NameCensus.

UK surname

Mcnamara

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic "Mac Conmara," meaning "son of the hound of the sea."

In the 1881 census there were 1,802 people recorded with the Mcnamara surname, ranking it #2,415 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 6,224, ranked #1,083, up from #2,415 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Govan Combination, London parishes and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Coventry, Oldham and Keppochhill.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mcnamara is 6,447 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 245.4%.

1881 census count

1,802

Ranked #2,415

Modern count

6,224

2016, ranked #1,083

Peak year

2010

6,447 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mcnamara had 1,802 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,415 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 6,224 in 2016, ranked #1,083.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,258 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Mcnamara surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mcnamara surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mcnamara 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 623 #4,151
1861 historical 805 #3,415
1881 historical 1,802 #2,415
1891 historical 1,755 #2,601
1901 historical 2,258 #2,404
1911 historical 1,860 #2,661
1997 modern 5,840 #1,122
1998 modern 6,076 #1,120
1999 modern 6,232 #1,096
2000 modern 6,170 #1,102
2001 modern 6,056 #1,096
2002 modern 6,122 #1,110
2003 modern 6,044 #1,099
2004 modern 6,053 #1,098
2005 modern 6,001 #1,092
2006 modern 5,954 #1,099
2007 modern 6,047 #1,087
2008 modern 6,084 #1,088
2009 modern 6,283 #1,080
2010 modern 6,447 #1,075
2011 modern 6,367 #1,074
2012 modern 6,214 #1,077
2013 modern 6,271 #1,087
2014 modern 6,339 #1,081
2015 modern 6,228 #1,089
2016 modern 6,224 #1,083

Geography

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Where Mcnamaras are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Govan Combination, London parishes, Edinburgh, Manchester and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Coventry, Oldham, Keppochhill, Chorley and West Lancashire. 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 Govan Combination Lanark
2 London parishes London 3
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Coventry 039 Coventry
2 Oldham 030 Oldham
3 Keppochhill Glasgow City
4 Chorley 013 Chorley
5 West Lancashire 015 West Lancashire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mcnamara

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mcnamara

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

Mcnamara is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Mcnamara 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 Mcnamara is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Mcnamara

The surname McNamara is an Irish surname that originated in County Clare in the west of Ireland. It is derived from the Irish Gaelic words 'Mac' meaning 'son of' and 'Namara' which means 'celebrated'. The name can therefore be translated as 'son of the celebrated one'.

The McNamara clan were a powerful and influential family in County Clare during the Middle Ages. They were part of the Dalcassian dynasty that ruled the region and were descended from the legendary High King of Ireland, Brian Boru, who reigned from 1002 to 1014.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the McNamara name can be found in the Annals of Inisfallen, a chronicle of medieval Irish history that dates back to the 12th century. The annals make reference to several members of the McNamara clan, including Domhnall McNamara, who was killed in a battle in 1242.

The McNamara clan were known for their military prowess and played a significant role in many battles and conflicts throughout Irish history. One of the most famous members of the clan was Sioda Cam McNamara, who was a renowned warrior and leader in the 16th century. He fought alongside the Earl of Desmond in the Second Desmond Rebellion against the English crown.

Another notable figure with the McNamara surname was John McNamara, who was born in 1776 and was a prominent Irish rebel during the Irish Rebellion of 1798. He was later captured and hanged for his involvement in the rebellion.

In the 19th century, Michael McNamara, who was born in 1828, was a prominent Irish politician and Member of Parliament for the Irish Parliamentary Party. He was a staunch supporter of Irish independence and played a key role in the struggle for Home Rule in Ireland.

The McNamara surname has also been associated with several successful individuals in various fields, such as Patrick McNamara, who was born in 1894 and was a renowned American architect responsible for designing several notable buildings in New York City.

Overall, the McNamara surname has a rich and fascinating history that can be traced back to the powerful Dalcassian dynasty in medieval Ireland. The name continues to be a popular surname in Ireland and among the Irish diaspora around the world.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mcnamara families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mcnamara 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 79 Mcnamaras recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.61x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 79 2.61x
Middlesex 58 2.27x
Yorkshire 33 1.30x
Warwickshire 20 3.10x
Kent 11 1.26x
Flintshire 9 13.10x
Cheshire 8 1.42x
Northumberland 8 2.10x
Cumberland 7 3.18x
Hampshire 6 1.15x
Leicestershire 4 1.41x
Essex 3 0.59x
Hertfordshire 2 1.14x
Northamptonshire 2 0.83x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.65x
Carmarthenshire 1 0.93x
Cornwall 1 0.35x
Derbyshire 1 0.25x
Durham 1 0.13x
Glamorgan 1 0.22x
Lanarkshire 1 0.12x
Midlothian 1 0.29x
Royal Navy 1 3.28x
Shropshire 1 0.45x
Surrey 1 0.08x
Sussex 1 0.23x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Mile End Old Town in Middlesex leads with 15 Mcnamaras recorded in 1881 and an index of 37.18x.

Place Total Index
Mile End Old Town 15 37.18x
Birmingham 12 5.59x
Liverpool 11 5.97x
Bootle Cum Linacre 10 41.53x
Clerkenwell London 10 16.58x
Pemberton 10 82.71x
Warley 9 122.95x
Holywell 8 92.70x
Warwick St Mary 8 142.86x
Cleator 7 76.42x
Kirkdale 7 13.72x
Manchester 7 5.13x
Batley 6 24.93x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 6 26.42x
Stoke Newington London 6 30.14x
Wakefield 6 30.86x
West Derby 6 6.76x
Everton 5 5.17x
Tadcaster West 5 248.76x
Woolwich 5 15.52x
Chester St John Baptist 4 39.45x
St George In East 4 23.02x
Aldershot 3 17.09x
Ealing 3 13.13x
Poplar London 3 6.22x
Shoreditch London 3 2.71x
Toxteth Park 3 2.92x
Whitechapel London 3 11.91x
Withington 3 30.71x
Barton Upon Irwell 2 8.76x
Birkenhead 2 4.45x
Bromley London 2 3.56x
Chelsea London 2 2.60x
Cheshunt 2 32.47x
Chorlton On Medlock 2 4.15x
Deptford St Paul 2 2.97x
Great Bowden 2 77.52x
Kearsley 2 31.35x
Kingsthorpe 2 74.91x
Leicester St Mary 2 8.74x
Oldham 2 2.04x
Poulton Le Fylde 2 185.19x
St Mary Extra 2 47.39x
St Pancras London 2 0.97x
Accrington 1 3.63x
Barony 1 0.48x
Bilton In Wetherby 1 476.19x
Bradford 1 1.63x
Crumpsall 1 13.99x
East Ham 1 10.68x
Elswick 1 3.29x
Eltham 1 19.57x
Farnborough 1 18.18x
Flint 1 25.64x
Gillingham 1 5.56x
Glossop Dale 1 5.34x
Hackney London 1 0.70x
Hove 1 5.29x
Hulme 1 1.58x
Islington London 1 0.40x
Kingstonupon Hull 1 49.26x
Leyton 1 11.51x
Llanelly 1 4.12x
Maidstone 1 3.85x
Marsh Gibbon 1 153.85x
Newton 1 4.28x
Pendleton In Salford 1 2.77x
Preston 1 1.23x
Royal Navy 1 3.84x
Scarisbrick 1 28.41x
Sculcoates 1 2.49x
Shrewsbury St Chad 1 12.90x
St Giles In Fields 1 11.35x
St Sepulchre London 1 26.74x
Stockport 1 3.44x
Swansea Town 1 2.74x
Tanshelf 1 49.51x
Wallsend 1 8.29x
West Ham 1 0.90x
Willesden 1 4.15x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 27
Margaret 13
Ellen 9
Ann 7
Elizabeth 6
Jane 6
Bridget 5
Sarah 5
Catherine 4
Kate 4
Maria 4
Rose 3
Agnes 2
Annie 2
Caroline 2
E. 2
M. 2
A. 1
Alice 1
Bessie 1
C. 1
Christiana 1
Clara 1
Edith 1
Elenor 1
Eliza 1
Emily 1
Eva 1
Florence 1
Folinda 1
Hanah 1
Hanna 1
Hannah 1
Harriett 1
Honora 1
I. 1
Johana 1
Johannah 1
Marg. 1
Margarett 1
Margret 1
Matilda 1
Melinda 1
Miriam 1
Rebecca 1
Seelie 1
Susan 1
Susanna 1
Tereasa 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 24
James 13
William 11
Michael 10
Thomas 8
Matthew 6
Patrick 6
Daniel 3
Frank 3
George 3
Peter 3
Andrew 2
Henry 2
Jno. 2
Martin 2
W. 2
Wm. 2
Addis 1
Alfred 1
Anthony 1
Bernard 1
Bryan 1
Charles 1
E. 1
Edward 1
Emmet 1
Francis 1
Harry 1
Jas. 1
Joseph 1
Mathew 1
Patsey 1
Richard 1
Roger 1
Samuel 1
Sidney 1
Victor 1

FAQ

Mcnamara surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mcnamara surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,802 people were recorded with the Mcnamara surname. That placed it at #2,415 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mcnamara surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 6,224 in 2016. That gives Mcnamara a modern rank of #1,083.

What does the Mcnamara surname mean?

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic "Mac Conmara," meaning "son of the hound of the sea."

What does the Mcnamara map show?

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