NameCensus.

UK surname

Mcilwain

A Scottish toponymic surname referring to someone from a place called Macilwham, likely derived from a Gaelic personal name.

In the 1881 census there were 131 people recorded with the Mcilwain surname, ranking it #16,824 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 205, ranked #19,250, down from #16,824 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Blantyre, Govan Combination and Toxteth Park. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Corby, IZ17 and Bassetlaw.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mcilwain is 233 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 56.5%.

1881 census count

131

Ranked #16,824

Modern count

205

2016, ranked #19,250

Peak year

2010

233 bearers

Map years

6

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mcilwain had 131 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #16,824 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 205 in 2016, ranked #19,250.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 200 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Mcilwain surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mcilwain surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Mcilwain 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 60 #22,584
1861 historical 56 #26,864
1881 historical 131 #16,824
1891 historical 176 #16,404
1901 historical 200 #15,120
1911 historical 62 #26,622
1997 modern 221 #16,565
1998 modern 226 #16,800
1999 modern 230 #16,685
2000 modern 222 #17,032
2001 modern 219 #16,967
2002 modern 219 #17,288
2003 modern 207 #17,746
2004 modern 204 #17,992
2005 modern 205 #17,838
2006 modern 187 #19,079
2007 modern 193 #18,923
2008 modern 202 #18,528
2009 modern 219 #17,960
2010 modern 233 #17,606
2011 modern 218 #18,206
2012 modern 223 #17,852
2013 modern 220 #18,324
2014 modern 218 #18,583
2015 modern 213 #18,769
2016 modern 205 #19,250

Geography

Back to top

Where Mcilwains are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Blantyre, Govan Combination, Toxteth Park, Glasgow and Cheltenham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Corby, IZ17, Bassetlaw, Bristol and Huntingdonshire. 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 Blantyre Lanark
2 Govan Combination Lanark
3 Toxteth Park Lancashire
4 Glasgow Lanark
5 Cheltenham Gloucestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Corby 005 Corby
2 IZ17 West Dunbartonshire
3 Bassetlaw 002 Bassetlaw
4 Bristol 002 Bristol, City of
5 Huntingdonshire 008 Huntingdonshire

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Mcilwain

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Mcilwain

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

Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities

Nationally, the Mcilwain surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Mcilwain household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Households in these areas often include divorced or separated parents and commonly include children and young adults. The age structure is heavily skewed towards the most advanced age groups. Individuals identifying as members of ethnic minorities are not present in large numbers. Flats predominate, with some terraced, semi-detached, and detached units. Multiple car ownership is low, and housing is predominantly in the private and social rented sectors. Employment is less skewed towards traditional routine industrial occupations. Levels of educational attainment are generally low. The Group occurs principally in the Central Lowlands of Scotland and other Scottish towns.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Mcilwain 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

Mcilwain 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

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

Meaning and origin of Mcilwain

The surname McIlwain has its origins in Scotland, where it first emerged in the 13th century. It is a habitational name derived from the Gaelic "mac Ghille Fhuathain," which means "son of the servant of St. Fillan." This suggests that the earliest bearers of the name were employed in the service of a church dedicated to St. Fillan, a popular Scottish saint.

The name is closely associated with the region of Perthshire, where the village of Killin was a significant center for the veneration of St. Fillan. It is likely that the McIlwains were originally from this area or had some connection to the local church or monastery.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland in 1329, where a John McYlwyne is mentioned. Other early spellings include McIlwyne, McYlwham, and McIlquham, reflecting the variations in pronunciation and spelling that were common in medieval times.

In the 16th century, the McIlwains were established as landowners in Perthshire, with several members of the family holding estates in the area around Killin. One notable figure was John McIlwain, who was appointed as the Chamberlain of Strathearn in 1548.

As the name spread throughout Scotland and beyond, it produced several individuals of note. Sir William McIlwain (1685-1761) was a Scottish merchant and landowner who served as Lord Provost of Edinburgh from 1749 to 1751. Thomas McIlwain (1824-1903) was a prominent industrialist and founder of the McIlwain Foundry in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

In the literary world, Charles Howard McIlwain (1871-1968) was an American historian and scholar of constitutional law, best known for his work on the Magna Carta. He served as the president of the American Historical Association in 1936.

The McIlwain name also has a long-standing connection to the United States, with many bearers of the name arriving as early settlers in the 17th and 18th centuries. One of the earliest recorded instances is that of John McIlwain, who was granted land in Virginia in 1670.

Throughout its history, the surname McIlwain has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including clergymen, academics, politicians, and businessmen. While its origins can be traced back to a specific region of Scotland and a connection to the veneration of St. Fillan, the name has since spread across the globe, with bearers contributing to the rich tapestry of human endeavor.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Mcilwain families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mcilwain 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. Ayrshire leads with 2 Mcilwains recorded in 1881 and an index of 138.89x.

County Total Index
Ayrshire 2 138.89x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Craigie in Ayrshire leads with 2 Mcilwains recorded in 1881 and an index of 0.00x.

Place Total Index
Craigie 2 0.00x

FAQ

Mcilwain surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mcilwain surname in 1881?

In 1881, 131 people were recorded with the Mcilwain surname. That placed it at #16,824 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mcilwain surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 205 in 2016. That gives Mcilwain a modern rank of #19,250.

What does the Mcilwain surname mean?

A Scottish toponymic surname referring to someone from a place called Macilwham, likely derived from a Gaelic personal name.

What does the Mcilwain map show?

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