NameCensus.

UK surname

Mcnab

A Scottish surname derived from the Gaelic Mac an Aba meaning "son of the abbot".

In the 1881 census there were 2,887 people recorded with the Mcnab surname, ranking it #1,555 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,650, ranked #2,520, down from #1,555 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Govan Combination, Edinburgh and Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Thornton and Kinglassie, Greenock Town Centre and East Central and Oakley Comrie and Blairhall.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mcnab is 3,295 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 8.2%.

1881 census count

2,887

Ranked #1,555

Modern count

2,650

2016, ranked #2,520

Peak year

1901

3,295 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mcnab had 2,887 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,555 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,650 in 2016, ranked #2,520.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 3,295 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Mcnab surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mcnab surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mcnab 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 2,385 #1,251
1861 historical 2,249 #1,306
1881 historical 2,887 #1,555
1891 historical 3,053 #1,540
1901 historical 3,295 #1,693
1911 historical 396 #9,354
1997 modern 2,522 #2,501
1998 modern 2,586 #2,525
1999 modern 2,626 #2,511
2000 modern 2,588 #2,532
2001 modern 2,555 #2,512
2002 modern 2,630 #2,506
2003 modern 2,550 #2,523
2004 modern 2,574 #2,501
2005 modern 2,569 #2,480
2006 modern 2,586 #2,469
2007 modern 2,628 #2,459
2008 modern 2,650 #2,455
2009 modern 2,697 #2,467
2010 modern 2,718 #2,511
2011 modern 2,673 #2,516
2012 modern 2,603 #2,534
2013 modern 2,641 #2,542
2014 modern 2,661 #2,542
2015 modern 2,643 #2,536
2016 modern 2,650 #2,520

Geography

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Where Mcnabs are most common

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

The modern local-area list points to Thornton and Kinglassie, Greenock Town Centre and East Central, Oakley Comrie and Blairhall, Bow Farm, Barrs Cottage, Cowdenknowes and Overton and Dunipace. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Govan Combination Lanark
2 Edinburgh Edinburgh
3 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar
4 Kilmichael Glassary Argyll
5 Greenock Renfrew

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Thornton and Kinglassie Fife
2 Greenock Town Centre and East Central Inverclyde
3 Oakley Comrie and Blairhall Fife
4 Bow Farm, Barrs Cottage, Cowdenknowes and Overton Inverclyde
5 Dunipace Falkirk

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mcnab

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mcnab

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

Mcnab 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

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

Meaning and origin of Mcnab

The surname McNab has its origins in Scotland, dating back to the 16th century. It is derived from the Gaelic words "mac" meaning "son" and "naoimh" meaning "saint" or "holy." The name was originally associated with the Scottish clan MacNab, which hailed from the region around Loch Earn and Strathearn in Perthshire.

The earliest recorded mention of the name can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which were a series of documents recording the sworn allegiance of Scottish noblemen and landholders to King Edward I of England. In these rolls, the name appears as "MacNabbe."

One of the earliest notable individuals with this surname was Sir Alexander McNab, who lived in the late 16th century and was a prominent figure in the affairs of the MacNab clan. He was involved in various clan disputes and was known for his bravery in battle.

In the 17th century, the name appears in the records of the parish of Comrie in Perthshire, where several families with the surname McNab were recorded as landowners and farmers. One notable individual from this period was John McNab, who was born in 1645 and served as a member of the Scottish Parliament.

The McNab clan played a significant role in the Jacobite uprisings of the 18th century, supporting the Stuart cause against the House of Hanover. Robert McNab, born in 1690, was a prominent Jacobite leader and fought in the Battle of Glenshiel in 1719.

Another notable figure with this surname was Archibald McNab, born in 1781, who was a renowned explorer and fur trader in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. He was instrumental in establishing trading posts and fostering relationships with indigenous communities in what is now Oregon and Washington.

In the 19th century, the name McNab gained recognition through the achievements of Sir Allan Napier McNab, born in 1798. He was a Canadian political and military leader, serving as the Premier of the Province of Canada from 1854 to 1856. He was also a prominent figure during the Upper Canada Rebellion of 1837-1838.

Overall, the surname McNab has a rich history rooted in Scotland, with various notable individuals contributing to various fields, including military affairs, politics, and exploration, throughout the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mcnab families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mcnab 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 26 Mcnabs recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.46x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 26 3.46x
Durham 12 6.36x
Yorkshire 10 1.59x
Kent 4 1.85x
Northumberland 4 4.24x
Lanarkshire 2 0.98x
Bedfordshire 1 3.05x
Essex 1 0.80x
Hampshire 1 0.77x
Middlesex 1 0.16x
Midlothian 1 1.18x
Royal Navy 1 13.25x
Surrey 1 0.32x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kirkdale in Lancashire leads with 17 Mcnabs recorded in 1881 and an index of 134.39x.

Place Total Index
Kirkdale 17 134.39x
Hartlepool 12 447.76x
Deptford St Paul 4 23.98x
Everton 4 16.68x
Worsbrough 4 217.39x
Glusburn 3 857.14x
Liverpool 3 6.57x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 3 53.29x
Little Bolton 2 20.68x
Sculcoates 2 20.08x
Aldershot 1 22.99x
Berwick Upon Tweed 1 50.00x
Borthwick 1 263.16x
Clerkenwell London 1 6.68x
Glasgow 1 2.75x
Govan 1 1.97x
Lambeth 1 1.81x
Ormesby 1 59.17x
Romford 1 50.51x
Studham 1 555.56x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 5
Thomas 4
James 3
Robert 3
Duncan 2
William 2
Alfred 1
Andrew 1
Charles 1
David 1
Finley 1
Percival 1
Peter 1
Robt. 1
Stewart 1
W. 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 Mcnab households.

FAQ

Mcnab surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mcnab surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,887 people were recorded with the Mcnab surname. That placed it at #1,555 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mcnab surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,650 in 2016. That gives Mcnab a modern rank of #2,520.

What does the Mcnab surname mean?

A Scottish surname derived from the Gaelic Mac an Aba meaning "son of the abbot".

What does the Mcnab map show?

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