NameCensus.

UK surname

Mclelland

A Scottish surname originally referring to a person from the lands of Lealimulunga.

In the 1881 census there were 915 people recorded with the Mclelland surname, ranking it #4,192 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,685, ranked #3,714, up from #4,192 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Govan Combination, Old Luce and Stranraer. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Auchinleck, Moodiesburn West and Milton East.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mclelland is 1,685 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 84.2%.

1881 census count

915

Ranked #4,192

Modern count

1,685

2016, ranked #3,714

Peak year

2016

1,685 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mclelland had 915 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,192 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,685 in 2016, ranked #3,714.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,220 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Mclelland surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mclelland surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mclelland 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 419 #5,808
1861 historical 545 #4,820
1881 historical 915 #4,192
1891 historical 940 #4,404
1901 historical 1,220 #4,047
1911 historical 152 #17,712
1997 modern 1,562 #3,781
1998 modern 1,614 #3,813
1999 modern 1,634 #3,794
2000 modern 1,578 #3,899
2001 modern 1,581 #3,818
2002 modern 1,598 #3,857
2003 modern 1,524 #3,943
2004 modern 1,526 #3,941
2005 modern 1,583 #3,762
2006 modern 1,576 #3,778
2007 modern 1,603 #3,764
2008 modern 1,614 #3,768
2009 modern 1,632 #3,819
2010 modern 1,660 #3,839
2011 modern 1,640 #3,835
2012 modern 1,616 #3,814
2013 modern 1,642 #3,826
2014 modern 1,661 #3,809
2015 modern 1,671 #3,744
2016 modern 1,685 #3,714

Geography

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Where Mclellands are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Govan Combination, Old Luce, Stranraer, Greenock and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Auchinleck, Moodiesburn West, Milton East, Moodiesburn East and Dundyvan. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Govan Combination Lanark
2 Old Luce Wigtown
3 Stranraer Wigtown
4 Greenock Renfrew
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Auchinleck East Ayrshire
2 Moodiesburn West North Lanarkshire
3 Milton East Glasgow City
4 Moodiesburn East North Lanarkshire
5 Dundyvan North Lanarkshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mclelland

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mclelland

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Mclelland 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

Mclelland 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

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

Meaning and origin of Mclelland

The surname McLelland is of Scottish origin and dates back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Gaelic words "mac" meaning "son of" and "leitlinn" which translates to "half-level place." This suggests the name likely originated from a family that lived on a partially level or sloping area of land.

The earliest recorded spelling of the name was found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which documented those who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England after his conquest of parts of Scotland. One entry lists a "Patrik McLelland de Galloway." This indicates the name was present in the Galloway region of southwestern Scotland during the late 13th century.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in various records such as the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland, where a "William McLelland" was listed as a landowner in Ayrshire in 1397. This suggests the McLelland family had gained some prominence and owned property during this time.

Notable historical figures with the surname include Sir Robert McLelland (1558-1637), a Scottish lawyer and judge who served as Lord Advocate of Scotland from 1628 to 1637. He played a significant role in the establishment of the Court of Session, Scotland's supreme civil court.

Another prominent individual was John McLelland (1734-1823), a Scottish-American soldier and physician who served as a surgeon during the American Revolutionary War. He was present at the Siege of Yorktown in 1781, which led to the British surrender and the eventual end of the war.

In the 19th century, John McLelland (1835-1894) was a Scottish businessman and liberal politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Renfrewshire from 1885 to 1892. He was also involved in the shipbuilding industry and helped establish the Clyde Trust, which managed the River Clyde in Glasgow.

The name also has connections to Ireland, as evidenced by the life of Robert McLelland (1807-1880), an Irish-born lawyer and politician who served as Attorney General for Ireland from 1857 to 1858. He played a significant role in the establishment of the Irish landed estates court system.

Throughout history, the McLelland surname has been associated with various place names in Scotland, such as McLelland Farm and McLelland Castle, both located in Ayrshire. The name has also been spelled in various ways, including McLellan, McLelane, and MacLelland, reflecting regional and historical variations.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mclelland families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mclelland 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. Durham leads with 16 Mclellands recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.53x.

County Total Index
Durham 16 12.53x
Lancashire 16 3.14x
Yorkshire 5 1.18x
Ayrshire 3 9.34x
Lanarkshire 1 0.72x
Middlesex 1 0.23x
Royal Navy 1 19.57x
Shropshire 1 2.70x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Throston in Durham leads with 10 Mclellands recorded in 1881 and an index of 4000.00x.

Place Total Index
Throston 10 4000.00x
Great Bolton 8 118.52x
Kirkdale 6 70.01x
Dewsbury 5 114.68x
Heworth 4 158.73x
Dundonald 2 169.49x
Pendleton In Salford 2 32.95x
Seaham 2 425.53x
Govan 1 2.91x
Kirkmichael 1 344.83x
Madeley 1 73.53x
St Marylebone London 1 4.36x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 6
Robert 3
Alexander 1
Hugh 1
Isaac 1
James 1
Peter 1
Thomas 1
Walter 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 Mclelland households.

FAQ

Mclelland surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mclelland surname in 1881?

In 1881, 915 people were recorded with the Mclelland surname. That placed it at #4,192 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mclelland surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,685 in 2016. That gives Mclelland a modern rank of #3,714.

What does the Mclelland surname mean?

A Scottish surname originally referring to a person from the lands of Lealimulunga.

What does the Mclelland map show?

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