UK surname
A surname derived from the Gaelic personal name Cellàir, meaning "bright-headed".
In the 1881 census there were 75 people recorded with the Mckeller surname, ranking it #22,893 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 17, ranked #36,904, down from #22,893 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to South Knapdale, Birstall and Largs. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mckeller is 112 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 77.3%.
1881 census count
75
Ranked #22,893
Modern count
17
2016, ranked #36,904
Peak year
1861
112 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Mckeller surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Mckeller surname density by area, 1861 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 88 | #18,569 |
| 1861 | historical | 112 | #19,279 |
| 1881 | historical | 75 | #22,893 |
| 1891 | historical | 87 | #25,802 |
| 1901 | historical | 77 | #25,627 |
| 1911 | historical | 20 | #31,288 |
| 1997 | modern | 16 | #36,292 |
| 1998 | modern | 13 | #36,679 |
| 1999 | modern | 14 | #36,595 |
| 2000 | modern | 19 | #36,007 |
| 2001 | modern | 20 | #35,754 |
| 2002 | modern | 20 | #35,894 |
| 2003 | modern | 19 | #36,011 |
| 2004 | modern | 20 | #36,053 |
| 2005 | modern | 22 | #35,993 |
| 2006 | modern | 21 | #36,179 |
| 2007 | modern | 23 | #36,142 |
| 2008 | modern | 21 | #36,355 |
| 2009 | modern | 23 | #36,313 |
| 2010 | modern | 24 | #36,341 |
| 2011 | modern | 23 | #36,369 |
| 2012 | modern | 18 | #36,723 |
| 2013 | modern | 18 | #36,787 |
| 2014 | modern | 17 | #36,888 |
| 2015 | modern | 17 | #36,887 |
| 2016 | modern | 17 | #36,904 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around South Knapdale, Birstall, Largs, Greenock and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Knapdale | Argyll |
| 2 | Birstall | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 3 | Largs | Ayr |
| 4 | Greenock | Renfrew |
| 5 | Glasgow | Lanark |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Mckeller surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Mckeller, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Mckeller surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Mckeller household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Mckeller is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Mckeller is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Mckeller, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname McKeller originated in Scotland during the medieval period. It is a variant of the Scottish surname MacKellar, which is derived from the Gaelic personal name "Ceallach," meaning "bright" or "bright-headed." The name likely referred to an ancestor with light-colored hair or a bright complexion.
The McKellers were traditionally found in the regions of Argyll and the Hebrides, where the name first appeared in historical records. One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name was in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland in 1326, which referred to a person named "Gillecrist MacKellar."
In the 16th century, the McKeller family held lands in the Isle of Bute, and they were among the principal families of the region. In 1592, a person named John McKeller was recorded as the proprietor of the lands of Glencalvie in Bute.
The McKeller name has been associated with several notable figures throughout history. In the 17th century, John McKeller (1622-1688) was a Scottish theologian and minister who served as the Principal of the University of Glasgow.
Another prominent McKeller was Donald McKeller (1770-1854), a Scottish merchant and landowner who owned extensive properties in the West Indies and Scotland. He was known for his philanthropic work and support of education.
In the 19th century, James McKeller (1810-1879) was a Scottish inventor and engineer who developed several innovations in the field of iron manufacturing. He held patents for improved iron-making processes and contributed significantly to the industry's development.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the McKeller name in North America was in 1784, when a person named Alexander McKeller was listed as a merchant in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Other notable McKellers include William McKeller (1844-1923), a Canadian politician and businessman who served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba, and Sir Norman McKeller (1870-1958), a British military officer who served in the Boer War and World War I.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mckeller surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Flintshire leads with 1 Mckellers recorded in 1881 and an index of 126.58x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Flintshire | 1 | 126.58x |
| Lancashire | 1 | 2.88x |
| Middlesex | 1 | 3.42x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kensington London in Middlesex leads with 1 Mckellers recorded in 1881 and an index of 61.73x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Kensington London | 1 | 61.73x |
| Kirkdale | 1 | 172.41x |
| Rhuddlan | 1 | 1428.57x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Mckeller surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Mckeller surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| D. | 1 |
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 Mckeller households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Housemaid | 1 |
| Shop Woman | 1 |
| Traveller (Cabinet Goods) (Com) | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 75 people were recorded with the Mckeller surname. That placed it at #22,893 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 17 in 2016. That gives Mckeller a modern rank of #36,904.
A surname derived from the Gaelic personal name Cellàir, meaning "bright-headed".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Mckeller bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.