UK surname
A Scottish surname derived from the Gaelic "mac Gille Naomh" meaning "son of the servant of the saint".
In the 1881 census there were 113 people recorded with the Mclaine surname, ranking it #18,412 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 65, ranked #34,017, down from #18,412 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Torosay and Kinlochspervie, Govan Combination and Kilfinichen and Iona. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mclaine is 113 in 1881. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 42.5%.
1881 census count
113
Ranked #18,412
Modern count
65
2016, ranked #34,017
Peak year
1881
113 bearers
Map years
2
1881 to 1901
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Mclaine surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Mclaine 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 | 63 | #22,069 |
| 1861 | historical | 98 | #21,388 |
| 1881 | historical | 113 | #18,412 |
| 1891 | historical | 92 | #25,109 |
| 1901 | historical | 108 | #21,836 |
| 1911 | historical | 33 | #29,703 |
| 1997 | modern | 78 | #29,785 |
| 1998 | modern | 79 | #30,080 |
| 1999 | modern | 70 | #31,135 |
| 2000 | modern | 75 | #30,668 |
| 2001 | modern | 70 | #31,016 |
| 2002 | modern | 67 | #31,723 |
| 2003 | modern | 57 | #32,704 |
| 2004 | modern | 60 | #32,684 |
| 2005 | modern | 60 | #32,917 |
| 2006 | modern | 60 | #33,235 |
| 2007 | modern | 58 | #33,731 |
| 2008 | modern | 59 | #33,827 |
| 2009 | modern | 59 | #34,072 |
| 2010 | modern | 59 | #34,273 |
| 2011 | modern | 62 | #34,045 |
| 2012 | modern | 65 | #33,964 |
| 2013 | modern | 65 | #34,059 |
| 2014 | modern | 63 | #34,212 |
| 2015 | modern | 66 | #33,976 |
| 2016 | modern | 65 | #34,017 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Torosay and Kinlochspervie, Govan Combination, Kilfinichen and Iona, Manchester and Kilmore and Kilbride. 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 | Torosay and Kinlochspervie | Argyll |
| 2 | Govan Combination | Lanark |
| 3 | Kilfinichen and Iona | Argyll |
| 4 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 5 | Kilmore and Kilbride | Argyll |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Mclaine 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 Mclaine, 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 Mclaine surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Mclaine 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, Mclaine 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 Mclaine is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Mclaine, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname MCLAINE is of Scottish origin and derived from the Gaelic name MacGhilleFhàinn, which means "son of the servant of St. John" or "son of the devotee of St. John." The name is a patronymic, indicating the bearer's ancestral lineage and connection to a particular individual or location.
The earliest recorded instances of the name can be traced back to the 13th century in the Scottish Highlands, particularly in the regions of Argyll and the Western Isles. The name is closely associated with the Clan MacLaine, a branch of the larger Clan Donald, which played a significant role in the history of the Scottish Highlands.
One of the earliest documented references to the name can be found in the Ragman Rolls, a collection of written acts of homage to Edward I of England in the late 13th century. The rolls include the name of Lachlan MacLaine, a Scottish landowner who swore fealty to the English king during this period.
Throughout history, the MCLAINE surname has undergone various spelling variations, such as McLain, McLane, and McLean, reflecting the fluidity of language and regional dialects. The name is also closely tied to certain place names in Scotland, including the Isle of Mull, where the Clan MacLaine had a stronghold at Duart Castle.
Notable individuals bearing the MCLAINE surname include:
1. Lachlan McLaine (c. 1285 - unknown), a Scottish landowner mentioned in the Ragman Rolls. 2. Lachlan Mor McLaine (c. 1570 - c. 1635), Chief of the Clan McLaine and a prominent figure in the Scottish Highlands. 3. Sir Hector Og McLaine (c. 1610 - c. 1675), Chief of the Clan McLaine and a supporter of the Royalist cause during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. 4. Archibald McLaine (1688 - 1770), a Scottish-American merchant and landowner who settled in Wilmington, North Carolina. 5. Allan McLane (1746 - 1829), an American soldier and politician who served during the American Revolutionary War.
The MCLAINE surname has a rich history deeply rooted in the Scottish Highlands, reflecting the cultural and ancestral ties of those who bore the name throughout the centuries.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mclaine 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 9 Mclaines recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.32x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 9 | 4.32x |
| Northumberland | 7 | 26.80x |
| Middlesex | 1 | 0.57x |
| Yorkshire | 1 | 0.57x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Newcastle On Tyne All Sts in Northumberland leads with 7 Mclaines recorded in 1881 and an index of 448.72x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Newcastle On Tyne All Sts | 7 | 448.72x |
| Great Bolton | 6 | 217.39x |
| Kirkdale | 3 | 85.71x |
| Barnsley | 1 | 55.87x |
| St George Hanover | 1 | 43.67x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Mclaine 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 Mclaine 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 Mclaine households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 6 |
| Labourer Iron Works | 2 |
| General Labourer | 1 |
| House Painter | 1 |
| No Occ | 1 |
| Shipwright | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 113 people were recorded with the Mclaine surname. That placed it at #18,412 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 65 in 2016. That gives Mclaine a modern rank of #34,017.
A Scottish surname derived from the Gaelic "mac Gille Naomh" meaning "son of the servant of the saint".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Mclaine 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.