NameCensus.

UK surname

Mcgurn

A surname of Scottish origin derived from the Gaelic "Mac Cuirn" meaning "son of Cairn".

In the 1881 census there were 142 people recorded with the Mcgurn surname, ranking it #16,012 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 304, ranked #14,606, up from #16,012 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Govan Combination, Glasgow and Preston. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North Kelvin, Braidfauld and Mosspark.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mcgurn is 304 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 114.1%.

1881 census count

142

Ranked #16,012

Modern count

304

2016, ranked #14,606

Peak year

2016

304 bearers

Map years

6

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mcgurn had 142 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #16,012 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 304 in 2016, ranked #14,606.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 150 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Routine Occupations or Retirement.

Mcgurn surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mcgurn surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mcgurn 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 33 #27,390
1861 historical 67 #25,342
1881 historical 142 #16,012
1891 historical 147 #18,592
1901 historical 150 #18,075
1911 historical 47 #28,110
1997 modern 257 #14,989
1998 modern 265 #15,087
1999 modern 271 #14,954
2000 modern 291 #14,200
2001 modern 291 #14,000
2002 modern 290 #14,314
2003 modern 280 #14,472
2004 modern 274 #14,762
2005 modern 267 #14,954
2006 modern 270 #14,923
2007 modern 278 #14,773
2008 modern 277 #14,940
2009 modern 286 #14,910
2010 modern 278 #15,567
2011 modern 286 #15,091
2012 modern 294 #14,705
2013 modern 296 #14,876
2014 modern 301 #14,809
2015 modern 303 #14,646
2016 modern 304 #14,606

Geography

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Where Mcgurns are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Govan Combination, Glasgow, Preston, Liverpool and Middlesborough. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North Kelvin, Braidfauld, Mosspark, Pollok North and East and Finnieston and Kelvinhaugh. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Govan Combination Lanark
2 Glasgow Lanark
3 Preston Lancashire
4 Liverpool Lancashire
5 Middlesborough Durham

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North Kelvin Glasgow City
2 Braidfauld Glasgow City
3 Mosspark Glasgow City
4 Pollok North and East Glasgow City
5 Finnieston and Kelvinhaugh Glasgow City

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mcgurn

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mcgurn

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

Routine Occupations or Retirement

Nationally, the Mcgurn surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Routine Occupations or Retirement, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Mcgurn household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods are characterised by high proportions of single, often never-married adults of normal retirement age or older, including many that are in the most advanced age groups. Most adults are UK born and live at high residential densities, and many of the children living with parents are in adulthood. Individuals identifying as members of ethnic minorities are uncommon, but above average proportions of households include individuals that identify with different ethnic groups. Long-term disability is relatively common, and the dominant accommodation type is flats. Unemployment rates are high, with most of those employed working in routine occupations. Few individuals have high level qualifications. Car ownership is not high.

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

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Mcgurn is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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 residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Mcgurn 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

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

Meaning and origin of Mcgurn

The surname McGurn is of Scottish origin, with roots tracing back to the 13th century. It is believed to have originated in the Scottish Highlands, particularly in the area around Argyll and the western Isles.

The name is derived from the Gaelic words "mac" meaning "son of" and "Guaire," an ancient personal name thought to mean "watchful" or "vigilant." This suggests that the earliest bearers of the name were descendants of a person named Guaire, known for their watchful or protective nature.

In ancient Scottish records, the name appears with various spellings, such as MacGuaire, MacGuyre, and MacGwyre, reflecting the evolving nature of language and regional variations in pronunciation. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a historical document containing the names of Scottish landowners who pledged allegiance to King Edward I of England.

Notable individuals with the surname McGurn throughout history include Sir John McGurn (c. 1540-1610), a Scottish nobleman and landowner who played a prominent role in the clan feuds of the 16th century. Another notable figure was Donald McGurn (1744-1823), a Scottish soldier who fought in the American Revolutionary War and later settled in Nova Scotia, Canada.

In the literary realm, Margaret McGurn (1866-1942), a Scottish author and poet, gained recognition for her works depicting rural life in the Scottish Highlands. The name also appears in the historical records of Ireland, with Patrick McGurn (1788-1865), an Irish priest and educator, making significant contributions to the education system in County Donegal.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name in the United States dates back to the late 18th century, when James McGurn (1763-1845), an immigrant from Scotland, settled in Pennsylvania and became a prominent businessman and landowner.

While the McGurn surname has its roots in Scotland, it has since spread to various parts of the world, carried by descendants of Scottish immigrants and those of Irish descent who adopted the name through marriage or other circumstances.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mcgurn families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mcgurn 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 7 Mcgurns recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.73x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 7 6.73x
Lanarkshire 1 3.53x
Yorkshire 1 1.15x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Everton in Lancashire leads with 4 Mcgurns recorded in 1881 and an index of 120.85x.

Place Total Index
Everton 4 120.85x
Liverpool 3 47.47x
Barony 1 13.95x
Leeds 1 20.41x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Cath. 1
Catherine 1
Mary 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Charles 1
Christopher 1
Michael 1
William 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 Mcgurn households.

FAQ

Mcgurn surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mcgurn surname in 1881?

In 1881, 142 people were recorded with the Mcgurn surname. That placed it at #16,012 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mcgurn surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 304 in 2016. That gives Mcgurn a modern rank of #14,606.

What does the Mcgurn surname mean?

A surname of Scottish origin derived from the Gaelic "Mac Cuirn" meaning "son of Cairn".

What does the Mcgurn map show?

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