NameCensus.

UK surname

Mckain

A Scottish surname derived from the Gaelic "Mac Eáin," meaning "son of Eán" (a diminutive of John).

In the 1881 census there were 105 people recorded with the Mckain surname, ranking it #19,183 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 336, ranked #13,583, up from #19,183 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wick, Govan Combination and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include IZ09, IZ08 and Yoker South.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mckain is 347 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 220.0%.

1881 census count

105

Ranked #19,183

Modern count

336

2016, ranked #13,583

Peak year

2014

347 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mckain had 105 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #19,183 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 336 in 2016, ranked #13,583.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 153 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Mckain surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mckain surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mckain 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 150 #12,905
1861 historical 109 #19,693
1881 historical 105 #19,183
1891 historical 123 #20,939
1901 historical 153 #17,844
1911 historical 25 #30,654
1997 modern 326 #12,811
1998 modern 323 #13,211
1999 modern 330 #13,125
2000 modern 321 #13,337
2001 modern 313 #13,361
2002 modern 316 #13,532
2003 modern 323 #13,161
2004 modern 311 #13,549
2005 modern 307 #13,625
2006 modern 314 #13,474
2007 modern 312 #13,674
2008 modern 316 #13,661
2009 modern 327 #13,599
2010 modern 345 #13,370
2011 modern 341 #13,341
2012 modern 335 #13,408
2013 modern 340 #13,449
2014 modern 347 #13,350
2015 modern 341 #13,425
2016 modern 336 #13,583

Geography

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Where Mckains are most common

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

The modern local-area list points to IZ09, IZ08, Yoker South, Mid Calder and Kirknewton and Blantyre South and Wheatlands. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Wick Caithness
2 Govan Combination Lanark
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 Glasgow Lanark
5 Penninghame Wigtown

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 IZ09 West Dunbartonshire
2 IZ08 West Dunbartonshire
3 Yoker South Glasgow City
4 Mid Calder and Kirknewton West Lothian
5 Blantyre South and Wheatlands South Lanarkshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mckain

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mckain

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

Mckain 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

Mckain falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Mckain is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Mckain

The surname McKain has its origins in Scotland, where it first appeared in the late 12th century. It is believed to be derived from the Gaelic words 'mac' meaning 'son of' and 'cian' meaning 'ancient' or 'old'. This suggests that the name may have originally referred to someone who was the son of an elder or respected individual.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a historical document that recorded the names of Scottish landowners who swore fealty to King Edward I of England. The name appears as 'McKayn', indicating that variations in spelling were common during this time period.

In the 14th century, a notable figure bearing the name McKain was John McKain, a Scottish clergyman who served as the Bishop of Dunkeld from 1337 to 1349. He is mentioned in several historical records from that era, including the Scotichronicon, a 14th-century chronicle of Scottish history.

During the 16th century, the name McKain was associated with the Scottish Highlands, particularly in the regions of Argyll and Inverness-shire. One prominent individual from this time was Ewen McKain, who lived in the late 1500s and was a landowner and chief of the Clan MacKain, a smaller Highland clan.

In the 17th century, the name McKain began to spread beyond Scotland as Scottish immigrants settled in other parts of the British Isles and North America. One notable figure from this period was Robert McKain, a Scottish soldier who fought for the Parliamentarian forces during the English Civil War in the 1640s.

As the McKain name continued to disperse throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, it appeared in various historical records and manuscripts across the English-speaking world. For example, John McKain, born in 1742 in County Tyrone, Ireland, was a notable figure in the American Revolutionary War, serving as a captain in the Continental Army.

Another individual of note was James McKain, born in 1812 in Glasgow, Scotland, who emigrated to Australia in the 1830s and became a successful businessman and landowner in the colony of New South Wales. He played a significant role in the development of the region and was involved in local politics.

Throughout its history, the McKain surname has been associated with several place names and variations in spelling, including MacKain, MacKane, and McKeyn. Despite these variations, the name has maintained its Scottish roots and continues to be a part of the rich tapestry of surnames found throughout the English-speaking world.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mckain families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mckain 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 2 Mckains recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.48x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 2 3.48x
Aberdeenshire 1 22.27x
Cheshire 1 9.34x
Middlesex 1 2.06x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Salford in Lancashire leads with 2 Mckains recorded in 1881 and an index of 118.34x.

Place Total Index
Salford 2 118.34x
Aberdeen Old Machar 1 106.38x
High Leigh 1 10000.00x
St George Hanover Square 1 117.65x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Agnes 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 1
Peter 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 Mckain households.

FAQ

Mckain surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mckain surname in 1881?

In 1881, 105 people were recorded with the Mckain surname. That placed it at #19,183 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mckain surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 336 in 2016. That gives Mckain a modern rank of #13,583.

What does the Mckain surname mean?

A Scottish surname derived from the Gaelic "Mac Eáin," meaning "son of Eán" (a diminutive of John).

What does the Mckain map show?

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