NameCensus.

UK surname

Mcinnis

Son of Angus, a Scottish patronymic surname derived from the Gaelic name Aonghas.

In the 1881 census there were 334 people recorded with the Mcinnis surname, ranking it #9,025 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 107, ranked #29,762, down from #9,025 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Duirnish, Govan Combination and Tiree and Coll. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North Lincolnshire, Lichfield and Wolverhampton.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mcinnis is 608 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 68.0%.

1881 census count

334

Ranked #9,025

Modern count

107

2016, ranked #29,762

Peak year

1851

608 bearers

Map years

6

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mcinnis had 334 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,025 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 107 in 2016, ranked #29,762.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 608 in 1851.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Mcinnis surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mcinnis surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Mcinnis 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 608 #4,238
1861 historical 425 #6,043
1881 historical 334 #9,025
1891 historical 243 #13,011
1901 historical 131 #19,552
1911 historical 10 #32,609
1997 modern 82 #29,325
1998 modern 95 #28,303
1999 modern 96 #28,326
2000 modern 92 #28,832
2001 modern 87 #29,161
2002 modern 91 #29,181
2003 modern 90 #29,260
2004 modern 97 #28,455
2005 modern 95 #28,817
2006 modern 95 #29,113
2007 modern 96 #29,339
2008 modern 96 #29,654
2009 modern 109 #28,145
2010 modern 116 #27,704
2011 modern 113 #27,967
2012 modern 105 #29,362
2013 modern 107 #29,561
2014 modern 108 #29,658
2015 modern 107 #29,708
2016 modern 107 #29,762

Geography

Back to top

Where Mcinnis' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Duirnish, Govan Combination, Tiree and Coll, Barra and South Uist. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North Lincolnshire, Lichfield, Wolverhampton and Hackney. 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 Duirnish Inverness
2 Govan Combination Lanark
3 Tiree and Coll Argyll
4 Barra Inverness
5 South Uist Inverness

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North Lincolnshire 013 North Lincolnshire
2 Lichfield 006 Lichfield
3 Wolverhampton 013 Wolverhampton
4 Wolverhampton 029 Wolverhampton
5 Hackney 006 Hackney

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Mcinnis

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Mcinnis

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Mcinnis surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Mcinnis household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Mcinnis 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

Mcinnis is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Mcinnis 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 Mcinnis is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Mcinnis

The surname McInnis has its origins in Scotland, dating back to the medieval period. It is derived from the Gaelic "Mac Aonghuis," which translates to "son of Angus." Angus was a popular personal name in ancient Scotland, often given to those born on the feast day of St. Angus.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the McInnis name can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a collection of homage pledges to King Edward I of England. In these rolls, the name appears as "Makingis," reflecting the evolving spelling and pronunciation over time.

The McInnis clan was primarily based in the Scottish Highlands, particularly in the regions of Argyll and the Outer Hebrides. Several historical records mention individuals with this surname, such as Angus McInnis, who was a prominent landowner in the Isle of Islay in the 16th century.

Another notable figure was John McInnis, a Scottish soldier who fought in the Battle of Culloden in 1746. He was captured and later transported to the American colonies as an indentured servant, contributing to the spread of the McInnis name across the Atlantic.

In the 17th century, the McInnis surname can be found in various parish records and legal documents, often spelled as "MacInnis" or "MacInnes." One such example is Donald MacInnes, a Presbyterian minister who lived in the Highlands during the 1650s.

The McInnis name has also been associated with several place names in Scotland, such as Innis Chonain (Innis of the Hounds) in Argyll, which may have influenced the surname's evolution.

Among the notable individuals with the McInnis surname in more recent history are:

1. Robert McInnis (1844-1917), a Canadian politician and businessman from Nova Scotia. 2. Edgar McInnis (1899-1973), a Canadian historian and academic, best known for his works on the Maritimes and Atlantic Canada. 3. Lorne McInnis (1901-1956), a Canadian politician and Member of Parliament for Vancouver East. 4. Dennis McInnis (1918-2008), an American jazz saxophonist and bandleader from Massachusetts. 5. Alec McInnis (1932-2017), a Canadian politician and Member of Parliament for Cape Breton-East Richmond.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Mcinnis families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mcinnis 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 5 Mcinnis' recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.32x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 5 3.32x
Yorkshire 3 2.39x
Lanarkshire 2 4.88x
Glamorgan 1 4.53x
Hampshire 1 3.85x
Middlesex 1 0.79x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kirkdale in Lancashire leads with 3 Mcinnis' recorded in 1881 and an index of 118.58x.

Place Total Index
Kirkdale 3 118.58x
Sheffield 3 75.00x
New Monkland 2 165.29x
Toxteth Park 2 39.29x
Holdenhurst 1 147.06x
Poplar London 1 41.84x
Roath 1 100.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 4
Annie 1
Ellen 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 2
Daniel 1
James 1
Patrick 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 Mcinnis households.

FAQ

Mcinnis surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mcinnis surname in 1881?

In 1881, 334 people were recorded with the Mcinnis surname. That placed it at #9,025 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mcinnis surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 107 in 2016. That gives Mcinnis a modern rank of #29,762.

What does the Mcinnis surname mean?

Son of Angus, a Scottish patronymic surname derived from the Gaelic name Aonghas.

What does the Mcinnis map show?

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