UK surname
Irish: descendant of Mathghamhain, a derivative of the Old Irish name Mathgamain, meaning "bear" or "calf."
In the 1881 census there were 63 people recorded with the Mcmahan surname, ranking it #24,711 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 47, ranked #35,069, down from #24,711 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Toxteth Park, Edinburgh and Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mcmahan is 108 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 25.4%.
1881 census count
63
Ranked #24,711
Modern count
47
2016, ranked #35,069
Peak year
1851
108 bearers
Map years
1
1851 to 1851
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Mcmahan surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Mcmahan surname density by area, 1851 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 108 | #16,308 |
| 1861 | historical | 67 | #25,342 |
| 1881 | historical | 63 | #24,711 |
| 1891 | historical | 71 | #27,934 |
| 1901 | historical | 72 | #26,162 |
| 1911 | historical | 42 | #28,691 |
| 1997 | modern | 32 | #34,472 |
| 1998 | modern | 34 | #34,433 |
| 1999 | modern | 38 | #34,142 |
| 2000 | modern | 42 | #33,791 |
| 2001 | modern | 42 | #33,658 |
| 2002 | modern | 44 | #33,790 |
| 2003 | modern | 45 | #33,803 |
| 2004 | modern | 49 | #33,647 |
| 2005 | modern | 41 | #34,478 |
| 2006 | modern | 40 | #34,854 |
| 2007 | modern | 37 | #35,215 |
| 2008 | modern | 38 | #35,262 |
| 2009 | modern | 42 | #35,148 |
| 2010 | modern | 37 | #35,566 |
| 2011 | modern | 46 | #35,047 |
| 2012 | modern | 47 | #34,992 |
| 2013 | modern | 46 | #35,110 |
| 2014 | modern | 47 | #35,097 |
| 2015 | modern | 47 | #35,056 |
| 2016 | modern | 47 | #35,069 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Toxteth Park, Edinburgh, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry, Glasgow and Liverpool. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Toxteth Park | Lancashire |
| 2 | Edinburgh | Edinburgh |
| 3 | Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry | Forfar |
| 4 | Glasgow | Lanark |
| 5 | Liverpool | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Mcmahan surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Mcmahan, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Mcmahan surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Mcmahan household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Mcmahan is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Mcmahan is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Mcmahan, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname McMahan originated in Scotland and Ireland during the medieval period. It is a patronymic surname derived from the Gaelic personal name "MacMathghamhna," which means "son of the bear." This name likely referred to a person with a bear-like appearance or characteristics.
The earliest recorded instances of the surname McMahan can be found in Scottish and Irish records from the 13th and 14th centuries. The name was particularly prevalent in the Scottish Highlands and the northern counties of Ireland, where it was often spelled as "MacMaughan," "MacMahon," or "MacMathghamhna."
One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Domhnall MacMathghamhna, who was a Scottish chieftain from Argyll in the early 14th century. He is mentioned in the Annals of Ulster, a chronicle of medieval Irish history.
In the 15th century, the McMahan surname appeared in several legal documents and land charters in the counties of Antrim and Down in Northern Ireland. One notable example is Seamus MacMaughan, who was granted lands in Antrim in the 1460s.
During the 16th and 17th centuries, many McMahans migrated from Scotland and Ireland to other parts of the British Isles, as well as to the American colonies. One of the earliest recorded McMahans in America was John McMahan, who arrived in Pennsylvania in the late 17th century.
Other notable bearers of the McMahan surname throughout history include:
1. Sir Brian MacMahon (c. 1480-1552), an Irish chieftain and leader of the MacMahon clan in County Monaghan. 2. Hugh McMahan (1695-1769), an Irish-born American surveyor and pioneer who helped establish the city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 3. John McMahan (1756-1824), an American Revolutionary War soldier and early settler in Kentucky. 4. Bernard McMahan (1810-1887), an Irish-born Australian politician and member of the Legislative Council of New South Wales. 5. James McMahan (1820-1885), an American Civil War soldier who was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions at the Battle of Jonesboro.
The McMahan surname has also been associated with various place names, particularly in Ireland, where it was common in counties like Monaghan, Fermanagh, and Tyrone. Examples include the townlands of McMahon's Quarter and McMahon's Island.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mcmahan surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Durham leads with 7 Mcmahans recorded in 1881 and an index of 21.94x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Durham | 7 | 21.94x |
| Lancashire | 2 | 1.57x |
| Staffordshire | 1 | 2.76x |
| Yorkshire | 1 | 0.94x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Brandon Byshottles in Durham leads with 7 Mcmahans recorded in 1881 and an index of 1750.00x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Brandon Byshottles | 7 | 1750.00x |
| Toxteth Park | 2 | 46.40x |
| Stoke Upon Trent | 1 | 26.04x |
| Tong | 1 | 476.19x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Mcmahan surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Mcmahan surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Mcmahan households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Coal Miner | 4 |
| General Laborer | 1 |
| Laborer | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 63 people were recorded with the Mcmahan surname. That placed it at #24,711 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 47 in 2016. That gives Mcmahan a modern rank of #35,069.
Irish: descendant of Mathghamhain, a derivative of the Old Irish name Mathgamain, meaning "bear" or "calf."
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Mcmahan bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.