NameCensus.

UK surname

Mcminn

A Scottish toponymic surname derived from the place name Minnigaff, meaning "smooth plain" in Gaelic.

In the 1881 census there were 534 people recorded with the Mcminn surname, ranking it #6,436 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,249, ranked #4,785, up from #6,436 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Kelton, Urr and Crossmichael. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Dalbeattie, Kirkcudbright and Moffat.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mcminn is 1,252 in 2015. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 133.9%.

1881 census count

534

Ranked #6,436

Modern count

1,249

2016, ranked #4,785

Peak year

2015

1,252 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mcminn had 534 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,436 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,249 in 2016, ranked #4,785.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 751 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Mcminn surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mcminn surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mcminn 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 311 #7,413
1861 historical 386 #6,638
1881 historical 534 #6,436
1891 historical 585 #6,531
1901 historical 751 #5,937
1911 historical 322 #10,873
1997 modern 1,085 #5,135
1998 modern 1,154 #5,038
1999 modern 1,197 #4,938
2000 modern 1,182 #4,972
2001 modern 1,158 #4,963
2002 modern 1,199 #4,908
2003 modern 1,166 #4,924
2004 modern 1,166 #4,935
2005 modern 1,157 #4,917
2006 modern 1,159 #4,909
2007 modern 1,163 #4,937
2008 modern 1,174 #4,923
2009 modern 1,204 #4,929
2010 modern 1,236 #4,916
2011 modern 1,209 #4,938
2012 modern 1,209 #4,881
2013 modern 1,246 #4,831
2014 modern 1,249 #4,848
2015 modern 1,252 #4,797
2016 modern 1,249 #4,785

Geography

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Where Mcminns are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Kelton, Urr, Crossmichael, Borgue and Kirkgunzeon. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Dalbeattie, Kirkcudbright, Moffat, Lochside and Lincluden and Paisley North East. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Kelton Kirkcudbright
2 Urr Kirkcudbright
3 Crossmichael Kirkcudbright
4 Borgue Kirkcudbright
5 Kirkgunzeon Kirkcudbright

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Dalbeattie Dumfries and Galloway
2 Kirkcudbright Dumfries and Galloway
3 Moffat Dumfries and Galloway
4 Lochside and Lincluden Dumfries and Galloway
5 Paisley North East Renfrewshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mcminn

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mcminn

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Mcminn 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

Mcminn 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

Mcminn falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Mcminn 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 Mcminn, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Mcminn

The surname McMinn is of Scottish origin, with its roots tracing back to the late medieval period. It is believed to have originated in the Scottish Lowlands, specifically in the regions around Ayrshire and Lanarkshire.

The name McMinn is a variant of the Gaelic surname MacMinn or MacMin, which means "son of the tonsured one" or "son of the shaven one." This name likely referred to an ancestor who was a monk or a member of the clergy, as tonsuring (the practice of shaving the crown of the head) was common among religious orders in medieval times.

The earliest known record of the name McMinn dates back to the 15th century, with a mention of one John McMyn in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland in 1480. Other early spellings of the name include McMyn, McMyne, and McMynne.

In the 16th century, the McMinn family appeared to have had a strong presence in the parish of Kilwinning, Ayrshire. The name is found in various records from that area, including church registers and land charters.

Notable bearers of the McMinn surname throughout history include:

1. John McMinn (c. 1770-1840), an Irish-American pioneer and politician who served as a member of the Tennessee Senate and the United States House of Representatives.

2. William McMinn (1787-1853), an American soldier and politician who served as the third Governor of Tennessee from 1815 to 1821.

3. Alexander McMinn (1832-1894), a Scottish-American engineer and inventor who patented several improvements in the design of steam engines and boilers.

4. Robert McMinn (1839-1912), a Scottish minister and author who wrote several books on religious topics, including "The Conversion of the World" and "The Reformation in Scotland."

5. John McMinn (1870-1952), a Scottish businessman and philanthropist who founded the McMinn Trust, a charitable organization that provided financial support for education and medical research in Scotland.

Over the centuries, variations of the McMinn surname have emerged, such as McMyn, McMyne, and McMunne, reflecting regional dialects and spelling conventions. Additionally, the name has been associated with various place names in Scotland, such as McMinn's Hill and McMinn's Farm, further solidifying its Scottish heritage.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mcminn families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mcminn 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. Lancashire leads with 24 Mcminns recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.91x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 24 3.91x
Middlesex 18 3.48x
Cumberland 5 11.24x
Staffordshire 4 2.29x
Dumfriesshire 2 17.51x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Everton in Lancashire leads with 9 Mcminns recorded in 1881 and an index of 46.06x.

Place Total Index
Everton 9 46.06x
Fulham London 9 120.16x
Kirkdale 9 87.21x
Bethnal Green London 5 22.27x
Bow London 4 60.79x
Stoke Upon Trent 4 21.62x
Workington 4 156.86x
Liverpool 3 8.06x
Closeburn 2 740.74x
Moss Side 2 61.92x
Cleator 1 54.05x
West Derby 1 5.57x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 3
Alfred 2
Frederick 2
James 2
John 2
Thomas 2
Daniel 1
Douglass 1
Fredrick 1
Herbert 1
Robert 1
Saml. 1
Stewart 1

FAQ

Mcminn surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mcminn surname in 1881?

In 1881, 534 people were recorded with the Mcminn surname. That placed it at #6,436 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mcminn surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,249 in 2016. That gives Mcminn a modern rank of #4,785.

What does the Mcminn surname mean?

A Scottish toponymic surname derived from the place name Minnigaff, meaning "smooth plain" in Gaelic.

What does the Mcminn map show?

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