NameCensus.

UK surname

Mclane

A Scottish surname derived from the Gaelic "Mac Gille Eáin," meaning "son of the servant of Saint John."

In the 1881 census there were 193 people recorded with the Mclane surname, ranking it #13,144 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 188, ranked #20,417, down from #13,144 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Govan Combination and Newcastle All Saints. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Stoke-on-Trent, Kingston upon Hull and North Tyneside.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mclane is 248 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 2.6%.

1881 census count

193

Ranked #13,144

Modern count

188

2016, ranked #20,417

Peak year

1861

248 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mclane had 193 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,144 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 188 in 2016, ranked #20,417.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 248 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Mclane surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mclane surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mclane 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 232 #9,296
1861 historical 248 #9,947
1881 historical 193 #13,144
1891 historical 139 #19,311
1901 historical 119 #20,624
1911 historical 97 #23,076
1997 modern 135 #22,499
1998 modern 149 #21,755
1999 modern 151 #21,740
2000 modern 139 #22,855
2001 modern 137 #22,740
2002 modern 149 #22,001
2003 modern 147 #21,977
2004 modern 143 #22,471
2005 modern 146 #22,146
2006 modern 157 #21,322
2007 modern 158 #21,464
2008 modern 168 #20,828
2009 modern 178 #20,486
2010 modern 174 #21,259
2011 modern 168 #21,563
2012 modern 172 #21,219
2013 modern 186 #20,502
2014 modern 191 #20,302
2015 modern 189 #20,345
2016 modern 188 #20,417

Geography

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Where Mclanes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Govan Combination, Newcastle All Saints, Toxteth Park and Edinburgh. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Stoke-on-Trent, Kingston upon Hull, North Tyneside, Newcastle upon Tyne and Sunderland. 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 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
2 Govan Combination Lanark
3 Newcastle All Saints Northumberland
4 Toxteth Park Lancashire
5 Edinburgh Edinburgh

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Stoke-on-Trent 028 Stoke-on-Trent
2 Kingston upon Hull 017 Kingston upon Hull, City of
3 North Tyneside 018 North Tyneside
4 Newcastle upon Tyne 002 Newcastle upon Tyne
5 Sunderland 004 Sunderland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mclane

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mclane

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

Mclane is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Mclane 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 Mclane is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Mclane

The surname McLane is of Scottish origin, derived from the Gaelic Mac Gille Eáin, meaning "son of the servant of St. John." It is a common surname in the Highlands of Scotland, particularly in the regions of Argyll and the Western Isles.

The earliest recorded instance of the name dates back to the 13th century, where it appears in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland as Makgillean. This spelling variation reflects the evolving nature of the name's orthography over time.

In the 16th century, the McLane clan was closely associated with the powerful Clan Donald, serving as their loyal supporters and allies. During this period, the name appears in various historical records, such as the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which document the Scottish nobles who pledged allegiance to King Edward I of England.

One notable figure bearing the McLane surname was John McLane (c. 1590-1670), a Scottish minister and theologian who played a significant role in the establishment of Presbyterianism in Ireland. He was a respected figure in his time and authored several influential religious works.

Another distinguished bearer of the name was Sir Robert McLane (1769-1847), a British naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars. He achieved the rank of Admiral and was awarded the Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath for his military service.

In the 19th century, the McLane family made its mark in the United States. Thomas McLane (1788-1873) was a prominent American politician who served as the 14th Governor of Delaware from 1847 to 1851.

The name also has literary connections, with David McLane (1858-1928), an American novelist and poet who wrote extensively about the American West and Native American culture.

One of the most renowned figures with the McLane surname is Louisa McLane (1850-1936), an American socialite and hostess who played a significant role in Washington D.C. society during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Throughout its history, the McLane surname has been associated with various place names, such as McLane's Creek in Kentucky and McLane's Gap in Pennsylvania, further reinforcing its deep roots in different regions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mclane families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mclane 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. Middlesex leads with 7 Mclanes recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.18x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 7 2.18x
Staffordshire 6 5.53x
Yorkshire 6 1.88x
Durham 5 5.23x
Essex 5 7.88x
Lancashire 3 0.79x
Glamorgan 1 1.79x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Shoreditch London in Middlesex leads with 6 Mclanes recorded in 1881 and an index of 43.04x.

Place Total Index
Shoreditch London 6 43.04x
Wednesfield 6 375.00x
Escomb 5 1136.36x
Sheffield 5 49.26x
West Ham 5 35.66x
Salford 2 17.81x
Bradford 1 12.95x
Chorlton On Medlock 1 16.50x
Hornsey 1 24.57x
Roath 1 39.37x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 4
John 3
William 2
Albert 1
Archibald 1
Benjamin 1
George 1
Henry 1
Joseph 1
Robert 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 Mclane households.

FAQ

Mclane surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mclane surname in 1881?

In 1881, 193 people were recorded with the Mclane surname. That placed it at #13,144 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mclane surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 188 in 2016. That gives Mclane a modern rank of #20,417.

What does the Mclane surname mean?

A Scottish surname derived from the Gaelic "Mac Gille Eáin," meaning "son of the servant of Saint John."

What does the Mclane map show?

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