UK surname
Son of the attractive or handsome one.
In the 1881 census there were 228 people recorded with the Mckensie surname, ranking it #11,826 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 28, ranked #36,125, down from #11,826 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Barvas and Carloway, Lismore and Appin and Applecross. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mckensie is 299 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 87.7%.
1881 census count
228
Ranked #11,826
Modern count
28
2016, ranked #36,125
Peak year
1861
299 bearers
Map years
3
1851 to 1881
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Mckensie surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Mckensie surname density by area, 1881 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 | 224 | #9,534 |
| 1861 | historical | 299 | #8,460 |
| 1881 | historical | 228 | #11,826 |
| 1891 | historical | 79 | #26,897 |
| 1901 | historical | 69 | #26,499 |
| 1911 | historical | 34 | #29,600 |
| 1997 | modern | 25 | #35,261 |
| 1998 | modern | 30 | #34,833 |
| 1999 | modern | 23 | #35,612 |
| 2000 | modern | 25 | #35,382 |
| 2001 | modern | 25 | #35,248 |
| 2002 | modern | 25 | #35,428 |
| 2003 | modern | 19 | #36,011 |
| 2004 | modern | 25 | #35,610 |
| 2005 | modern | 34 | #35,056 |
| 2006 | modern | 32 | #35,392 |
| 2007 | modern | 33 | #35,461 |
| 2008 | modern | 29 | #35,808 |
| 2009 | modern | 31 | #35,794 |
| 2010 | modern | 31 | #35,906 |
| 2011 | modern | 26 | #36,193 |
| 2012 | modern | 21 | #36,490 |
| 2013 | modern | 27 | #36,150 |
| 2014 | modern | 26 | #36,244 |
| 2015 | modern | 26 | #36,228 |
| 2016 | modern | 28 | #36,125 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Barvas and Carloway, Lismore and Appin, Applecross, Edinburgh and Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry. 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 | Barvas and Carloway | Ross And Cromarty |
| 2 | Lismore and Appin | Argyll |
| 3 | Applecross | Ross And Cromarty |
| 4 | Edinburgh | Edinburgh |
| 5 | Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry | Forfar |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Mckensie 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 Mckensie, 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 Mckensie surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Mckensie 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, Mckensie 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 Mckensie is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Mckensie, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname McKensie is of Scottish origin, deriving from the Gaelic personal name Coinneach, which is the Scottish form of the English name Kenneth. The name Coinneach itself is derived from the Gaelic words "cion" meaning love and "nach" meaning born, suggesting the name means "born of love" or "lovable."
The McKensie surname originated in the Highland region of Scotland, particularly in areas such as Argyll and Ross-shire. It is believed to have first emerged in the 13th or 14th century as a patronymic name, indicating "son of Kenneth." Early spellings of the name included MacKenzie, MacKenzhie, and MacKenzy.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the McKensie surname can be found in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland, which date back to the late 13th century. These rolls mention individuals with the surname MacKenye and MacKenzy.
The McKensie clan played a significant role in Scottish history, particularly in the region of Ross-shire. Notable figures from this clan include Kenneth Mackenzie, 1st Earl of Seaforth (1609-1678), who was a prominent military leader during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, and George Mackenzie, 1st Earl of Cromartie (1630-1714), a Scottish politician and lawyer.
Another notable McKensie was Sir Alexander Mackenzie (1764-1820), a Scottish explorer who completed the first known transcontinental crossing of North America in 1793. His journey from Fort Chipewyan to the Pacific Ocean helped establish the existence of a continental divide and paved the way for further exploration and settlement of western Canada.
Other historical figures with the McKensie surname include William Lyon Mackenzie (1795-1861), a Scottish-born Canadian politician and leader of the Upper Canada Rebellion of 1837, and Compton Mackenzie (1883-1972), an English novelist and playwright best known for his satirical novels set in Scotland.
While the McKensie surname has its origins in Scotland, it has since spread to various parts of the world, particularly through Scottish migration and settlement in countries like Canada, the United States, and Australia.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mckensie 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. Peeblesshire leads with 7 Mckensies recorded in 1881 and an index of 546.88x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Peeblesshire | 7 | 546.88x |
| Staffordshire | 5 | 5.43x |
| Yorkshire | 5 | 1.85x |
| Lancashire | 4 | 1.24x |
| Warwickshire | 4 | 5.81x |
| Middlesex | 2 | 0.73x |
| Derbyshire | 1 | 2.34x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Skirling in Peeblesshire leads with 7 Mckensies recorded in 1881 and an index of 23333.33x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Skirling | 7 | 23333.33x |
| Harborne | 5 | 169.49x |
| Birmingham | 4 | 17.44x |
| Leeds | 3 | 19.65x |
| Pendleton In Salford | 3 | 77.72x |
| Ecclesall Bierlow | 2 | 36.36x |
| Beard Ollerset Whitle | 1 | 357.14x |
| Hackney London | 1 | 6.54x |
| Islington London | 1 | 3.78x |
| Liverpool | 1 | 5.09x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Mckensie 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 Mckensie surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Mckensie households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 4 |
| Bank Clerk | 1 |
| Boot & Shoe Maker | 1 |
| Brass Foundry | 1 |
| Cotton Spinner | 1 |
| Engraver (Artist) | 1 |
| House Keeper (Dom) | 1 |
| Lodging House Keeper | 1 |
| Turner At Works (Iron) | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 228 people were recorded with the Mckensie surname. That placed it at #11,826 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 28 in 2016. That gives Mckensie a modern rank of #36,125.
Son of the attractive or handsome one.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Mckensie 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.