NameCensus.

UK surname

Mclear

A Scottish surname derived from the Gaelic Mac Gille Iasair meaning "son of the servant of the Blazer".

In the 1881 census there were 60 people recorded with the Mclear surname, ranking it #25,133 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 153, ranked #23,408, up from #25,133 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to New Monkland, Govan Combination and Newcastle All Saints. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Strutherhill, Fairhill and Hillhouse.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mclear is 153 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 155.0%.

1881 census count

60

Ranked #25,133

Modern count

153

2016, ranked #23,408

Peak year

2016

153 bearers

Map years

5

1891 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mclear had 60 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #25,133 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 153 in 2016, ranked #23,408.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 123 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Mclear surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mclear surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mclear 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 44 #25,328
1861 historical 51 #27,498
1881 historical 60 #25,133
1891 historical 123 #20,939
1901 historical 112 #21,382
1911 historical 67 #26,152
1997 modern 120 #24,158
1998 modern 123 #24,449
1999 modern 126 #24,239
2000 modern 132 #23,562
2001 modern 122 #24,366
2002 modern 122 #24,874
2003 modern 126 #24,146
2004 modern 130 #23,902
2005 modern 132 #23,623
2006 modern 133 #23,711
2007 modern 125 #24,987
2008 modern 124 #25,371
2009 modern 140 #24,033
2010 modern 146 #23,921
2011 modern 139 #24,507
2012 modern 140 #24,376
2013 modern 138 #25,020
2014 modern 145 #24,395
2015 modern 145 #24,246
2016 modern 153 #23,408

Geography

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Where Mclears are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around New Monkland, Govan Combination, Newcastle All Saints, Gateshead and Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Strutherhill, Fairhill, Hillhouse, Portobello and Scotstoun North and East. 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 Newcastle All Saints Northumberland
4 Gateshead Durham
5 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Strutherhill South Lanarkshire
2 Fairhill South Lanarkshire
3 Hillhouse South Lanarkshire
4 Portobello City of Edinburgh
5 Scotstoun North and East Glasgow City

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mclear

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mclear

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

Legacy Communities

Group

Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities

Nationally, the Mclear surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Mclear household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Households in these areas often include divorced or separated parents and commonly include children and young adults. The age structure is heavily skewed towards the most advanced age groups. Individuals identifying as members of ethnic minorities are not present in large numbers. Flats predominate, with some terraced, semi-detached, and detached units. Multiple car ownership is low, and housing is predominantly in the private and social rented sectors. Employment is less skewed towards traditional routine industrial occupations. Levels of educational attainment are generally low. The Group occurs principally in the Central Lowlands of Scotland and other Scottish towns.

Wider pattern

These neighbourhoods characteristically comprise pockets of flats that are scattered across the UK, particularly in towns that retain or have legacies of heavy industry or are in more remote seaside locations. Employed residents of these neighbourhoods work mainly in low-skilled occupations. Residents typically have limited educational qualifications. Unemployment is above average. Some residents live in overcrowded housing within the social rented sector and experience long-term disability. All adult age groups are represented, although there is an overall age bias towards elderly people in general and the very old in particular. Individuals identifying as belonging to ethnic minorities or Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups are uncommon.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Mclear 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

Mclear 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

Mclear 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 Mclear 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 Mclear, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Mclear

The surname MCLEAR has its origins in Scotland, tracing back to the 16th century. It is believed to have derived from the Gaelic words "mac" meaning "son of" and "lear" which is a variation of the name "Learmounth." The name was initially concentrated in the coastal regions of Aberdeenshire and Kincardineshire.

One of the earliest known records of the MCLEAR surname can be found in the Scottish Register of the Great Seal, which mentions a John McCler in 1548. This document provides evidence of the name's existence during the mid-16th century in Scotland.

In the 17th century, the MCLEAR name was documented in various parish records across northeastern Scotland. For instance, a Robert McClear was recorded in the Parish Register of Fyvie, Aberdeenshire, in 1671. This suggests that the name had become more widespread in the region by that time.

A notable bearer of the MCLEAR surname was Sir John McClear, a Scottish merchant and landowner who lived in the late 17th century. He acquired substantial properties in Aberdeenshire and played a significant role in the local community.

As the name spread beyond Scotland, it also appeared in various spellings, such as McCleer, McCleare, and McClere. These variations can be found in historical records from different regions where the name had established a presence.

One of the earliest instances of the MCLEAR surname in North America is found in the records of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, where a Thomas McClear is listed as a freeman in 1689. This suggests that members of the MCLEAR family had begun to migrate to the New World by the late 17th century.

Another prominent figure bearing the MCLEAR surname was William McClear, a Scottish-born inventor and engineer who lived from 1791 to 1865. He is credited with several significant innovations in the field of steam engines and played a crucial role in the industrial development of the 19th century.

Throughout history, the MCLEAR surname has been associated with various professions and fields, including agriculture, trade, military service, and academia. Notable individuals bearing this name have made contributions in areas such as literature, politics, and science, further solidifying the name's place in history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mclear families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mclear 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. Lancashire leads with 3 Mclears recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.65x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 3 8.65x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Blackburn in Lancashire leads with 2 Mclears recorded in 1881 and an index of 217.39x.

Place Total Index
Blackburn 2 217.39x
West Derby 1 99.01x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Martha 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 1
John 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 Mclear households.

FAQ

Mclear surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mclear surname in 1881?

In 1881, 60 people were recorded with the Mclear surname. That placed it at #25,133 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mclear surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 153 in 2016. That gives Mclear a modern rank of #23,408.

What does the Mclear surname mean?

A Scottish surname derived from the Gaelic Mac Gille Iasair meaning "son of the servant of the Blazer".

What does the Mclear map show?

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