NameCensus.

UK surname

Mckelvie

A Scottish surname derived from the Gaelic name MacCaolaidhe meaning "son of the servant/devotee of St. Calmaldoc."

In the 1881 census there were 871 people recorded with the Mckelvie surname, ranking it #4,351 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,343, ranked #4,491, down from #4,351 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Kilbride, Govan Combination and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Drongan, West Arthurlie and North Neilston and Arran.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mckelvie is 1,349 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 54.2%.

1881 census count

871

Ranked #4,351

Modern count

1,343

2016, ranked #4,491

Peak year

2010

1,349 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mckelvie had 871 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,351 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,343 in 2016, ranked #4,491.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,200 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Mckelvie surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mckelvie surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mckelvie 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 468 #5,304
1861 historical 552 #4,768
1881 historical 871 #4,351
1891 historical 985 #4,195
1901 historical 1,200 #4,105
1911 historical 185 #15,686
1997 modern 1,242 #4,579
1998 modern 1,297 #4,577
1999 modern 1,274 #4,686
2000 modern 1,279 #4,646
2001 modern 1,250 #4,645
2002 modern 1,260 #4,705
2003 modern 1,198 #4,811
2004 modern 1,223 #4,733
2005 modern 1,240 #4,629
2006 modern 1,260 #4,566
2007 modern 1,271 #4,569
2008 modern 1,294 #4,530
2009 modern 1,311 #4,571
2010 modern 1,349 #4,542
2011 modern 1,310 #4,611
2012 modern 1,297 #4,582
2013 modern 1,305 #4,641
2014 modern 1,328 #4,592
2015 modern 1,333 #4,530
2016 modern 1,343 #4,491

Geography

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Where Mckelvies are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Kilbride, Govan Combination, Edinburgh, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry and Kilmory. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Drongan, West Arthurlie and North Neilston, Arran, City Centre and Dennistoun North. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Kilbride Bute
2 Govan Combination Lanark
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar
5 Kilmory Bute

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Drongan East Ayrshire
2 West Arthurlie and North Neilston East Renfrewshire
3 Arran North Ayrshire
4 City Centre Dundee City
5 Dennistoun North Glasgow City

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mckelvie

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mckelvie

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

Mckelvie 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

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

Meaning and origin of Mckelvie

The surname McKelvie is of Scottish origin, deriving from the Gaelic 'Mac Dhùghaill' meaning 'son of Dougal'. Dougal itself is an Anglicized form of the Gaelic name 'Dubhghall', composed of the elements 'dubh' meaning 'dark' and 'ghall' meaning 'stranger' or 'foreigner'.

The McKelvie name is most prevalent in the Scottish Highlands, particularly in the counties of Argyll and Inverness-shire. The earliest recorded spelling appears to be 'Makgillondovy' in 1494, referring to a Donald McKelvie from Ayrshire. Other early spellings include 'Makgillondouy' in 1506 and 'McIllondowye' in 1538.

The McKelvie name can be found in various historical records, such as the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland from the 16th century, which mention individuals like John McKelvy and Gilchrist McKelvy. Additionally, the surname appears in the 1684 record of the Presbytery of Gairloch, which lists several McKelvie families residing in the area.

One of the earliest notable individuals with the surname was Archibald McKelvie, born around 1620 in Argyllshire. He was a prominent supporter of the Covenanter cause during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. Another early figure was John McKelvie, born in 1730 in Inverness-shire, who served as a captain in the British Army during the American Revolutionary War.

In the 19th century, James McKelvie (1810-1892) was a Scottish minister and author who wrote extensively on theological subjects. His contemporary, John McKelvie (1822-1892), was a Canadian politician who served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba.

More recently, Samuel Richmond McKelvie (1892-1964) was a Canadian historian and author, known for his works on British Columbia's history. Another notable figure was Bruce McKelvie (1900-1977), a Canadian journalist and author who wrote extensively about Vancouver's history and culture.

Throughout its history, the McKelvie surname has undergone various spellings, including McKelvy, McKelvey, and McKilvy, reflecting the regional differences in pronunciation and transcription. Despite these variations, the name maintains its Scottish Gaelic roots and is deeply intertwined with the history and heritage of the Scottish Highlands.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mckelvie families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mckelvie 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 11 Mckelvies recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.07x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 11 3.07x
Cumberland 6 23.05x
Midlothian 4 9.87x
Buckinghamshire 3 16.41x
Lincolnshire 3 6.20x
Ayrshire 2 8.84x
Glamorgan 1 1.90x
Royal Navy 1 27.78x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Everton in Lancashire leads with 11 Mckelvies recorded in 1881 and an index of 96.15x.

Place Total Index
Everton 11 96.15x
Whitehaven 6 431.65x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 4 24.54x
Newport Pagnell 3 789.47x
Bayards Leap 2 4000.00x
Loudoun 2 370.37x
Cardiff St John 1 58.14x
St Martin Lincoln 1 222.22x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Annie 2
Margaret 2
Elizabeth 1
Emily 1
Janet 1
Lilian 1
Mabel 1
Mary 1
Sarah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 4
John 3
William 2
Andrew 1
Robert 1
Samuel 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 Mckelvie households.

FAQ

Mckelvie surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mckelvie surname in 1881?

In 1881, 871 people were recorded with the Mckelvie surname. That placed it at #4,351 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mckelvie surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,343 in 2016. That gives Mckelvie a modern rank of #4,491.

What does the Mckelvie surname mean?

A Scottish surname derived from the Gaelic name MacCaolaidhe meaning "son of the servant/devotee of St. Calmaldoc."

What does the Mckelvie map show?

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