NameCensus.

UK surname

Mckellar

A Scottish toponymic surname derived from a place near Ayr, meaning "the fort of Eallair."

In the 1881 census there were 1,868 people recorded with the Mckellar surname, ranking it #2,333 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,634, ranked #3,808, down from #2,333 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to North Bute and Rothesay, Govan Combination and Kilfinan. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Rothesay Town, Campbeltown and Johnstone North East.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mckellar is 1,909 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 12.5%.

1881 census count

1,868

Ranked #2,333

Modern count

1,634

2016, ranked #3,808

Peak year

1901

1,909 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mckellar had 1,868 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,333 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,634 in 2016, ranked #3,808.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,909 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Mckellar surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mckellar surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Mckellar 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 1,512 #1,893
1861 historical 1,497 #1,888
1881 historical 1,868 #2,333
1891 historical 1,792 #2,555
1901 historical 1,909 #2,765
1911 historical 256 #12,688
1997 modern 1,526 #3,853
1998 modern 1,512 #4,017
1999 modern 1,536 #3,999
2000 modern 1,507 #4,049
2001 modern 1,470 #4,059
2002 modern 1,573 #3,917
2003 modern 1,522 #3,948
2004 modern 1,511 #3,970
2005 modern 1,502 #3,958
2006 modern 1,485 #3,994
2007 modern 1,500 #3,997
2008 modern 1,514 #3,996
2009 modern 1,553 #3,986
2010 modern 1,600 #3,949
2011 modern 1,551 #4,028
2012 modern 1,573 #3,910
2013 modern 1,599 #3,918
2014 modern 1,630 #3,877
2015 modern 1,632 #3,826
2016 modern 1,634 #3,808

Geography

Back to top

Where Mckellars are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around North Bute and Rothesay, Govan Combination, Kilfinan, Kilmichael Glassary and Greenock. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Rothesay Town, Campbeltown, Johnstone North East, Paisley North East and Greenock West and Central. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 North Bute and Rothesay Bute
2 Govan Combination Lanark
3 Kilfinan Argyll
4 Kilmichael Glassary Argyll
5 Greenock Renfrew

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Rothesay Town Argyll and Bute
2 Campbeltown Argyll and Bute
3 Johnstone North East Renfrewshire
4 Paisley North East Renfrewshire
5 Greenock West and Central Inverclyde

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Mckellar

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Mckellar

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

Mckellar 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

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

Meaning and origin of Mckellar

The surname McKellar has its origins in Scotland, tracing back to the Middle Ages. It is a locational name derived from the lands of Kellar or Keillor, located in the former counties of Angus and Perthshire. The name is believed to have derived from the Gaelic words "cill" meaning church and "fholair" meaning pool or marsh, suggesting a connection to a church near a marshy area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the 14th century, where a Willelmus de Kelore is mentioned in the Records of the Abbey of Cupar in 1366. This early spelling variation highlights the evolving nature of the name over time.

In the 16th century, the McKellar family held significant influence in the Angus region. The Household Books of James V, King of Scots, mention a John McKellar who served as the King's Tailor in 1537. This record provides insight into the family's prominence during that era.

The McKellars were also involved in the Scottish Reformation, with John McKellar being listed as a reader at the Kirk of Auchterderran in Fife in 1567. This connection to religious affairs further underscores the name's potential ecclesiastical origins.

Notable individuals with the McKellar surname include:

1. Kenneth McKellar (1927-2010), a renowned Scottish tenor known for his performances of traditional Scottish songs. 2. John McKellar (1734-1778), a Scottish-born soldier who served in the American Revolutionary War and was a member of the Culper Spy Ring. 3. Janice McKellar (born 1939), a Canadian actress best known for her role as Miss Crabtree on the television series "The Little Rascals." 4. David McKellar (born 1935), an Australian mathematician and author who has written extensively on mathematics and its applications. 5. Archibald McKellar (1812-1894), a Scottish-born businessman and politician who served as a member of the Canadian House of Commons.

The McKellar surname has endured through centuries, with its origins firmly rooted in Scotland's rich history and cultural traditions. Its presence in various historical records and its association with notable individuals reflect the name's significance and longevity.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Mckellar families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mckellar 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 20 Mckellars recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.98x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 20 2.98x
Essex 7 6.27x
Cheshire 6 4.81x
Middlesex 6 1.06x
Northumberland 5 5.94x
Sussex 4 4.19x
Lanarkshire 3 1.64x
Hertfordshire 2 5.13x
Ayrshire 1 2.36x
Gloucestershire 1 0.90x
Midlothian 1 1.32x
Royal Navy 1 14.84x
Surrey 1 0.36x

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 10 Mckellars recorded in 1881 and an index of 88.57x.

Place Total Index
Kirkdale 10 88.57x
Lymm 6 659.34x
Toxteth Park 6 26.40x
Aveley 5 2631.58x
Longbenton 4 112.36x
Preston 4 239.52x
St George Hanover 4 54.20x
Liverpool 3 7.36x
Cheshunt 2 147.06x
Govan 2 4.42x
Islington London 2 3.65x
West Ham 2 8.11x
Anderston 1 2000.00x
Ardrossan 1 68.03x
Edinburgh High Church 1 208.33x
Elswick 1 14.88x
Littleworth 1 909.09x
North Meols 1 15.22x
Southwark St George Martyr 1 8.79x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
Archibald 3
John 3
Daniel 2
James 2
Peter 2
Angus 1
Dingwall 1
Edward 1
Frank 1
Frederick 1
Fredrick 1
Josias 1
William 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 Mckellar households.

FAQ

Mckellar surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mckellar surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,868 people were recorded with the Mckellar surname. That placed it at #2,333 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mckellar surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,634 in 2016. That gives Mckellar a modern rank of #3,808.

What does the Mckellar surname mean?

A Scottish toponymic surname derived from a place near Ayr, meaning "the fort of Eallair."

What does the Mckellar map show?

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