NameCensus.

UK surname

Mcmath

A Scottish toponymic surname derived from the Gaelic "Mac Mhath," meaning "son of the good one" or "son of Matthew."

In the 1881 census there were 289 people recorded with the Mcmath surname, ranking it #9,968 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 481, ranked #10,275, down from #9,968 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Girvan, Glossop and Govan Combination. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Eastriggs, Upper Nithsdale and Largs Central and Cumbrae.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mcmath is 492 in 2009. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 66.4%.

1881 census count

289

Ranked #9,968

Modern count

481

2016, ranked #10,275

Peak year

2009

492 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mcmath had 289 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,968 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 481 in 2016, ranked #10,275.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 355 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Mcmath surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mcmath surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Mcmath 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 244 #8,950
1861 historical 269 #9,244
1881 historical 289 #9,968
1891 historical 355 #9,721
1901 historical 353 #10,364
1911 historical 87 #24,147
1997 modern 423 #10,550
1998 modern 453 #10,358
1999 modern 467 #10,179
2000 modern 464 #10,187
2001 modern 445 #10,327
2002 modern 434 #10,751
2003 modern 437 #10,539
2004 modern 447 #10,369
2005 modern 447 #10,266
2006 modern 455 #10,160
2007 modern 473 #9,965
2008 modern 489 #9,808
2009 modern 492 #9,979
2010 modern 480 #10,353
2011 modern 473 #10,376
2012 modern 462 #10,470
2013 modern 465 #10,569
2014 modern 481 #10,387
2015 modern 479 #10,327
2016 modern 481 #10,275

Geography

Back to top

Where Mcmaths are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Girvan, Glossop, Govan Combination, Edinburgh 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 Eastriggs, Upper Nithsdale, Largs Central and Cumbrae, Newmains and Townhead. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Girvan Ayr
2 Glossop Derbyshire
3 Govan Combination Lanark
4 Edinburgh Edinburgh
5 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Eastriggs Dumfries and Galloway
2 Upper Nithsdale Dumfries and Galloway
3 Largs Central and Cumbrae North Ayrshire
4 Newmains North Lanarkshire
5 Townhead North Lanarkshire

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Mcmath

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Mcmath

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Mcmath is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Mcmath 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

Mcmath 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 Mcmath is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Mcmath

The surname MCMATH is of Scottish origin, deriving from the Gaelic name 'MacMath' which means 'son of the bear'. This name can be traced back to the 12th century in the region of Argyll and the Western Isles of Scotland.

The earliest recorded spelling of the name appears in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which were a series of parchment rolls that listed the names of Scottish landowners who swore fealty to Edward I of England. The name is recorded as 'Makmath' in these rolls.

In the 14th century, the name MCMATH began to appear in other historical records such as the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland and the Bute Muniments. These records show that the name was prominent in the areas of Bute and Arran, where the family held lands and played an important role in local affairs.

One notable MCMATH was Duncan MCMATH, who was born in 1520 on the Isle of Arran. He was a respected chieftain and served as a member of the Parliament of Scotland in the late 16th century.

In the 17th century, the name MCMATH began to spread beyond Scotland, with some members of the family migrating to Ireland and North America. One such individual was John MCMATH, born in 1635 in Argyll, who settled in Ulster, Ireland, and founded a branch of the family there.

Another significant figure was Alexander MCMATH (1688-1761), a Scottish soldier and landowner who fought in the Jacobite Risings and was later pardoned by the British government. He was known for his involvement in the Battle of Culloden in 1746.

During the 18th and 19th centuries, the MCMATH name became more widespread, with families settling in various parts of the United Kingdom, Canada, and the United States. One notable MCMATH from this period was James MCMATH (1796-1878), a Scottish-born engineer and inventor who made significant contributions to the development of early railroad technology.

In more recent times, the name MCMATH has been associated with several prominent individuals, such as Robert MCMATH (1920-2010), a Canadian author and historian, and Susan MCMATH (born 1953), an American writer and educator.

Overall, the surname MCMATH has a rich history deeply rooted in Scottish heritage, with its origins dating back to the 12th century and its bearers playing significant roles in various aspects of society throughout the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Mcmath families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mcmath 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. Cheshire leads with 1 Mcmaths recorded in 1881 and an index of 23.47x.

County Total Index
Cheshire 1 23.47x
Lancashire 1 4.37x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Altrincham in Cheshire leads with 1 Mcmaths recorded in 1881 and an index of 1428.57x.

Place Total Index
Altrincham 1 1428.57x
West Derby 1 149.25x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 1
Margt.Jannet 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 Mcmath households.

Occupation Count
Annuitant 1

FAQ

Mcmath surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mcmath surname in 1881?

In 1881, 289 people were recorded with the Mcmath surname. That placed it at #9,968 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mcmath surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 481 in 2016. That gives Mcmath a modern rank of #10,275.

What does the Mcmath surname mean?

A Scottish toponymic surname derived from the Gaelic "Mac Mhath," meaning "son of the good one" or "son of Matthew."

What does the Mcmath map show?

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