NameCensus.

UK surname

Mckernon

An Irish surname derived from Mac Cionnaith meaning "son of the bright-headed one".

In the 1881 census there were 43 people recorded with the Mckernon surname, ranking it #27,575 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 108, ranked #29,578, down from #27,575 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Saltcoats North East, Bromsgrove and Forest of Dean.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mckernon is 128 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 151.2%.

1881 census count

43

Ranked #27,575

Modern count

108

2016, ranked #29,578

Peak year

1999

128 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mckernon had 43 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #27,575 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 108 in 2016, ranked #29,578.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 62 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Mckernon surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mckernon surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mckernon 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 18 #30,094
1861 historical 24 #30,922
1881 historical 43 #27,575
1891 historical 62 #28,991
1901 historical 49 #28,696
1911 historical 55 #27,313
1997 modern 119 #24,302
1998 modern 127 #23,940
1999 modern 128 #24,017
2000 modern 120 #24,950
2001 modern 117 #24,974
2002 modern 113 #26,024
2003 modern 103 #27,234
2004 modern 96 #28,605
2005 modern 97 #28,485
2006 modern 100 #28,283
2007 modern 102 #28,351
2008 modern 105 #28,180
2009 modern 104 #28,982
2010 modern 110 #28,666
2011 modern 108 #28,811
2012 modern 115 #27,717
2013 modern 116 #27,992
2014 modern 113 #28,779
2015 modern 107 #29,708
2016 modern 108 #29,578

Geography

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Where Mckernons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Saltcoats North East, Bromsgrove, Forest of Dean and East Hampshire. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Saltcoats North East North Ayrshire
2 Bromsgrove 005 Bromsgrove
3 Forest of Dean 009 Forest of Dean
4 East Hampshire 003 East Hampshire
5 East Hampshire 007 East Hampshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mckernon

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mckernon

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Mckernon surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Mckernon household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Mckernon is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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 residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Mckernon is most concentrated in decile 3 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Mckernon 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 Mckernon is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Mckernon

The surname McKernon is of Irish origin, originating from County Armagh in Northern Ireland in the early 17th century. It is derived from the Gaelic Mac Ciarnan, which means "son of Ciarnan." Ciarnan was an ancient Irish personal name, believed to be a diminutive form of the name Ciaran.

The McKernon name first appeared in historical records in the early 1600s, around the time of the Plantation of Ulster. This was a period of organized settlement and colonization of Ulster by English and Scottish settlers, which led to the displacement and dispersion of many native Irish families.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the McKernon surname was in 1659 when John McKernon was listed as a tenant in the Hearth Money Rolls for County Armagh. These rolls were a form of taxation based on the number of hearths or fireplaces in a household.

In the 18th century, the McKernon family was well-established in County Armagh, particularly in the parish of Loughgall. Several McKernons were recorded in the parish registers during this time, including marriages, baptisms, and burials.

A notable figure bearing the McKernon surname was Hugh McKernon, born in County Armagh in 1801. He was a prominent Irish nationalist and supporter of Daniel O'Connell's campaign for Catholic Emancipation in the early 19th century.

Another significant individual was William McKernon, born in 1856 in County Armagh. He was a successful businessman and philanthropist, known for his support of various charitable causes and educational initiatives in the region.

The McKernon name has also been associated with some notable places in County Armagh. For instance, there is a townland called McKernon's Hill, located near the town of Portadown. This place name likely derived from an early settler or landowner with the McKernon surname.

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, many McKernons emigrated from Ireland to countries like the United States, Canada, and Australia, seeking better opportunities and escaping economic hardship. As a result, the name has become more widespread in these regions.

Other notable individuals with the McKernon surname include James McKernon, a Scottish-born Australian politician and member of the Legislative Assembly of Queensland in the late 19th century, and John McKernon, an Irish-American businessman and politician who served as the Mayor of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in the early 20th century.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Mckernon surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mckernon surname in 1881?

In 1881, 43 people were recorded with the Mckernon surname. That placed it at #27,575 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mckernon surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 108 in 2016. That gives Mckernon a modern rank of #29,578.

What does the Mckernon surname mean?

An Irish surname derived from Mac Cionnaith meaning "son of the bright-headed one".

What does the Mckernon map show?

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