NameCensus.

UK surname

Mckibben

A Scottish occupational surname referring to the son of a kybber, one who catches fish using a kibble net.

In the 1881 census there were 41 people recorded with the Mckibben surname, ranking it #27,870 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 111, ranked #29,049, down from #27,870 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Kingston upon Thames, Fetteresso, Netherley and Catter and Ardrossan North West.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mckibben is 113 in 2012. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 170.7%.

1881 census count

41

Ranked #27,870

Modern count

111

2016, ranked #29,049

Peak year

2012

113 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mckibben had 41 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #27,870 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 111 in 2016, ranked #29,049.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 41 in 1881.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Mckibben surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mckibben surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Mckibben 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 11 #31,309
1861 historical 7 #33,053
1881 historical 41 #27,870
1891 historical 31 #31,820
1901 historical 20 #31,803
1911 historical 4 #33,595
1997 modern 91 #28,215
1998 modern 93 #28,563
1999 modern 92 #28,833
2000 modern 89 #29,173
2001 modern 90 #28,793
2002 modern 89 #29,428
2003 modern 85 #29,877
2004 modern 88 #29,758
2005 modern 90 #29,527
2006 modern 90 #29,893
2007 modern 94 #29,650
2008 modern 88 #30,857
2009 modern 92 #30,820
2010 modern 101 #30,078
2011 modern 102 #29,759
2012 modern 113 #28,016
2013 modern 109 #29,209
2014 modern 105 #30,204
2015 modern 109 #29,327
2016 modern 111 #29,049

Geography

Back to top

Where Mckibbens 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 Kingston upon Thames, Fetteresso, Netherley and Catter, Ardrossan North West, Port Glasgow Upper, West and Central and Cheshire East. 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 Kingston upon Thames 002 Kingston upon Thames
2 Fetteresso, Netherley and Catter Aberdeenshire
3 Ardrossan North West North Ayrshire
4 Port Glasgow Upper, West and Central Inverclyde
5 Cheshire East 018 Cheshire East

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Mckibben

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Mckibben

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Mckibben, 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 Mckibben surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Mckibben 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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Mckibben 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.

Read profile summary

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

Mckibben is most concentrated in decile 5 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Mckibben falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Mckibben 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 - British

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

Meaning and origin of Mckibben

The surname McKibben is of Scottish origin, derived from the Gaelic personal name "Gille Bride," meaning "servant of St. Brigid." It dates back to the 12th century in the Scottish Highlands and Islands.

In its earliest forms, the name was spelled as "MacGillebride" or "MacIllebride." Over time, it evolved into various spellings, including McKibben, MacKibben, and Kibben. These variations emerged due to regional dialects, scribal errors, and anglicization.

One of the earliest recorded references to the name can be found in the Annals of Ulster from the 13th century, which mentions a "Gillabride MacGillabride" in the year 1226. The name also appears in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland in the 14th century.

Some notable individuals with the surname McKibben throughout history include:

1. John McKibben (c. 1640-1718), an early settler in Pennsylvania and a Quaker from Ireland. 2. David McKibben (1853-1923), an American lawyer and politician who served as a U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania. 3. Ralph McKibben (1892-1969), an American journalist and war correspondent during World War II. 4. Bill McKibben (born 1960), an American environmentalist, author, and activist known for his work on climate change. 5. Sara McKibben (born 1981), an American mathematician and professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

The name has been associated with various place names in Scotland, such as Kilbride (derived from "Cill Bhride," meaning "Church of St. Brigid") and Bridgend, which may have influenced the formation of the surname.

While the McKibben surname is predominantly found in Scotland, it has also spread to other parts of the United Kingdom, Ireland, and North America due to migration and diaspora over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Mckibben families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mckibben 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. Cumberland leads with 5 Mckibbens recorded in 1881 and an index of 119.62x.

County Total Index
Cumberland 5 119.62x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Whitehaven in Cumberland leads with 5 Mckibbens recorded in 1881 and an index of 2272.73x.

Place Total Index
Whitehaven 5 2272.73x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Ann 1
Mary 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Richd. 1
Thos. 1
Wm. 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 Mckibben households.

FAQ

Mckibben surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mckibben surname in 1881?

In 1881, 41 people were recorded with the Mckibben surname. That placed it at #27,870 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mckibben surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 111 in 2016. That gives Mckibben a modern rank of #29,049.

What does the Mckibben surname mean?

A Scottish occupational surname referring to the son of a kybber, one who catches fish using a kibble net.

What does the Mckibben map show?

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