 2 96.15x
Holmside 2 281.69x
Newcastle On Tyne St John 2 105.82x
Linthorpe 1 17.51x
Lockwood 1 29.07x
Maidstone 1 10.19x
Middlesbrough 1 8.03x
Newcastle On Tyne St 1 13.42x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 10
Margaret 5
Ann 4
Bridget 4
Catherine 4
Jane 3
Elizabeth 2
Isabella 2
Rose 2
Sarah 2
Agnes 1
Anne 1
Annie 1
Elebether 1
Ellen 1
Maria 1
Roseannah 1
Susan 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 10
Michael 9
Patrick 9
James 5
Frank 3
Peter 3
Charles 2
Francis 2
Stephen 2
Thomas 2
Daniel 1
Edward 1
Felix 1
Hugh 1
Joseph 1
Wm.James 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 Mcgurk households.

FAQ

Mcgurk surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mcgurk surname in 1881?

In 1881, 556 people were recorded with the Mcgurk surname. That placed it at #6,212 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mcgurk surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,120 in 2016. That gives Mcgurk a modern rank of #3,052.

What does the Mcgurk surname mean?

A surname of Irish origin meaning "the son of the round-headed person."

What does the Mcgurk map show?

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