UK surname
A Scottish surname derived from the Gaelic Mac Gille Râith meaning "son of the stranger".
In the 1881 census there were 112 people recorded with the Mcilraith surname, ranking it #18,501 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 83, ranked #32,815, down from #18,501 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Erskine, Govan Combination and Dailly. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mcilraith is 135 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 25.9%.
1881 census count
112
Ranked #18,501
Modern count
83
2016, ranked #32,815
Peak year
1901
135 bearers
Map years
4
1851 to 1901
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Mcilraith surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Mcilraith surname density by area, 1881 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 126 | #14,626 |
| 1861 | historical | 100 | #21,103 |
| 1881 | historical | 112 | #18,501 |
| 1891 | historical | 96 | #24,559 |
| 1901 | historical | 135 | #19,203 |
| 1911 | historical | 11 | #32,463 |
| 1997 | modern | 81 | #29,436 |
| 1998 | modern | 90 | #28,920 |
| 1999 | modern | 90 | #29,056 |
| 2000 | modern | 84 | #29,706 |
| 2001 | modern | 80 | #29,945 |
| 2002 | modern | 83 | #30,070 |
| 2003 | modern | 86 | #29,752 |
| 2004 | modern | 85 | #30,132 |
| 2005 | modern | 82 | #30,617 |
| 2006 | modern | 87 | #30,292 |
| 2007 | modern | 89 | #30,383 |
| 2008 | modern | 88 | #30,857 |
| 2009 | modern | 85 | #31,717 |
| 2010 | modern | 93 | #31,239 |
| 2011 | modern | 92 | #31,301 |
| 2012 | modern | 83 | #32,611 |
| 2013 | modern | 85 | #32,658 |
| 2014 | modern | 88 | #32,495 |
| 2015 | modern | 85 | #32,693 |
| 2016 | modern | 83 | #32,815 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Erskine, Govan Combination, Dailly, Glasgow and Cadder. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Erskine | Renfrew |
| 2 | Govan Combination | Lanark |
| 3 | Dailly | Ayr |
| 4 | Glasgow | Lanark |
| 5 | Cadder | Lanark |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Mcilraith surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Mcilraith, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Mcilraith surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Mcilraith household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Mcilraith is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Mcilraith is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Mcilraith, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname McIlraith has its origins in Scotland, dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to be derived from the Gaelic personal name "Gille Riabhach," which means "brindled lad" or "freckled boy." The prefix "Mc" or "Mac" is a patronymic meaning "son of," indicating that the name originally referred to the son of a person named Gille Riabhach.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which were a series of documents recording the submission of Scottish nobles to Edward I of England. The name appears in various spellings, such as "McYlraith" and "McIlraith," reflecting the fluid nature of surname spellings in that era.
In the 15th century, the name is associated with the lands of Kilmarnock in Ayrshire, Scotland. Historical records from this time mention individuals with the surname McIlraith holding positions of prominence in the local community.
Notable individuals with the surname McIlraith include Sir John McIlraith (1520-1589), a Scottish landowner and politician who served as a member of the Privy Council of Scotland during the reign of Mary, Queen of Scots. Another prominent figure was Robert McIlraith (1678-1742), a Scottish merchant and philanthropist who made significant contributions to the city of Glasgow.
In the 18th century, the surname spread beyond Scotland, with members of the McIlraith family migrating to Ireland and other parts of the British Isles. One such individual was William McIlraith (1754-1823), an Irish-born soldier who served in the British Army during the American Revolutionary War.
The 19th century saw the name gain greater prominence, with individuals like James McIlraith (1810-1876), a Scottish-born entrepreneur who established successful businesses in Canada, and William McIlraith (1852-1925), a Scottish-born architect who designed numerous notable buildings in Australia.
Throughout its history, the surname McIlraith has been associated with various place names and locations in Scotland, such as Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, and Argyll, reflecting the geographical spread of the family over time.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mcilraith surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lancashire leads with 5 Mcilraiths recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.21x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 5 | 7.21x |
| Middlesex | 1 | 1.71x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Barrow In Furness in Lancashire leads with 4 Mcilraiths recorded in 1881 and an index of 425.53x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Barrow In Furness | 4 | 425.53x |
| Clerkenwell London | 1 | 72.46x |
| Kirkdale | 1 | 85.47x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Mcilraith surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Mcilraith surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Mcilraith households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Accountant | 1 |
| Housekeeper (Office) | 1 |
| Marine Stoker | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 112 people were recorded with the Mcilraith surname. That placed it at #18,501 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 83 in 2016. That gives Mcilraith a modern rank of #32,815.
A Scottish surname derived from the Gaelic Mac Gille Râith meaning "son of the stranger".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Mcilraith bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.