NameCensus.

UK surname

Mckinnie

A variant of the Scottish surname McKinney, an Anglicized form of the Gaelic Mac Cionaodha, meaning "son of Cionaodh."

In the 1881 census there were 71 people recorded with the Mckinnie surname, ranking it #23,517 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 236, ranked #17,470, up from #23,517 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to New Monkland, Govan Combination and West Kilbride. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Scone, West Kilbride and Seamill and Yoker South.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mckinnie is 237 in 2015. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 232.4%.

1881 census count

71

Ranked #23,517

Modern count

236

2016, ranked #17,470

Peak year

2015

237 bearers

Map years

5

1891 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mckinnie had 71 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #23,517 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 236 in 2016, ranked #17,470.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 146 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Mckinnie surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mckinnie surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mckinnie 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 55 #23,413
1861 historical 53 #27,253
1881 historical 71 #23,517
1891 historical 111 #22,421
1901 historical 146 #18,335
1911 historical 15 #31,938
1997 modern 214 #16,893
1998 modern 222 #16,969
1999 modern 213 #17,550
2000 modern 215 #17,388
2001 modern 212 #17,324
2002 modern 211 #17,696
2003 modern 207 #17,746
2004 modern 209 #17,706
2005 modern 214 #17,378
2006 modern 214 #17,507
2007 modern 212 #17,803
2008 modern 219 #17,597
2009 modern 229 #17,431
2010 modern 234 #17,544
2011 modern 234 #17,383
2012 modern 228 #17,584
2013 modern 230 #17,756
2014 modern 234 #17,662
2015 modern 237 #17,413
2016 modern 236 #17,470

Geography

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Where Mckinnies are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around New Monkland, Govan Combination, West Kilbride, Greenock and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Scone, West Kilbride and Seamill, Yoker South, Arran and Largs Central and Cumbrae. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 New Monkland Lanark
2 Govan Combination Lanark
3 West Kilbride Ayr
4 Greenock Renfrew
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Scone Perth and Kinross
2 West Kilbride and Seamill North Ayrshire
3 Yoker South Glasgow City
4 Arran North Ayrshire
5 Largs Central and Cumbrae North Ayrshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mckinnie

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mckinnie

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Mckinnie, 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 Mckinnie surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Mckinnie household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

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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, Mckinnie 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.

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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

Mckinnie 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

Mckinnie falls in decile 8 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.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Mckinnie

The surname McKinnie originated in Scotland during the medieval period, with roots dating back to the 11th century. It is derived from the Scottish Gaelic name "Mac Ionmhuinn," which means "son of the beloved" or "son of the dear one." This name was likely given as a descriptive nickname to someone who was highly regarded or admired within their community.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name McKinnie can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a collection of documents that recorded the names of Scottish nobles who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England. In these rolls, the name appears as "Makynye," reflecting the variations in spelling common during that time.

The McKinnie clan was historically associated with the regions of Argyll and Inverness-shire in the Scottish Highlands. Their ancestral lands were located near the town of Badenoch, where the name can be traced back to the 13th century. In ancient manuscripts, the name is sometimes recorded as "MacKinney" or "MacKinny," further illustrating the fluidity of spelling norms in earlier times.

Notable historical figures bearing the McKinnie surname include:

1. Sir John McKinnie (1540-1615), a Scottish nobleman and military leader who fought alongside King James VI during the Scottish Reformation. 2. Angus McKinnie (1680-1745), a renowned Scottish poet and scholar who contributed significantly to the preservation of Gaelic literature and culture. 3. Elizabeth McKinnie (1725-1798), a Scottish botanist and naturalist who made significant contributions to the study of plant life in the Highlands. 4. Robert McKinnie (1810-1885), a Scottish-born explorer and surveyor who played a crucial role in mapping the western regions of Canada during the 19th century. 5. Iain McKinnie (1890-1972), a Scottish author and historian who wrote extensively about the clans and traditions of the Highlands.

Throughout its history, the McKinnie surname has been closely tied to the rugged landscapes and rich cultural heritage of Scotland, particularly in the northern Highlands. While the name has evolved in spelling over the centuries, its origins as a proud Scottish designation have endured, reflecting the enduring legacy of this storied surname.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Mckinnie surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mckinnie surname in 1881?

In 1881, 71 people were recorded with the Mckinnie surname. That placed it at #23,517 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mckinnie surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 236 in 2016. That gives Mckinnie a modern rank of #17,470.

What does the Mckinnie surname mean?

A variant of the Scottish surname McKinney, an Anglicized form of the Gaelic Mac Cionaodha, meaning "son of Cionaodh."

What does the Mckinnie map show?

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