NameCensus.

UK surname

Mckeon

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic "Mac Eoghain," meaning "son of Eoghan" (Owen), a popular medieval Irish name.

In the 1881 census there were 260 people recorded with the Mckeon surname, ranking it #10,781 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,015, ranked #5,737, up from #10,781 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Gateshead, Manchester and Liverpool. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Flintshire, Redditch and Wirral.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mckeon is 1,031 in 2015. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 290.4%.

1881 census count

260

Ranked #10,781

Modern count

1,015

2016, ranked #5,737

Peak year

2015

1,031 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mckeon had 260 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,781 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,015 in 2016, ranked #5,737.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 386 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Mckeon surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mckeon surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mckeon 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 166 #11,986
1861 historical 145 #15,715
1881 historical 260 #10,781
1891 historical 353 #9,760
1901 historical 365 #10,113
1911 historical 386 #9,535
1997 modern 930 #5,815
1998 modern 980 #5,771
1999 modern 994 #5,738
2000 modern 961 #5,878
2001 modern 965 #5,752
2002 modern 977 #5,802
2003 modern 980 #5,683
2004 modern 959 #5,803
2005 modern 919 #5,926
2006 modern 914 #5,963
2007 modern 928 #5,949
2008 modern 941 #5,926
2009 modern 975 #5,881
2010 modern 1,017 #5,805
2011 modern 1,015 #5,748
2012 modern 996 #5,756
2013 modern 1,019 #5,741
2014 modern 1,030 #5,721
2015 modern 1,031 #5,669
2016 modern 1,015 #5,737

Geography

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Where Mckeons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Gateshead, Manchester, Liverpool, West Derby and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Flintshire, Redditch, Wirral, Cherwell and Doncaster. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Gateshead Durham
2 Manchester Lancashire
3 Liverpool Lancashire
4 West Derby Lancashire
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Flintshire 007 Flintshire
2 Redditch 004 Redditch
3 Wirral 003 Wirral
4 Cherwell 015 Cherwell
5 Doncaster 014 Doncaster

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mckeon

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mckeon

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Mckeon, 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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Established Multi-Ethnic Communities

Nationally, the Mckeon surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established Multi-Ethnic Communities, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Mckeon household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Parents and young children in this Group are drawn from diverse ethnic backgrounds in broadly similar proportions. Employment is typically in elementary occupations, though workers in professional, intermediate or skilled trades occupations are also present. The residential landscape is dominated by terraced housing, although semi-detached houses and flats are also present. This Group is found in London and in many provincial towns and cities throughout the U.K.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Mckeon is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Mckeon is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Mckeon falls in decile 5 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Mckeon is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Mckeon

The surname McKeon is of Irish origin and can be traced back to the 16th century. It is an anglicized form of the Gaelic name "Mac Eidhghein," which means "son of Eidhghein," a personal name derived from the Old Irish word "eidhe," meaning "guest" or "visitor."

The name was prominent in counties Monaghan and Cavan in the province of Ulster, Ireland. The earliest recorded spelling of the name was found in the Fiants of the Tudor Sovereigns of Ireland, where it appeared as "McKeon" in 1594.

In the 17th century, the McKeons were among the families who lost their lands during the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland and the subsequent Plantation of Ulster. Many McKeons were forced to migrate or seek refuge in other parts of Ireland or abroad.

One notable historical figure with the surname McKeon was John McKeon, a Catholic prelate who served as the Bishop of Ardfert and Aghadoe from 1598 to 1609. He was actively involved in the Irish Confederate Wars and played a significant role in the defense of Munster against the English forces.

Another prominent McKeon was James McKeon (1790-1867), an Irish-American political figure who served as the 10th Mayor of New York City from 1851 to 1853. He was also a successful businessman and real estate developer.

In the 18th century, the McKeon family produced several notable writers and intellectuals, including Hugh McKeon (1736-1818), an Irish Catholic priest, scholar, and linguist who is known for his work on preserving the Irish language and culture.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the McKeon surname in the United States can be found in the records of the Maryland Province Archives, where a Patrick McKeon is mentioned as a landowner in Baltimore County in 1692.

Other notable McKeons throughout history include:

1. Thomas McKeon (1805-1885), an Irish-American politician who served as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 4th congressional district. 2. John McKeon (1913-1975), an American playwright and screenwriter best known for his work on the film "The Missouri Traveler" (1958). 3. Kevin McKeon (born 1954), an American actor and director known for his roles in films like "Caddyshack" (1980) and "Meatballs" (1979). 4. Stephen McKeon (born 1976), an Australian rules footballer who played for the Essendon Bombers in the Australian Football League (AFL) from 1996 to 2008. 5. Sinéad McKeon (born 1986), an Irish actress known for her roles in films like "Sing Street" (2016) and the TV series "Domina" (2021).

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mckeon families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mckeon 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 13 Mckeons recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.44x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 13 2.44x
Northumberland 10 14.98x
Middlesex 7 1.56x
Staffordshire 7 4.62x
Berkshire 2 5.94x
Cumberland 2 5.18x
Dorset 2 6.79x
Yorkshire 2 0.45x
Kent 1 0.65x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Longbenton in Northumberland leads with 9 Mckeons recorded in 1881 and an index of 318.02x.

Place Total Index
Longbenton 9 318.02x
Burslem 7 161.29x
Kirkdale 6 66.96x
Everton 5 29.46x
Hackney London 3 11.92x
Cockermouth 2 246.91x
Leeds 2 7.97x
Manchester 2 8.35x
Marnhull 2 952.38x
St George Hanover Square 2 25.28x
Westminster St Margaret 2 92.59x
Chislehurst 1 121.95x
Old Windsor 1 256.41x
Wallsend 1 47.17x
Wokingham 1 129.87x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Thomas 5
John 4
Andrew 3
James 3
Patrick 2
Wm. 2
Christopher 1
Daniel 1
Edward 1
Hugh 1
Michael 1
Nicholas 1
Owen 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 Mckeon households.

FAQ

Mckeon surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mckeon surname in 1881?

In 1881, 260 people were recorded with the Mckeon surname. That placed it at #10,781 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mckeon surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,015 in 2016. That gives Mckeon a modern rank of #5,737.

What does the Mckeon surname mean?

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic "Mac Eoghain," meaning "son of Eoghan" (Owen), a popular medieval Irish name.

What does the Mckeon map show?

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