NameCensus.

UK surname

Mcilquham

A Highland Scottish Gaelic surname derived from the personal name Gille Caluim, meaning "servant/follower of Calum (Malcolm)".

In the 1881 census there were 39 people recorded with the Mcilquham surname, ranking it #28,137 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 128, ranked #26,401, up from #28,137 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Chapelhall West, Merryton and Meadowhill and Tewkesbury.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mcilquham is 128 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 228.2%.

1881 census count

39

Ranked #28,137

Modern count

128

2016, ranked #26,401

Peak year

2016

128 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mcilquham had 39 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #28,137 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 128 in 2016, ranked #26,401.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 71 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Mcilquham surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mcilquham surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mcilquham 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 42 #25,706
1861 historical 42 #28,691
1881 historical 39 #28,137
1891 historical 56 #29,638
1901 historical 71 #26,277
1911 historical 19 #31,416
1997 modern 93 #27,932
1998 modern 101 #27,479
1999 modern 108 #26,602
2000 modern 123 #24,585
2001 modern 116 #25,089
2002 modern 125 #24,492
2003 modern 119 #25,026
2004 modern 117 #25,448
2005 modern 111 #26,260
2006 modern 110 #26,717
2007 modern 113 #26,641
2008 modern 110 #27,391
2009 modern 121 #26,373
2010 modern 119 #27,250
2011 modern 123 #26,512
2012 modern 115 #27,717
2013 modern 123 #26,974
2014 modern 122 #27,358
2015 modern 123 #27,088
2016 modern 128 #26,401

Geography

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Where Mcilquhams are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Chapelhall West, Merryton and Meadowhill, Tewkesbury, West Ferry and Cardiff. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Chapelhall West North Lanarkshire
2 Merryton and Meadowhill South Lanarkshire
3 Tewkesbury 005 Tewkesbury
4 West Ferry Dundee City
5 Cardiff 010 Cardiff

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mcilquham

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mcilquham

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Mcilquham is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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 concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Mcilquham is most concentrated in decile 6 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Mcilquham falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Mcilquham 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 Mcilquham, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Mcilquham

The surname MCILQUHAM is of Scottish origin, with roots tracing back to the 13th century. It is believed to have originated in the region of Ayrshire, Scotland, where the name was derived from the Gaelic words "mac" meaning "son" and "Giolla Chaluim" meaning "servant of Columba."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name MCILQUHAM can be found in the ancient Ragman Rolls of 1296, which documented the names of Scottish landowners who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England. This indicates that the name was established and in use during the medieval period.

In the 16th century, the MCILQUHAM name appeared in the Parish of Kilwinning, Ayrshire, where a family bearing the name held lands and properties. During this time, variations of the spelling, such as "McIlquham" and "McIlquhame," were common due to the lack of standardized spelling conventions.

One notable figure associated with the MCILQUHAM name was John McIlquham (1542-1618), a Scottish clergyman who served as the Rector of the University of Glasgow from 1598 to 1618. He played a significant role in the development of the university during his tenure.

Another prominent individual was William McIlquham (1680-1745), a Scottish merchant and landowner who acquired significant wealth through his trading ventures. He is known for establishing the McIlquham Estate in Ayrshire, which remained in the family's possession for several generations.

In the 18th century, the name MCILQUHAM was also found in other parts of Scotland, such as the Scottish Borders region. One notable bearer of the name during this period was Robert McIlquham (1725-1804), a renowned Scottish poet and author who contributed to the literary culture of his time.

As the centuries progressed, members of the MCILQUHAM family dispersed throughout Scotland and beyond, with some migrating to other parts of the United Kingdom and even to North America. Despite this geographical spread, the name has maintained its Scottish heritage and origins.

It is worth noting that the MCILQUHAM surname, while not among the most common Scottish surnames, has a rich history and has been associated with notable figures who have contributed to various aspects of Scottish society over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mcilquham families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mcilquham 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. Gloucestershire leads with 1 Mcilquhams recorded in 1881 and an index of 26.46x.

County Total Index
Gloucestershire 1 26.46x
Lancashire 1 4.37x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Charlton Kings in Gloucestershire leads with 1 Mcilquhams recorded in 1881 and an index of 3333.33x.

Place Total Index
Charlton Kings 1 3333.33x
Clitheroe 1 1428.57x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Alice 1
Elizabeth 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 Mcilquham households.

FAQ

Mcilquham surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mcilquham surname in 1881?

In 1881, 39 people were recorded with the Mcilquham surname. That placed it at #28,137 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mcilquham surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 128 in 2016. That gives Mcilquham a modern rank of #26,401.

What does the Mcilquham surname mean?

A Highland Scottish Gaelic surname derived from the personal name Gille Caluim, meaning "servant/follower of Calum (Malcolm)".

What does the Mcilquham map show?

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