UK surname
A surname derived from the Gaelic 'Mac Aoidh' meaning 'son of Hugh'.
In the 1881 census there were 289 people recorded with the Mckey surname, ranking it #9,968 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 63, ranked #34,163, down from #9,968 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Durness, Govan Combination and Toxteth Park. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mckey is 389 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 78.2%.
1881 census count
289
Ranked #9,968
Modern count
63
2016, ranked #34,163
Peak year
1861
389 bearers
Map years
5
1851 to 1901
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Mckey surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Mckey 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 | 267 | #8,342 |
| 1861 | historical | 389 | #6,580 |
| 1881 | historical | 289 | #9,968 |
| 1891 | historical | 309 | #10,848 |
| 1901 | historical | 133 | #19,372 |
| 1911 | historical | 95 | #23,294 |
| 1997 | modern | 66 | #31,038 |
| 1998 | modern | 69 | #31,076 |
| 1999 | modern | 63 | #31,798 |
| 2000 | modern | 63 | #31,829 |
| 2001 | modern | 58 | #32,180 |
| 2002 | modern | 64 | #32,007 |
| 2003 | modern | 63 | #32,152 |
| 2004 | modern | 63 | #32,380 |
| 2005 | modern | 61 | #32,814 |
| 2006 | modern | 61 | #33,142 |
| 2007 | modern | 60 | #33,539 |
| 2008 | modern | 63 | #33,498 |
| 2009 | modern | 64 | #33,675 |
| 2010 | modern | 61 | #34,143 |
| 2011 | modern | 55 | #34,502 |
| 2012 | modern | 60 | #34,287 |
| 2013 | modern | 61 | #34,317 |
| 2014 | modern | 59 | #34,459 |
| 2015 | modern | 65 | #34,036 |
| 2016 | modern | 63 | #34,163 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Durness, Govan Combination, Toxteth Park, Edinburgh and Glasgow. 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 | Durness | Sutherland |
| 2 | Govan Combination | Lanark |
| 3 | Toxteth Park | Lancashire |
| 4 | Edinburgh | Edinburgh |
| 5 | Glasgow | Lanark |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Mckey 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 Mckey, 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 Mckey surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Mckey 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, Mckey 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 Mckey is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Mckey, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname MCKEY is of Scottish origin, originating from the Gaelic name "Mac Aoidh" or "Mac Aidh", meaning "son of Aidh" or "son of fire". The name is believed to have first emerged in the 13th century in the Scottish Highlands.
The name MCKEY is derived from the personal name Aidh or Aodh, which was a popular name among the Celtic peoples of Scotland and Ireland. It is thought to be related to the Old Irish word "áed" or "áid", meaning "fire" or "fiery one".
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name MCKEY can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which were a series of documents recording the names of Scottish nobles and landowners who were forced to swear allegiance to King Edward I of England during the Scottish Wars of Independence.
In the 16th century, the name MCKEY was particularly prominent in the Highland regions of Scotland, such as Argyll, Inverness-shire, and Perthshire. During this time, the spelling of the name varied, with forms such as McKay, McKee, and Mackie also being used.
One notable bearer of the name was Sir Donald McKay (1810-1880), a famous Scottish-American shipbuilder and ship designer from Shelburne, Nova Scotia. He is best known for designing and building the legendary clipper ship Flying Cloud, which set multiple speed records in the mid-19th century.
Another prominent figure with the surname MCKEY was Andrew McKay (1918-2016), a Scottish-American artist and illustrator who is best known for his work on numerous comic book series, including The Hulk, Spider-Man, and The Avengers.
In the 18th and 19th centuries, many Scottish families bearing the name MCKEY emigrated to North America, particularly to Canada and the United States. This led to the name becoming more widely dispersed, although it remains most prevalent in areas with strong Scottish heritage, such as Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and parts of the American Northeast.
Other notable individuals with the surname MCKEY include:
1. Herbert McKay (1868-1937), a Scottish-American artist and illustrator known for his work in magazines and children's books. 2. Claude McKay (1889-1948), a Jamaican-American writer and poet, one of the most influential figures in the Harlem Renaissance literary movement. 3. Elizabeth P. McKay (1833-1911), an American educator and women's rights activist from New York. 4. Donald McKay (1888-1953), a Scottish politician and Member of Parliament for Argyllshire from 1945 to 1950.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mckey 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. Cumberland leads with 24 Mckeys recorded in 1881 and an index of 42.65x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Cumberland | 24 | 42.65x |
| Durham | 8 | 4.11x |
| Lincolnshire | 8 | 7.66x |
| Glamorgan | 7 | 6.15x |
| Gloucestershire | 5 | 3.90x |
| Lancashire | 3 | 0.39x |
| Middlesex | 3 | 0.46x |
| Yorkshire | 3 | 0.46x |
| Flintshire | 2 | 11.38x |
| Caernarfonshire | 1 | 3.79x |
| Devon | 1 | 0.74x |
| Essex | 1 | 0.78x |
| Sussex | 1 | 0.91x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Cleator in Cumberland leads with 10 Mckeys recorded in 1881 and an index of 427.35x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Cleator | 10 | 427.35x |
| Seaton | 8 | 1212.12x |
| Crowland | 7 | 1060.61x |
| Leckwith | 7 | 2592.59x |
| Gloucester St Michael | 5 | 1724.14x |
| Pelton | 4 | 434.78x |
| West Herrington | 4 | 588.24x |
| Whitehaven | 3 | 100.00x |
| Mile End Old Town | 2 | 19.38x |
| Mold | 2 | 125.79x |
| Parton | 2 | 606.06x |
| Pendleton In Salford | 2 | 21.65x |
| Exeter St Olave | 1 | 555.56x |
| Halifax | 1 | 10.52x |
| Hove | 1 | 20.70x |
| Kirkandrews On Esk | 1 | 526.32x |
| Llanrhychwyn | 1 | 833.33x |
| Rothwell | 1 | 76.34x |
| St Olave Hart Street | 1 | 1666.67x |
| St Swithin Lincoln | 1 | 60.98x |
| Thornaby | 1 | 41.32x |
| Warrington | 1 | 10.88x |
| West Ham | 1 | 3.51x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Mckey 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 Mckey 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 Mckey households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 16 |
| Ag Lab | 2 |
| Iron Ore Miner | 2 |
| Cashier | 1 |
| Coal Miner | 1 |
| Cook Domestic Serv | 1 |
| Farm Servant (Indoor) | 1 |
| Furnace Lab (Fac) | 1 |
| General Labourer | 1 |
| Housekeeper | 1 |
| Housemaid (Dom) | 1 |
| Iron Ore Lab | 1 |
| Iron Ore Miner Lab | 1 |
| Kitchen Maid | 1 |
| Lab At Iron Works | 1 |
| Lab Blast Furnaceman (Iron) | 1 |
| Lab In Iron Works | 1 |
| Labourer | 1 |
| Labourer Dk | 1 |
| Labourer Genl 1 Furn | 1 |
| Labourer Genl At 1 Furnace | 1 |
| Lead Miner | 1 |
| Miners Daur | 1 |
| No Occn | 1 |
| Nursemaid | 1 |
| Painter | 1 |
| Printer | 1 |
| R Catholic Priest | 1 |
| Schlar | 1 |
| Tailoress | 1 |
| Teacher Public Elementary School | 1 |
| Wife | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 289 people were recorded with the Mckey surname. That placed it at #9,968 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 63 in 2016. That gives Mckey a modern rank of #34,163.
A surname derived from the Gaelic 'Mac Aoidh' meaning 'son of Hugh'.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Mckey 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.