UK surname
A variant of Mackenzie, an anglicized form of the Scottish Gaelic surname meaning "son of Kenneth."
In the 1881 census there were 285 people recorded with the Mckinzie surname, ranking it #10,070 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 3, ranked #38,594, down from #10,070 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Gairloch, Edinburgh and Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mckinzie is 1,249 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 98.9%.
1881 census count
285
Ranked #10,070
Modern count
3
2016, ranked #38,594
Peak year
1851
1,249 bearers
Map years
5
1851 to 1901
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Mckinzie surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Mckinzie 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 | 1,249 | #2,289 |
| 1861 | historical | 538 | #4,878 |
| 1881 | historical | 285 | #10,070 |
| 1891 | historical | 320 | #10,546 |
| 1901 | historical | 192 | #15,518 |
| 1911 | historical | 64 | #26,435 |
| 1997 | modern | 9 | #37,214 |
| 1998 | modern | 8 | #37,334 |
| 1999 | modern | 4 | #38,100 |
| 2000 | modern | 3 | #38,248 |
| 2001 | modern | 2 | #38,335 |
| 2002 | modern | 2 | #38,400 |
| 2003 | modern | 2 | #38,424 |
| 2004 | modern | 2 | #38,464 |
| 2005 | modern | 3 | #38,312 |
| 2006 | modern | 3 | #38,334 |
| 2007 | modern | 4 | #38,169 |
| 2008 | modern | 4 | #38,216 |
| 2009 | modern | 4 | #38,287 |
| 2010 | modern | 4 | #38,371 |
| 2011 | modern | 2 | #38,745 |
| 2012 | modern | 4 | #38,335 |
| 2013 | modern | 4 | #38,359 |
| 2014 | modern | 4 | #38,376 |
| 2015 | modern | 4 | #38,392 |
| 2016 | modern | 3 | #38,594 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Gairloch, Edinburgh, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry, Aberdeen and Old Machar 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 | Gairloch | Ross And Cromarty |
| 2 | Edinburgh | Edinburgh |
| 3 | Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry | Forfar |
| 4 | Aberdeen and Old Machar | Aberdeen |
| 5 | Glasgow | Lanark |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Mckinzie 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 Mckinzie, 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 Mckinzie surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Mckinzie 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, Mckinzie 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 Mckinzie is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Mckinzie, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname McKinzie is a Scottish name with origins dating back to the 11th century. It is a variant of the name McKenzie, which originated in the Gaelic language and is derived from the words "mac Coinnich," meaning "son of Coinneach" or "son of Kenneth."
The name McKenzie is closely associated with the Scottish Highlands, particularly in the areas of Ross-shire and Inverness-shire. It is believed that the name first appeared in written records around the 12th century, when Clan Mackenzie emerged as one of the prominent clans in the region.
One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name McKenzie can be found in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland from the year 1263, which refer to a person named "Kennoch Mac Kennochyrry." This is thought to be an early spelling variation of the name.
In the 14th century, there are references to the McKenzie clan's involvement in various battles and conflicts, including the Battle of Largs in 1263, where they fought alongside other Scottish clans against the invading forces of King Haakon IV of Norway.
Notable individuals with the surname McKinzie throughout history include:
1. Alexander Mackenzie (1764-1820), a Scottish explorer who completed the first recorded transcontinental crossing of North America to the Pacific Ocean in 1793.
2. William Lyon Mackenzie (1795-1861), a Scottish-Canadian journalist and political reformer who played a significant role in the Rebellions of 1837 in Upper Canada.
3. Archibald Mackenzie (1694-1768), a Scottish lawyer and judge who served as Lord Advocate of Scotland from 1742 to 1748.
4. Compton Mackenzie (1883-1972), an English-born Scottish novelist and playwright, best known for his satirical novels and plays set in Scotland.
5. William Mackenzie (1849-1923), a Canadian businessman and railway builder who co-founded the Canadian Northern Railway and played a pivotal role in the development of Canada's transportation infrastructure.
The McKinzie surname has also been associated with various place names in Scotland, such as Kintail, a historic district in the Highlands where the Mackenzie clan held significant power and influence.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mckinzie 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. Lancashire leads with 8 Mckinzies recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.32x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 8 | 5.32x |
| Cumberland | 4 | 36.63x |
| Northumberland | 1 | 5.30x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Great Little Marsden in Lancashire leads with 7 Mckinzies recorded in 1881 and an index of 1014.49x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Great Little Marsden | 7 | 1014.49x |
| Preston Quarter | 4 | 1290.32x |
| Everton | 1 | 20.83x |
| West Matfen | 1 | 10000.00x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Mckinzie 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 Mckinzie 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 Mckinzie households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 5 |
| Cotton Weaver | 2 |
| Engineering Clerk | 1 |
| Gardener Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Mariner | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 285 people were recorded with the Mckinzie surname. That placed it at #10,070 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 3 in 2016. That gives Mckinzie a modern rank of #38,594.
A variant of Mackenzie, an anglicized form of the Scottish Gaelic surname meaning "son of Kenneth."
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Mckinzie 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.