NameCensus.

UK surname

Mckie

A Scottish surname derived from the Gaelic "MacAoidh," meaning "son of Aodh" (a personal name meaning "fire").

In the 1881 census there were 2,244 people recorded with the Mckie surname, ranking it #1,984 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 3,776, ranked #1,787, up from #1,984 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Govan Combination and Gateshead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Newton Stewart, Machars North and Machars South.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mckie is 3,895 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 68.3%.

1881 census count

2,244

Ranked #1,984

Modern count

3,776

2016, ranked #1,787

Peak year

2010

3,895 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mckie had 2,244 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,984 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 3,776 in 2016, ranked #1,787.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,769 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Mckie surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mckie surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mckie 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 1,714 #1,683
1861 historical 1,724 #1,671
1881 historical 2,244 #1,984
1891 historical 2,461 #1,920
1901 historical 2,769 #2,006
1911 historical 1,335 #3,583
1997 modern 3,514 #1,842
1998 modern 3,646 #1,848
1999 modern 3,654 #1,861
2000 modern 3,659 #1,848
2001 modern 3,561 #1,855
2002 modern 3,657 #1,851
2003 modern 3,564 #1,849
2004 modern 3,582 #1,845
2005 modern 3,640 #1,793
2006 modern 3,632 #1,798
2007 modern 3,648 #1,803
2008 modern 3,688 #1,798
2009 modern 3,797 #1,790
2010 modern 3,895 #1,784
2011 modern 3,820 #1,796
2012 modern 3,750 #1,794
2013 modern 3,814 #1,800
2014 modern 3,828 #1,800
2015 modern 3,768 #1,807
2016 modern 3,776 #1,787

Geography

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Where Mckies are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Govan Combination, Gateshead, Kirkinner and Dumfries. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Newton Stewart, Machars North, Machars South, Gatehouse and Kirkcudbright. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
2 Govan Combination Lanark
3 Gateshead Durham
4 Kirkinner Wigtown
5 Dumfries Dumfries

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Newton Stewart Dumfries and Galloway
2 Machars North Dumfries and Galloway
3 Machars South Dumfries and Galloway
4 Gatehouse Dumfries and Galloway
5 Kirkcudbright Dumfries and Galloway

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mckie

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mckie

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Mckie is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Mckie is most concentrated in decile 1 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Mckie falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Mckie

The surname McKie is of Scottish origin, originating from the Lowlands region of Scotland during the late medieval period. It is believed to be derived from the Gaelic personal name "Mac Aidh," which means "son of Aodh" or "son of Hugh." Aodh was a popular name among Scottish clans, and the surname evolved from a patronymic naming system.

McKie is a variant spelling of the more common MacKie or Mackie. In historical records, the name can be found spelled in various forms, such as McKy, McKye, and McKey, reflecting the regional dialects and variations in pronunciation.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname McKie can be found in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland from the late 13th century, where a person named "Gillemor McKey" is mentioned. Additionally, the name appears in the Register of the Great Seal of Scotland in the 15th century, indicating its widespread use among Scottish families during that time.

The McKie surname has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One prominent figure was Sir James McKie (1788-1856), a Scottish lawyer and politician who served as Lord Advocate of Scotland from 1842 to 1846. Another notable bearer of the name was Robert McKie (1820-1899), a Scottish-born Australian politician who served as a member of the Legislative Council of New South Wales.

In the literary world, William McKie (1892-1970) was a Scottish author and journalist known for his works on literature and drama criticism. He served as the literary editor of the Daily Mail from 1934 to 1946.

The McKie surname has also been associated with place names in Scotland. For example, McKie's Hill, a small settlement in Ayrshire, Scotland, is believed to have been named after a family with the McKie surname who resided in the area.

While the surname McKie has Scottish roots, it has spread globally due to migration and diaspora. Notable bearers of the name can be found in countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, reflecting the Scottish diaspora's reach.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mckie families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mckie 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 49 Mckies recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.66x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 49 2.66x
Northumberland 29 12.57x
Durham 18 3.90x
Cumberland 17 12.73x
Yorkshire 10 0.65x
Cheshire 8 2.34x
Kent 7 1.32x
Denbighshire 4 6.83x
Dumfriesshire 3 8.76x
Perthshire 3 4.31x
Glamorgan 2 0.74x
Hampshire 2 0.63x
Devon 1 0.31x
Lanarkshire 1 0.20x
Leicestershire 1 0.58x
Merionethshire 1 3.52x
Royal Navy 1 5.41x
Shropshire 1 0.75x
Surrey 1 0.13x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hedworth Monkton Jarrow in Durham leads with 9 Mckies recorded in 1881 and an index of 45.05x.

Place Total Index
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 9 45.05x
Liverpool 8 7.16x
Twemlow 8 8888.89x
Tonbridge 7 36.67x
Toxteth Park 7 11.23x
Howden Thorpe In 6 3529.41x
Longbenton 6 61.41x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 6 43.54x
Elswick 5 27.14x
Harrington 5 310.56x
Heworth 5 55.01x
Kirkdale 5 16.15x
Westgate 5 34.99x
Broughton 4 173.91x
Byker 4 35.06x
Cheetham 4 29.13x
Rickergate 4 141.34x
Walton Le Dale 4 80.81x
Westoe 4 15.29x
Blairgowrie 3 109.09x
Caldewgate 3 40.98x
Dumfries 3 88.76x
Hulme 3 7.81x
Moss Side 3 30.99x
Newcastle On Tyne St John 3 99.01x
Newchurch 3 19.92x
Withington 3 50.59x
Bingley 2 20.43x
Haslingden 2 26.25x
Little Bolton 2 8.45x
Preston 2 4.06x
Swansea Town 2 9.03x
Whitehaven 2 28.09x
Workington 2 26.14x
Arthuret 1 71.94x
Blackburn 1 2.04x
Egham 1 21.55x
Fareham 1 26.18x
Govan 1 0.81x
Huddersfield 1 4.47x
Llanaber 1 89.29x
Melton Mowbray 1 32.36x
Middlesbrough 1 5.00x
Plymouth Charles The 1 7.03x
Salford 1 1.85x
Shrewsbury St Chad 1 21.28x
St Thomas Winchester 1 44.64x
West Derby 1 1.86x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 12
Margaret 6
Elizabeth 5
Jane 5
Ellen 4
Minnie 3
Susan 3
Agnes 2
Ann 2
Anne 2
Annie 2
Eliza 2
Grace 2
Hannah 2
Janet 2
Lillias 2
Rachel 2
Betty 1
Bridget 1
Caroline 1
Catherine 1
Edith 1
Elizab. 1
Emma 1
Fanny 1
Isabella 1
John 1
Kate 1
Maggie 1
Marg. 1
Margt. 1
Margt.Ann 1
Maria 1
Rebecca 1
Robert 1
Sarah 1
Susanna 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Mckie surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mckie surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,244 people were recorded with the Mckie surname. That placed it at #1,984 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mckie surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 3,776 in 2016. That gives Mckie a modern rank of #1,787.

What does the Mckie surname mean?

A Scottish surname derived from the Gaelic "MacAoidh," meaning "son of Aodh" (a personal name meaning "fire").

What does the Mckie map show?

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