NameCensus.

UK surname

Mckaig

A Scottish surname derived from the Gaelic personal name "MacKeag" meaning "son of the freckled one" or "son of the speckled one".

In the 1881 census there were 149 people recorded with the Mckaig surname, ranking it #15,551 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 149, ranked #23,844, down from #15,551 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to New Monkland, Doncaster and Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Test Valley, South Norfolk and Broughty Ferry East.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mckaig is 208 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 0.0%.

1881 census count

149

Ranked #15,551

Modern count

149

2016, ranked #23,844

Peak year

1891

208 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mckaig had 149 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #15,551 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 149 in 2016, ranked #23,844.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 208 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Student Living and Professional Footholds.

Mckaig surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mckaig surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mckaig 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 123 #14,886
1861 historical 108 #19,856
1881 historical 149 #15,551
1891 historical 208 #14,496
1901 historical 157 #17,577
1911 historical 49 #27,894
1997 modern 121 #24,019
1998 modern 130 #23,603
1999 modern 123 #24,643
2000 modern 130 #23,785
2001 modern 132 #23,230
2002 modern 136 #23,296
2003 modern 116 #25,415
2004 modern 119 #25,200
2005 modern 113 #25,974
2006 modern 120 #25,269
2007 modern 123 #25,208
2008 modern 128 #24,901
2009 modern 137 #24,371
2010 modern 138 #24,801
2011 modern 132 #25,303
2012 modern 136 #24,830
2013 modern 139 #24,912
2014 modern 148 #24,075
2015 modern 149 #23,817
2016 modern 149 #23,844

Geography

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Where Mckaigs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around New Monkland, Doncaster, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry, Dumfries and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Test Valley, South Norfolk, Broughty Ferry East and The Grange. 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 New Monkland Lanark
2 Doncaster Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar
4 Dumfries Dumfries
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Test Valley 007 Test Valley
2 South Norfolk 013 South Norfolk
3 Broughty Ferry East Dundee City
4 The Grange City of Edinburgh
5 South Norfolk 015 South Norfolk

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mckaig

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mckaig

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Student Living and Professional Footholds

Nationally, the Mckaig surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Student Living and Professional Footholds, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Mckaig household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

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Group profile

The Group includes many students, some of whom reside in communal residences. Single-person households are the most prevalent and the modal age band is 25 to 44. There are few families with dependent children. A significant number of White residents were born in EU countries (although UK-born residents are more common than in the rest of the Group), and households reflect a diversity of ethnic groups. Residential turnover is exceptionally high and, communal properties aside, flats are the norm. Some properties, including those in the private rental sector, are over-crowded. Many residents are professionals and technicians educated to degree level, and the Group is particularly common near the campuses of established university towns and cities.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles

Group

Inner London Working Professionals

Within London, Mckaig is most associated with areas classed as Inner London Working Professionals, part of Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

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Group profile

These primarily Inner London neighbourhoods are more densely populated than the Supergroup average. Residents have a younger over-all age profile than the Supergroup as a whole, and are less likely to be owner occupiers. Full time employment is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup and multiple car ownership is uncommon. Chinese and non-EU-born European migrants are less in evidence than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

These neighbourhoods house people of all ages, predominantly of White British or European extraction. Resident turnover is low. Religious affiliation is less common than average and tends to be Christian if expressed. Homeownership, typically of terraced houses, is common but use of the social rented sector is not. Employment is typically in professional, managerial and associate professional or technical occupations. There are few full-time students. Level 4 qualifications are common. More households lack dependent children than have them which, considered alongside low levels of crowding and over-all age structure, indicates that many households may be post child-rearing and in late middle age. Incidence of disability is low, as is residence in communal establishments.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Mckaig is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Mckaig falls in decile 9 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Mckaig

The surname MCKAIG is of Scottish origin, tracing its roots back to the 16th century. It is believed to have originated from the Gaelic word "mac," meaning "son of," combined with the personal name "Kaig" or "Keig," which may have been derived from the Old Norse name "Kági" or "Káki."

In the early records, the name appeared in various spellings, such as McKaig, McKaige, McKayg, and McKayge, reflecting the phonetic nature of its transcription. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Register of the Privy Seal of Scotland, where a certain Finlay McKaig is mentioned in 1575.

The surname MCKAIG has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One of the earliest recorded was John McKaig, a Scottish merchant who lived in the late 16th century and was actively involved in the trade between Scotland and the Netherlands.

Another notable bearer of the name was Archibald McKaig, a Scottish soldier who fought in the Jacobite Rising of 1715. He was captured at the Battle of Sheriffmuir and subsequently transported to the American colonies as an indentured servant.

In the 19th century, James McKaig (1821-1889) was a prominent Scottish businessman and philanthropist who made significant contributions to the city of Glasgow. He established the McKaig Trust, which funded several educational and charitable initiatives.

One of the most renowned individuals with the surname MCKAIG was Sir Alexander McKaig (1865-1942), a Scottish architect who played a pivotal role in the design and construction of several iconic buildings in Glasgow, including the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum.

Another notable figure was William McKaig (1892-1971), a Canadian military officer who served in both World War I and World War II. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Order for his bravery and leadership during the Battle of Vimy Ridge in 1917.

While the surname MCKAIG may have originated in Scotland, it has since spread to various parts of the world, carried by Scottish emigrants and their descendants. The name continues to hold a significant place in history, reflecting the diverse contributions of those who have borne it over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Mckaig surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mckaig surname in 1881?

In 1881, 149 people were recorded with the Mckaig surname. That placed it at #15,551 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mckaig surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 149 in 2016. That gives Mckaig a modern rank of #23,844.

What does the Mckaig surname mean?

A Scottish surname derived from the Gaelic personal name "MacKeag" meaning "son of the freckled one" or "son of the speckled one".

What does the Mckaig map show?

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