NameCensus.

UK surname

Mclees

A Scottish surname derived from the Gaelic "Mac Leis" meaning son of Leis.

In the 1881 census there were 89 people recorded with the Mclees surname, ranking it #21,091 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 163, ranked #22,407, down from #21,091 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Port Glasgow Mid, East and Central, Central Bedfordshire and Port Glasgow Upper East.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mclees is 168 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 83.1%.

1881 census count

89

Ranked #21,091

Modern count

163

2016, ranked #22,407

Peak year

1999

168 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mclees had 89 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #21,091 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 163 in 2016, ranked #22,407.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 89 in 1881.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Mclees surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mclees surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mclees 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 50 #24,274
1861 historical 62 #26,041
1881 historical 89 #21,091
1891 historical 71 #27,934
1901 historical 80 #25,251
1911 historical 25 #30,654
1997 modern 159 #20,339
1998 modern 157 #21,058
1999 modern 168 #20,312
2000 modern 157 #21,146
2001 modern 157 #20,884
2002 modern 160 #21,011
2003 modern 147 #21,977
2004 modern 149 #21,905
2005 modern 145 #22,253
2006 modern 143 #22,619
2007 modern 145 #22,693
2008 modern 140 #23,511
2009 modern 149 #23,031
2010 modern 146 #23,921
2011 modern 150 #23,309
2012 modern 149 #23,372
2013 modern 157 #22,904
2014 modern 162 #22,624
2015 modern 162 #22,509
2016 modern 163 #22,407

Geography

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Where Mclees' 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 Port Glasgow Mid, East and Central, Central Bedfordshire, Port Glasgow Upper East, Port Glasgow Upper, West and Central and Greenock Upper Central. 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 Port Glasgow Mid, East and Central Inverclyde
2 Central Bedfordshire 017 Central Bedfordshire
3 Port Glasgow Upper East Inverclyde
4 Port Glasgow Upper, West and Central Inverclyde
5 Greenock Upper Central Inverclyde

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mclees

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mclees

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Mclees is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Mclees 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

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

Meaning and origin of Mclees

The surname MCLEES is of Scottish origin, derived from the Gaelic Mac Laomuinn, meaning 'son of the servant of the church.' It is a variant of the more common MacLennan or MacLennan surname. The name first appeared in the 13th century in the north-eastern region of Scotland, particularly in the counties of Ross-shire and Inverness-shire.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the records of the Diocese of Moray, where a certain Malcolm McLees is mentioned as a witness in a charter dated 1295. Another early reference is found in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland from 1389, which mentions a John McLees from the county of Ross.

The MCLEES surname is also associated with the Clan MacLennan, a Highland Scottish clan that traces its roots back to the 13th century. The clan's traditional lands were located in the area around Kintail and Lochalsh in the western Highlands.

In the 16th century, a notable bearer of the MCLEES name was Donald McLees, a clergyman who served as the Bishop of Ross from 1556 to 1572. He played a prominent role in the Scottish Reformation and was known for his efforts to promote the use of Gaelic in religious services.

Another notable figure was John McLees (1570-1635), a Scottish scholar and philosopher who served as the Principal of the University of Glasgow from 1623 until his death. He was known for his contributions to the field of logic and his writings on the works of Aristotle.

In the 17th century, a MCLEES family held lands in the parish of Dingwall, Ross-shire. One member of this family, Hector McLees (1620-1678), was a prominent local landowner and served as a magistrate in the area.

The MCLEES surname also has a connection to the island of Islay in the Inner Hebrides. In the 18th century, a branch of the family settled on the island and became known as the 'McLees of Islay.' One notable member of this branch was Archibald McLees (1725-1798), who served as the parish minister of Kilchoman on Islay for over 50 years.

While the MCLEES name is relatively uncommon today, it has a rich history and connections to various regions of Scotland, particularly in the Highlands and Islands. The name's origins can be traced back to the Gaelic language and the role of the church in medieval Scottish society.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mclees families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mclees 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 5 Mclees' recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.41x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 5 6.41x
Lancashire 2 2.16x
Essex 1 6.49x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Chiswick in Middlesex leads with 5 Mclees' recorded in 1881 and an index of 1162.79x.

Place Total Index
Chiswick 5 1162.79x
Liverpool 2 35.59x
West Ham 1 29.41x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Ada 1
Esabella 1
Jane 1
Louisa 1
Marie 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Christy 1
David 1
Thomas 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 Mclees households.

Occupation Count
Scholar 2
Laborer 1
Labourer 1

FAQ

Mclees surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mclees surname in 1881?

In 1881, 89 people were recorded with the Mclees surname. That placed it at #21,091 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mclees surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 163 in 2016. That gives Mclees a modern rank of #22,407.

What does the Mclees surname mean?

A Scottish surname derived from the Gaelic "Mac Leis" meaning son of Leis.

What does the Mclees map show?

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