NameCensus.

UK surname

Mcleary

Anglicized form of Scottish Gaelic Mac Laoghaire, meaning "son of the calf-keeper".

In the 1881 census there were 288 people recorded with the Mcleary surname, ranking it #9,988 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 784, ranked #7,037, up from #9,988 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Kirkintilloch, Port Glasgow and Govan Combination. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wishaw South, Craigneuk Wishaw and Winchburgh, Bridgend and Philpstoun.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mcleary is 790 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 172.2%.

1881 census count

288

Ranked #9,988

Modern count

784

2016, ranked #7,037

Peak year

2010

790 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mcleary had 288 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,988 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 784 in 2016, ranked #7,037.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 323 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Mcleary surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mcleary surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mcleary 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 137 #13,812
1861 historical 105 #20,298
1881 historical 288 #9,988
1891 historical 289 #11,425
1901 historical 323 #11,065
1911 historical 60 #26,808
1997 modern 646 #7,688
1998 modern 675 #7,689
1999 modern 667 #7,789
2000 modern 687 #7,597
2001 modern 690 #7,452
2002 modern 710 #7,428
2003 modern 685 #7,516
2004 modern 695 #7,450
2005 modern 713 #7,218
2006 modern 723 #7,180
2007 modern 733 #7,186
2008 modern 757 #7,057
2009 modern 769 #7,108
2010 modern 790 #7,101
2011 modern 784 #7,065
2012 modern 764 #7,126
2013 modern 778 #7,133
2014 modern 782 #7,127
2015 modern 776 #7,111
2016 modern 784 #7,037

Geography

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Where Mclearys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Kirkintilloch, Port Glasgow, Govan Combination, Uphall 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 Wishaw South, Craigneuk Wishaw, Winchburgh, Bridgend and Philpstoun, Bathgate East and Wishaw North. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Kirkintilloch Dunbarton
2 Port Glasgow Renfrew
3 Govan Combination Lanark
4 Uphall Linlithgow
5 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wishaw South North Lanarkshire
2 Craigneuk Wishaw North Lanarkshire
3 Winchburgh, Bridgend and Philpstoun West Lothian
4 Bathgate East West Lothian
5 Wishaw North North Lanarkshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mcleary

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mcleary

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Mcleary, 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 Mcleary surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Mcleary 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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Mcleary is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Mcleary 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

Mcleary 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 Mcleary is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Mcleary

The surname McLeary is of Scottish origin and dates back to the medieval period. The name is derived from the Gaelic words "mac" meaning "son of" and "lèir" meaning "watchful" or "vigilant." The name was likely given to someone who was particularly observant or alert in their duties.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which were a series of homage rolls documenting those who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England during his invasion of Scotland. The name appears as "MacLery" in these records.

In the 16th century, the name was also found in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland, which were records of taxes and financial transactions. The spelling "McLeary" was used in these documents.

One notable individual with this surname was Sir Archibald McLeary, a Scottish knight who fought alongside Robert the Bruce during the Wars of Scottish Independence in the early 14th century. He was recorded as "McLeary of Lochawe" in contemporary chronicles.

Another historical figure was John McLeary, a Scottish minister and academic born in 1675. He served as the Principal of the University of Glasgow from 1715 until his death in 1737.

In the 18th century, the name was associated with the Clan MacLaren, a Highland Scottish clan based in the area of Balquhidder. The McLeary family was considered a sept, or branch, of this larger clan.

The surname has also been found in various place names in Scotland, such as McLeary's Burn and McLeary's Hill, both located in the Scottish Borders region.

Other notable individuals with the McLeary surname include:

1. William McLeary (1865-1942), a Scottish-born Australian politician and trade unionist. 2. James McLeary (1833-1911), a Canadian businessman and politician who served as a member of the House of Commons. 3. Robert McLeary (1856-1931), a Scottish-American writer and journalist. 4. Ewan McLeary (1910-1983), a Scottish professional footballer who played for several clubs in the 1930s. 5. Iain McLeary (born 1956), a Scottish actor and screenwriter known for his work in television and film.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mcleary families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mcleary 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 9 Mclearys recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.22x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 9 2.22x
Yorkshire 7 2.07x
Cornwall 6 15.53x
Middlesex 5 1.47x
Denbighshire 3 23.27x
Cumberland 2 6.81x
Shropshire 2 6.78x
Cheshire 1 1.33x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Pendleton In Salford in Lancashire leads with 9 Mclearys recorded in 1881 and an index of 186.72x.

Place Total Index
Pendleton In Salford 9 186.72x
Sculcoates 7 130.60x
St Buryan 6 3750.00x
St Pancras London 5 18.20x
Wrexham Regis 3 312.50x
Madeley 2 185.19x
Whitehaven 2 127.39x
Newton In Ashton Under 1 135.14x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Eliza 2
Ellen 2
Margaret 2
Alice 1
Catherine 1
Elizabeth 1
Julia 1
Mary 1
Matilda 1

Top male names

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

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 Mcleary households.

FAQ

Mcleary surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mcleary surname in 1881?

In 1881, 288 people were recorded with the Mcleary surname. That placed it at #9,988 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mcleary surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 784 in 2016. That gives Mcleary a modern rank of #7,037.

What does the Mcleary surname mean?

Anglicized form of Scottish Gaelic Mac Laoghaire, meaning "son of the calf-keeper".

What does the Mcleary map show?

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