NameCensus.

UK surname

Mckoy

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

In the 1881 census there were 28 people recorded with the Mckoy surname, ranking it #29,646 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 394, ranked #12,012, up from #29,646 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Luton, Lambeth and Birmingham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mckoy is 415 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 1307.1%.

1881 census count

28

Ranked #29,646

Modern count

394

2016, ranked #12,012

Peak year

2010

415 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mckoy had 28 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #29,646 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 394 in 2016, ranked #12,012.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 45 in 1851.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Mckoy surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mckoy surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Mckoy 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 45 #25,168
1861 historical 33 #29,814
1881 historical 28 #29,646
1891 historical 11 #33,268
1901 historical 28 #30,951
1911 historical 14 #32,045
1997 modern 274 #14,374
1998 modern 266 #15,053
1999 modern 281 #14,578
2000 modern 306 #13,742
2001 modern 295 #13,867
2002 modern 321 #13,378
2003 modern 329 #13,001
2004 modern 329 #13,027
2005 modern 336 #12,767
2006 modern 348 #12,498
2007 modern 363 #12,255
2008 modern 375 #12,059
2009 modern 387 #12,021
2010 modern 415 #11,654
2011 modern 384 #12,218
2012 modern 375 #12,292
2013 modern 381 #12,360
2014 modern 391 #12,214
2015 modern 403 #11,835
2016 modern 394 #12,012

Geography

Back to top

Where Mckoys 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 Luton, Lambeth, Birmingham and Leeds. 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 Luton 003 Luton
2 Lambeth 008 Lambeth
3 Birmingham 032 Birmingham
4 Lambeth 033 Lambeth
5 Leeds 042 Leeds

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Mckoy

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Mckoy

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Mckoy, 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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Mckoy surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Mckoy household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Mckoy is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Mckoy is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Mckoy falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Mckoy is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Mckoy

The surname McKoy is of Scottish origin, derived from the Gaelic Mac Aoidh, which means "son of Aodh" or "son of Hugh." The name can be traced back to the early medieval period in the Highlands of Scotland, particularly in the regions of Argyll and the Isles.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland in 1292, where a certain Duncan Makay is mentioned. The name also appears in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a document containing the names of Scottish nobles who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England during the Wars of Scottish Independence.

The McKoy surname has undergone various spelling variations throughout history, such as McKay, Makay, and Makkay. These variations reflect the challenges of transliterating Gaelic names into written English and the influence of regional dialects.

In the 16th century, a notable figure bearing the McKoy surname was Sir William McKoy, a Scottish soldier and diplomat who served under King James VI of Scotland (later James I of England). He played a crucial role in the negotiations leading to the Union of the Crowns in 1603.

Another prominent individual was Sir Donald McKoy (1591-1670), a Scottish nobleman and landowner in Argyll. He was a staunch supporter of the Royalist cause during the English Civil War and fought alongside the Marquis of Montrose.

In the 18th century, Sir James McKoy (1719-1797) was a Scottish-born merchant and landowner in the West Indies. He amassed a considerable fortune through his involvement in the sugar trade and owned plantations in Jamaica and Antigua.

One of the most famous bearers of the McKoy surname was James McKoy (1793-1853), a Scottish-American writer and explorer. He is best known for his travel narratives and accounts of his expeditions in the American West, including his book "Scenes of Wonder and Curiosity in California."

In the 19th century, Sir John McKoy (1831-1903) was a Scottish-born Canadian politician and businessman. He served as a member of the Canadian House of Commons and was involved in various commercial ventures, including the lumber industry and railway construction.

These examples illustrate the rich history and diverse backgrounds of individuals who have borne the McKoy surname throughout the centuries, spanning various regions, professions, and achievements.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Mckoy families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mckoy 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. Durham leads with 1 Mckoys recorded in 1881 and an index of 17.42x.

County Total Index
Durham 1 17.42x
Lancashire 1 4.37x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Everton in Lancashire leads with 1 Mckoys recorded in 1881 and an index of 136.99x.

Place Total Index
Everton 1 136.99x
Stranton 1 526.32x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
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 Mckoy households.

FAQ

Mckoy surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mckoy surname in 1881?

In 1881, 28 people were recorded with the Mckoy surname. That placed it at #29,646 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mckoy surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 394 in 2016. That gives Mckoy a modern rank of #12,012.

What does the Mckoy surname mean?

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

What does the Mckoy map show?

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