NameCensus.

UK surname

Mcleish

A Scottish surname derived from the Gaelic "Mac Lìosaidh" meaning "son of the horticulturist or gardener".

In the 1881 census there were 1,334 people recorded with the Mcleish surname, ranking it #3,077 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,196, ranked #2,952, up from #3,077 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Govan Combination, Little Dunkeld and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Roystonhill, Blochairn, and Provanmill, Shettleston North and Armadale South.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mcleish is 2,196 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 64.6%.

1881 census count

1,334

Ranked #3,077

Modern count

2,196

2016, ranked #2,952

Peak year

2016

2,196 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mcleish had 1,334 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,077 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,196 in 2016, ranked #2,952.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,557 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Mcleish surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mcleish surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mcleish 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 908 #3,034
1861 historical 966 #2,885
1881 historical 1,334 #3,077
1891 historical 1,403 #3,103
1901 historical 1,557 #3,307
1911 historical 200 #14,960
1997 modern 1,997 #3,055
1998 modern 2,036 #3,114
1999 modern 2,050 #3,120
2000 modern 2,026 #3,133
2001 modern 1,951 #3,172
2002 modern 1,969 #3,212
2003 modern 1,987 #3,133
2004 modern 1,986 #3,136
2005 modern 1,995 #3,097
2006 modern 2,007 #3,083
2007 modern 2,048 #3,055
2008 modern 2,048 #3,087
2009 modern 2,121 #3,051
2010 modern 2,166 #3,060
2011 modern 2,132 #3,063
2012 modern 2,092 #3,061
2013 modern 2,126 #3,066
2014 modern 2,189 #2,998
2015 modern 2,166 #2,996
2016 modern 2,196 #2,952

Geography

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Where Mcleishs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Govan Combination, Little Dunkeld, Edinburgh, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry and Bonhill. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Roystonhill, Blochairn, and Provanmill, Shettleston North, Armadale South, Murrayfield and Ravelston and Ibrox East and Cessnock. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Govan Combination Lanark
2 Little Dunkeld Perth
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar
5 Bonhill Dunbarton

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Roystonhill, Blochairn, and Provanmill Glasgow City
2 Shettleston North Glasgow City
3 Armadale South West Lothian
4 Murrayfield and Ravelston City of Edinburgh
5 Ibrox East and Cessnock Glasgow City

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mcleish

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mcleish

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

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Mcleish 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

Mcleish is most concentrated in decile 1 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Mcleish

The surname McLeish is a Scottish name with origins dating back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Gaelic word "lios" which means "garden" or "enclosure". The prefix "Mc" or "Mac" means "son of", indicating that the name originally referred to the son of someone with a name related to a garden or enclosure.

The name is believed to have originated in the Scottish Highlands, particularly in the areas around Perthshire and Argyllshire. It was likely used to identify families who lived near or maintained a garden or enclosed land for agricultural purposes.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which was a record of Scottish landowners who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England during the Scottish Wars of Independence. The name appears as "Malcolm McLeyshe" in this historical document.

In the 14th century, the name is mentioned in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland, which were financial records of the Scottish Crown. The spelling variations included "McLeysche" and "McLaysche", reflecting the evolving language and regional dialects of the time.

Notable individuals with the surname McLeish throughout history include:

1. Sir Archibald McLeish (1570-1647), a Scottish landowner and politician who served as a Commissioner of Parliament during the reign of King James VI.

2. John McLeish (1735-1810), a Scottish merchant and trader who established trade routes between Scotland and the West Indies.

3. Elizabeth McLeish (1805-1878), a Scottish writer and poet known for her works depicting the lives of the Scottish Highlands.

4. Robert McLeish (1865-1935), a Scottish engineer and inventor who patented several innovations in the textile industry.

5. Iain McLeish (1936-2019), a Scottish actor and theatre director who had a prolific career in both the United Kingdom and the United States.

Throughout history, the surname McLeish has undergone various spelling variations, such as McLeash, McLeash, and McLeisch, reflecting the regional dialects and linguistic changes over time. However, the core meaning and origins of the name have remained rooted in the Scottish Highlands and its connection to gardens or enclosed lands.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mcleish families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mcleish 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. Warwickshire leads with 7 Mcleishs recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.18x.

County Total Index
Warwickshire 7 9.18x
Lancashire 4 1.11x
Worcestershire 4 10.13x
Essex 3 5.03x
Middlesex 3 0.99x
Lanarkshire 2 2.05x
Westmorland 2 30.08x
Angus 1 3.57x
Durham 1 1.11x
Midlothian 1 2.47x
Surrey 1 0.68x
Sussex 1 1.96x
Yorkshire 1 0.33x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Aston in Warwickshire leads with 4 Mcleishs recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.05x.

Place Total Index
Aston 4 19.05x
Ombersley 4 1818.18x
Birmingham 3 11.81x
Kirkdale 3 49.67x
West Ham 3 22.76x
Barony 2 8.08x
Kendal 2 163.93x
St Pancras London 2 8.22x
Battersea 1 8.98x
Dun 1 1666.67x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 1 6.14x
Everton 1 8.74x
Hollington 1 555.56x
Leeds 1 5.91x
St George Hanover 1 25.32x
Stockton On Tees 1 23.04x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Harriet 2
Margaret 2
Mary 2
Elizabeth 1
Emily 1
Helen 1
Jannet 1
Jessie 1
Louisa 1
Rose 1
Sarah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Henry 3
Robert 3
Alexandra 1
Archibald 1
George 1
James 1
John 1
Patrick 1
William 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 Mcleish households.

FAQ

Mcleish surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mcleish surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,334 people were recorded with the Mcleish surname. That placed it at #3,077 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mcleish surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,196 in 2016. That gives Mcleish a modern rank of #2,952.

What does the Mcleish surname mean?

A Scottish surname derived from the Gaelic "Mac Lìosaidh" meaning "son of the horticulturist or gardener".

What does the Mcleish map show?

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