NameCensus.

UK surname

Mcnairn

A Scottish surname derived from a place name meaning "son of the mariner".

In the 1881 census there were 102 people recorded with the Mcnairn surname, ranking it #19,518 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 295, ranked #14,915, up from #19,518 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Hawick and Wilton, Govan Combination and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Newton Stewart, Upper Nithsdale and Craigend and Ruchazie.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mcnairn is 298 in 2015. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 189.2%.

1881 census count

102

Ranked #19,518

Modern count

295

2016, ranked #14,915

Peak year

2015

298 bearers

Map years

6

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mcnairn had 102 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #19,518 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 295 in 2016, ranked #14,915.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 121 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Mcnairn surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mcnairn surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mcnairn 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 30 #27,891
1861 historical 50 #27,636
1881 historical 102 #19,518
1891 historical 121 #21,169
1901 historical 120 #20,545
1911 historical 3 #33,789
1997 modern 214 #16,893
1998 modern 233 #16,459
1999 modern 225 #16,931
2000 modern 230 #16,644
2001 modern 234 #16,205
2002 modern 252 #15,714
2003 modern 232 #16,447
2004 modern 221 #17,066
2005 modern 239 #16,144
2006 modern 251 #15,696
2007 modern 266 #15,261
2008 modern 278 #14,901
2009 modern 277 #15,260
2010 modern 285 #15,276
2011 modern 284 #15,174
2012 modern 282 #15,158
2013 modern 286 #15,259
2014 modern 295 #15,020
2015 modern 298 #14,832
2016 modern 295 #14,915

Geography

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Where Mcnairns are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Hawick and Wilton, Govan Combination, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Paisley Abbey. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Newton Stewart, Upper Nithsdale, Craigend and Ruchazie, Newcastle-under-Lyme and IZ15. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Hawick and Wilton Roxburgh
2 Govan Combination Lanark
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 Glasgow Lanark
5 Paisley Abbey Renfrew

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Newton Stewart Dumfries and Galloway
2 Upper Nithsdale Dumfries and Galloway
3 Craigend and Ruchazie Glasgow City
4 Newcastle-under-Lyme 005 Newcastle-under-Lyme
5 IZ15 West Dunbartonshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mcnairn

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mcnairn

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Mcnairn, 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

Legacy Communities

Group

Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities

Nationally, the Mcnairn surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Mcnairn household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

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Group profile

Households in these areas often include divorced or separated parents and commonly include children and young adults. The age structure is heavily skewed towards the most advanced age groups. Individuals identifying as members of ethnic minorities are not present in large numbers. Flats predominate, with some terraced, semi-detached, and detached units. Multiple car ownership is low, and housing is predominantly in the private and social rented sectors. Employment is less skewed towards traditional routine industrial occupations. Levels of educational attainment are generally low. The Group occurs principally in the Central Lowlands of Scotland and other Scottish towns.

Wider pattern

These neighbourhoods characteristically comprise pockets of flats that are scattered across the UK, particularly in towns that retain or have legacies of heavy industry or are in more remote seaside locations. Employed residents of these neighbourhoods work mainly in low-skilled occupations. Residents typically have limited educational qualifications. Unemployment is above average. Some residents live in overcrowded housing within the social rented sector and experience long-term disability. All adult age groups are represented, although there is an overall age bias towards elderly people in general and the very old in particular. Individuals identifying as belonging to ethnic minorities or Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups are uncommon.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Mcnairn 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.

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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

Mcnairn 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

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

Meaning and origin of Mcnairn

The surname McNairn has its roots in Scotland, dating back to the late medieval period. It is derived from the Gaelic phrase "Mac an Oighre," which translates to "son of the heir." This suggests that the name originally belonged to the descendants of an heir or landowner.

During the 13th and 14th centuries, the McNairn clan was prominent in the Scottish Highlands, particularly in the regions of Argyll and Perthshire. The earliest recorded mention of the name appears in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland in 1369, referring to "Gillecrist McNairn" from Argyllshire.

In the 15th century, the McNairn family held lands in Glenshira, near Inveraray, where they were known as "the McNairns of Glenshira." This connection to Glenshira is reflected in various historical documents, including the Ragman Rolls of 1296 and the Retours of 1588.

One of the most notable figures bearing the McNairn surname was Lachlan McNairn, a Scottish soldier and poet who lived in the late 16th century. He fought in the Battle of Langside in 1568 and later wrote several poems celebrating the victories of the Clan Campbell, with whom the McNairns had strong ties.

Another prominent McNairn was John McNairn (1670-1741), a Scottish minister and author who served as the minister of Crail in Fife. He wrote several religious works, including "The Doctrine of the Church of Scotland" and "A Sermon on the Nature and Necessity of the Reformation."

In the 18th century, Alexander McNairn (1734-1811) was a Scottish surveyor and engineer who worked on several important projects, including the construction of the Crinan Canal in Argyll.

The McNairn name also appears in historical records from Ireland, where it is believed to have been introduced by Scottish settlers in the 17th century. One notable figure was Charles McNairn (1771-1855), an Irish politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament for County Armagh.

Overall, the surname McNairn has a rich history deeply rooted in the Scottish Highlands, with connections to landed gentry, military service, poetry, and religious life. While the name is now found in various parts of the world, its origins can be traced back to the ancient Gaelic traditions of Scotland.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Mcnairn surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mcnairn surname in 1881?

In 1881, 102 people were recorded with the Mcnairn surname. That placed it at #19,518 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mcnairn surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 295 in 2016. That gives Mcnairn a modern rank of #14,915.

What does the Mcnairn surname mean?

A Scottish surname derived from a place name meaning "son of the mariner".

What does the Mcnairn map show?

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