NameCensus.

UK surname

Mcilroy

A Scottish surname meaning "son of the servant" or "son of the gray lad".

In the 1881 census there were 597 people recorded with the Mcilroy surname, ranking it #5,858 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,825, ranked #3,473, up from #5,858 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to New Monkland, Bothwell and Govan Combination. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Greenock East, Stevenston Ardeer and Crookston South.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mcilroy is 1,825 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 205.7%.

1881 census count

597

Ranked #5,858

Modern count

1,825

2016, ranked #3,473

Peak year

2016

1,825 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mcilroy had 597 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,858 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,825 in 2016, ranked #3,473.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 908 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Mcilroy surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mcilroy surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Mcilroy 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 302 #7,606
1861 historical 304 #8,340
1881 historical 597 #5,858
1891 historical 689 #5,686
1901 historical 908 #5,113
1911 historical 279 #12,018
1997 modern 1,615 #3,671
1998 modern 1,657 #3,715
1999 modern 1,709 #3,645
2000 modern 1,714 #3,617
2001 modern 1,697 #3,583
2002 modern 1,766 #3,526
2003 modern 1,704 #3,574
2004 modern 1,689 #3,602
2005 modern 1,703 #3,538
2006 modern 1,735 #3,490
2007 modern 1,745 #3,507
2008 modern 1,742 #3,533
2009 modern 1,798 #3,511
2010 modern 1,802 #3,562
2011 modern 1,782 #3,563
2012 modern 1,741 #3,567
2013 modern 1,772 #3,576
2014 modern 1,812 #3,536
2015 modern 1,796 #3,527
2016 modern 1,825 #3,473

Geography

Back to top

Where Mcilroys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around New Monkland, Bothwell, Govan Combination, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry and Greenock. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Greenock East, Stevenston Ardeer, Crookston South, Hillhead and IZ12. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 New Monkland Lanark
2 Bothwell Lanark
3 Govan Combination Lanark
4 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar
5 Greenock Renfrew

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Greenock East Inverclyde
2 Stevenston Ardeer North Ayrshire
3 Crookston South Glasgow City
4 Hillhead Glasgow City
5 IZ12 West Dunbartonshire

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Mcilroy

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Mcilroy

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

Mcilroy 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

Mcilroy 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 Mcilroy 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 - British

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

Meaning and origin of Mcilroy

The surname McIlroy is of Scottish origin, derived from the Gaelic personal name Giolla Rìgh, meaning "servant of the king." This name was common in the Scottish Highlands, particularly in the regions of Argyll and Perthshire.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be traced back to the 13th century, when it appeared in various forms such as MacGillrie, MacGilrie, and MacGillroy. In the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which documented the names of Scottish nobles who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England, the name appears as MacGillerye.

One notable historical reference to the name McIlroy can be found in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland from 1501, where a certain John McGilroy is mentioned. These rolls were financial records maintained by the Scottish government, indicating that individuals bearing this surname held positions of importance during that time.

In the 16th century, the name began to be spelled more consistently as McIlroy, and several clan members are mentioned in the Clan Donald Manuscript of 1561. This manuscript provides valuable insight into the history and lineage of various Scottish clans.

Throughout the centuries, there have been several notable individuals with the surname McIlroy. One of the earliest was Sir John McIlroy (1580-1644), a Scottish landowner and member of the Scottish Parliament. Another prominent figure was Archibald McIlroy (1665-1734), a Presbyterian minister who played a significant role in the establishment of the Church of Scotland.

In the 19th century, Robert McIlroy (1813-1876) was a Scottish-born Australian explorer and pastoralist who made significant contributions to the exploration and settlement of Queensland. James McIlroy (1844-1925) was a Scottish-born Australian politician who served as the Premier of Western Australia from 1901 to 1904.

In the 20th century, Hugh McIlroy (1910-1989) was a Scottish-born Australian cricketer who played for the Australian national team in the 1930s and 1940s. He is considered one of the greatest batsmen of his era.

While the McIlroy surname has its roots in Scotland, it has since spread to various parts of the world, particularly through Scottish migration and diaspora. The name continues to hold a rich history and cultural significance, reflecting the enduring legacy of its Scottish heritage.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Mcilroy families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mcilroy 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. Kent leads with 11 Mcilroys recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.40x.

County Total Index
Kent 11 11.40x
Durham 8 9.51x
Middlesex 3 1.06x
Hampshire 2 3.45x
Lancashire 2 0.60x
Renfrewshire 2 9.12x
Yorkshire 1 0.36x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Plumstead in Kent leads with 9 Mcilroys recorded in 1881 and an index of 279.50x.

Place Total Index
Plumstead 9 279.50x
Gateshead 5 79.37x
Deptford St Paul 2 26.88x
Renfrew 2 277.78x
Whickham 2 259.74x
Whitechapel London 2 71.68x
Aldershot 1 51.55x
Chelsea London 1 11.74x
Heworth 1 60.24x
Leeds 1 6.32x
Manchester 1 6.63x
Portsea 1 8.80x
Salford 1 10.13x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Kate 2
Agnes 1
Annie 1
Elizabeth 1
Jane 1
Maggie 1
Margaret 1
Minnie 1
Sarah 1
Susan 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 3
John 2
Thomas 2
Bernard 1
Denis 1
Edward 1
Hugh 1
Joseph 1
Patrick 1
Samuel 1
Wm. 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 Mcilroy households.

FAQ

Mcilroy surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mcilroy surname in 1881?

In 1881, 597 people were recorded with the Mcilroy surname. That placed it at #5,858 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mcilroy surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,825 in 2016. That gives Mcilroy a modern rank of #3,473.

What does the Mcilroy surname mean?

A Scottish surname meaning "son of the servant" or "son of the gray lad".

What does the Mcilroy map show?

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