UK surname
An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic "McNuallaidh" meaning "descendant of the grandson" or "son of the devotional one".
In the 1881 census there were 104 people recorded with the Mcnalley surname, ranking it #19,296 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 8, ranked #37,829, down from #19,296 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Wolverhampton, Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside and Govan Combination. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mcnalley is 104 in 1881. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 92.3%.
1881 census count
104
Ranked #19,296
Modern count
8
2016, ranked #37,829
Peak year
1881
104 bearers
Map years
2
1881 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Mcnalley surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Mcnalley surname density by area, 1881 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 | 33 | #27,390 |
| 1861 | historical | 63 | #25,901 |
| 1881 | historical | 104 | #19,296 |
| 1891 | historical | 104 | #23,388 |
| 1901 | historical | 60 | #27,502 |
| 1911 | historical | 48 | #28,006 |
| 1997 | modern | 4 | #38,094 |
| 1998 | modern | 7 | #37,533 |
| 1999 | modern | 5 | #37,872 |
| 2000 | modern | 7 | #37,430 |
| 2001 | modern | 7 | #37,293 |
| 2002 | modern | 8 | #37,206 |
| 2003 | modern | 9 | #37,101 |
| 2004 | modern | 11 | #36,969 |
| 2005 | modern | 10 | #37,180 |
| 2006 | modern | 12 | #37,014 |
| 2007 | modern | 12 | #37,095 |
| 2008 | modern | 11 | #37,270 |
| 2009 | modern | 10 | #37,446 |
| 2010 | modern | 10 | #37,517 |
| 2011 | modern | 9 | #37,598 |
| 2012 | modern | 11 | #37,394 |
| 2013 | modern | 10 | #37,539 |
| 2014 | modern | 10 | #37,567 |
| 2015 | modern | 9 | #37,684 |
| 2016 | modern | 8 | #37,829 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Wolverhampton, Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Govan Combination, Manchester 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 No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wolverhampton | Staffordshire |
| 2 | Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside | Durham |
| 3 | Govan Combination | Lanark |
| 4 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 5 | Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry | Forfar |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Mcnalley 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 Mcnalley, 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 Mcnalley surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Mcnalley 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, Mcnalley 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 Mcnalley is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Mcnalley, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname McNalley is of Irish origin, traced back to the ancient Gaelic language of Ireland. It is believed to have originated in the northern counties of Ulster, particularly in the areas of Donegal and Tyrone, during the medieval period.
McNalley is derived from the Gaelic personal name "Niall," which means "champion" or "warrior." The prefix "Mac" signifies "son of," indicating that the name originally referred to the son or descendant of someone named Niall. Variations in spelling include McNally, McNelly, and McNeilley.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name McNalley can be found in the Annals of Ulster, a chronicle of medieval Irish history, which mentions a "Niall Mac Naley" in the year 1367. This entry suggests that the surname was already established by the 14th century.
In the 16th century, the McNalley clan was prominent in the parish of Inishkeen, County Donegal. The Fiants of the Tudor Sovereigns of Ireland, a collection of legal records, mentions a "Patrick McNalley of Inishkeen" in 1585, indicating the family's presence in the area.
Notable individuals with the surname McNalley include:
1. John McNalley (1799-1879), an Irish immigrant to the United States who became a successful merchant and philanthropist in New York City. 2. Michael McNalley (1831-1904), an Irish-American lawyer and politician who served as a member of the Ohio State Senate in the late 19th century. 3. Patrick McNalley (1856-1932), an Irish-American Catholic priest and educator who founded St. Patrick's Seminary in Menlo Park, California. 4. Mary McNalley (1872-1947), an Irish-American author and journalist who wrote extensively about Irish culture and history. 5. John McNalley (1920-2005), an American football player who played for the Chicago Bears and New York Giants in the 1940s.
The name McNalley has also been associated with several place names in Ireland, such as McNalley's Bridge in County Donegal and McNalley's Townland in County Tyrone, further suggesting the historical significance and geographic spread of the surname.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mcnalley 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. Lanarkshire leads with 5 Mcnalleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.89x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lanarkshire | 5 | 15.89x |
| Staffordshire | 4 | 12.18x |
| Yorkshire | 1 | 1.04x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Glasgow in Lanarkshire leads with 5 Mcnalleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 89.45x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Glasgow | 5 | 89.45x |
| Wolverhampton | 4 | 158.73x |
| Halifax | 1 | 70.42x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Mcnalley 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 Mcnalley 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 Mcnalley households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Domestic Servant | 1 |
| General Labourer | 1 |
| Hand Driller Locomotive (Engm) | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 104 people were recorded with the Mcnalley surname. That placed it at #19,296 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 8 in 2016. That gives Mcnalley a modern rank of #37,829.
An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic "McNuallaidh" meaning "descendant of the grandson" or "son of the devotional one".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Mcnalley 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.