NameCensus.

UK surname

Mckerracher

A Scottish surname meaning "son of the quarryman" or "son of the stoneworker."

In the 1881 census there were 227 people recorded with the Mckerracher surname, ranking it #11,858 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 284, ranked #15,323, down from #11,858 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Govan Combination, Bonhill and Kilmadock. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Renfrew West, Pumpherston and Uphall Station and West Clober and Mains Estate.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mckerracher is 333 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 25.1%.

1881 census count

227

Ranked #11,858

Modern count

284

2016, ranked #15,323

Peak year

1901

333 bearers

Map years

6

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mckerracher had 227 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,858 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 284 in 2016, ranked #15,323.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 333 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Mckerracher surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mckerracher surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mckerracher 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 88 #18,569
1861 historical 97 #21,503
1881 historical 227 #11,858
1891 historical 281 #11,630
1901 historical 333 #10,843
1911 historical 21 #31,179
1997 modern 309 #13,268
1998 modern 310 #13,578
1999 modern 305 #13,808
2000 modern 299 #13,937
2001 modern 291 #14,000
2002 modern 299 #14,017
2003 modern 290 #14,134
2004 modern 290 #14,178
2005 modern 306 #13,657
2006 modern 298 #13,973
2007 modern 298 #14,103
2008 modern 296 #14,275
2009 modern 293 #14,669
2010 modern 289 #15,127
2011 modern 292 #14,863
2012 modern 269 #15,706
2013 modern 280 #15,530
2014 modern 277 #15,734
2015 modern 278 #15,586
2016 modern 284 #15,323

Geography

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Where Mckerrachers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Govan Combination, Bonhill, Kilmadock, Glasgow and Port of Menteith. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Renfrew West, Pumpherston and Uphall Station, West Clober and Mains Estate, Twechar and Harestanes East and Bellfield and Kirkstyle. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Govan Combination Lanark
2 Bonhill Dunbarton
3 Kilmadock Perth
4 Glasgow Lanark
5 Port of Menteith Perth

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Renfrew West Renfrewshire
2 Pumpherston and Uphall Station West Lothian
3 West Clober and Mains Estate East Dunbartonshire
4 Twechar and Harestanes East East Dunbartonshire
5 Bellfield and Kirkstyle East Ayrshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mckerracher

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mckerracher

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Mckerracher, 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 Mckerracher surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Mckerracher household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

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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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Mckerracher is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

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Group profile

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Mckerracher is most concentrated in decile 2 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Mckerracher falls in decile 9 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Mckerracher 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 Mckerracher, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Mckerracher

The surname McKerracher has its origins in Scotland, likely emerging during the medieval period. This name is rooted in the ancient Gaelic tradition, which heavily influenced the linguistic and cultural development of Scotland. The prefix "Mc" indicates "son of" and is of Gaelic origin, suggesting a familial lineage. The latter part of McKerracher derives from a personal name or a descriptive epithet, probably linked to the Gaelic word "carrach," meaning "scabby" or "rough." This could suggest that the original bearer of the name might have had a distinguishing feature or occupation linked to this term.

McKerracher is linked with regions such as the Highlands and Islands where Gaelic culture was predominant, especially in areas like Argyll and Bute. Variations in the spelling of the name over time include MacKerracher, MacCarracher, and even McCarracher, reflecting the evolving nature of language and record-keeping practices in medieval and early modern Scotland.

Historical records show instances of the name making appearances in various legal documents and local records. For instance, the Register of the Great Seal of Scotland, which dates back to the 14th and 15th centuries, includes mentions of individuals with names similar to McKerracher, demonstrating early usage of this surname. One of the earliest recorded examples is Ian MacKerracher, documented in 1456 as a landholder in the region of Argyll.

Another notable individual is Donald McKerracher, a man recorded in a 16th-century parish register. He lived in the Loch Lomond area, suggesting the surname had spread throughout the western parts of Scotland by then. Archibald McKerracher, recorded in 1641, served as a witness in a legal dispute over land in the region of Perthshire, indicating the surname's presence in central Scotland.

In the 18th century, Hugh McKerracher, born in 1720 and died in 1793, was a renowned local figure in Inverness, known for his work in agriculture and local governance. His contributions have been preserved in local histories and journals, showcasing how families bearing the surname became integral parts of their communities.

In the 19th century, Alexander McKerracher, who lived from 1805 to 1878, gained prominence as a stonemason in Glasgow. His craftsmanship can still be seen in some of the period's surviving architecture, leaving a tangible legacy of the McKerracher name in the urban landscape of Scotland.

Overall, the surname McKerracher evokes the rich Gaelic heritage of Scotland and illustrates the journeys and lives of those who bore it over the centuries. Each recorded individual adds to the tapestry of a name that is firmly rooted in Scottish history and culture.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mckerracher families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mckerracher 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. Royal Navy leads with 1 Mckerrachers recorded in 1881 and an index of 909.09x.

County Total Index
Royal Navy 1 909.09x

FAQ

Mckerracher surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mckerracher surname in 1881?

In 1881, 227 people were recorded with the Mckerracher surname. That placed it at #11,858 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mckerracher surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 284 in 2016. That gives Mckerracher a modern rank of #15,323.

What does the Mckerracher surname mean?

A Scottish surname meaning "son of the quarryman" or "son of the stoneworker."

What does the Mckerracher map show?

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