NameCensus.

UK surname

Mckail

In the 1881 census there were 161 people recorded with the Mckail surname, ranking it #14,801 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 205, ranked #19,250, down from #14,801 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Govan Combination, Edinburgh and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Glenwood South, Broughton South and Fallin.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mckail is 213 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 27.3%.

1881 census count

161

Ranked #14,801

Modern count

205

2016, ranked #19,250

Peak year

1999

213 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mckail had 161 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #14,801 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 180 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Mckail surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mckail surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mckail 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 100 #17,164
1861 historical 135 #16,651
1881 historical 161 #14,801
1891 historical 180 #16,143
1901 historical 177 #16,342
1911 historical 26 #30,547
1997 modern 210 #17,104
1998 modern 211 #17,532
1999 modern 213 #17,550
2000 modern 213 #17,503
2001 modern 205 #17,683
2002 modern 208 #17,848
2003 modern 188 #18,810
2004 modern 190 #18,792
2005 modern 185 #19,051
2006 modern 186 #19,140
2007 modern 187 #19,271
2008 modern 190 #19,246
2009 modern 192 #19,527
2010 modern 196 #19,698
2011 modern 194 #19,662
2012 modern 191 #19,802
2013 modern 195 #19,857
2014 modern 199 #19,775
2015 modern 200 #19,567
2016 modern 205 #19,250

Geography

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Where Mckails are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Govan Combination, Edinburgh, Manchester, Inch and Stranraer. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Glenwood South, Broughton South, Fallin, Cannock Chase and Gracemount, Southhouse and Burdiehouse. 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 Govan Combination Lanark
2 Edinburgh Edinburgh
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 Inch Wigtown
5 Stranraer Wigtown

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Glenwood South Glasgow City
2 Broughton South City of Edinburgh
3 Fallin Stirling
4 Cannock Chase 002 Cannock Chase
5 Gracemount, Southhouse and Burdiehouse City of Edinburgh

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mckail

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mckail

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Mckail, 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 Mckail surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Mckail 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

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Mckail is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Mckail 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

Mckail 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 Mckail 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 - British

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

1881 census detail

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Mckail families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mckail 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. Dunbartonshire leads with 3 Mckails recorded in 1881 and an index of 191.08x.

County Total Index
Dunbartonshire 3 191.08x
Ayrshire 1 22.88x
Northumberland 1 11.51x
Yorkshire 1 1.73x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Old Kilpatrick in Dunbartonshire leads with 3 Mckails recorded in 1881 and an index of 1578.95x.

Place Total Index
Old Kilpatrick 3 1578.95x
Loudoun 1 909.09x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 1 192.31x
Sheffield 1 54.35x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Sarah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 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 Mckail households.

FAQ

Mckail surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mckail surname in 1881?

In 1881, 161 people were recorded with the Mckail surname. That placed it at #14,801 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mckail surname today?

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

What does the Mckail map show?

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