NameCensus.

UK surname

Mcnerney

A surname of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic "Mac an Airchinnigh," meaning "son of the erenagh."

In the 1881 census there were 77 people recorded with the Mcnerney surname, ranking it #22,617 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 118, ranked #27,873, down from #22,617 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Sheffield, West Kirkwall and Richmond upon Thames.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mcnerney is 146 in 2011. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 53.2%.

1881 census count

77

Ranked #22,617

Modern count

118

2016, ranked #27,873

Peak year

2011

146 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mcnerney had 77 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #22,617 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 118 in 2016, ranked #27,873.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 77 in 1881.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Mcnerney surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mcnerney surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mcnerney 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 5 #32,456
1861 historical 25 #30,804
1881 historical 77 #22,617
1891 historical 59 #29,325
1901 historical 76 #25,734
1911 historical 65 #26,343
1997 modern 128 #23,238
1998 modern 136 #23,013
1999 modern 135 #23,279
2000 modern 134 #23,358
2001 modern 131 #23,343
2002 modern 130 #23,903
2003 modern 123 #24,497
2004 modern 128 #24,117
2005 modern 115 #25,702
2006 modern 118 #25,556
2007 modern 119 #25,747
2008 modern 131 #24,583
2009 modern 138 #24,276
2010 modern 142 #24,352
2011 modern 146 #23,736
2012 modern 120 #26,961
2013 modern 121 #27,255
2014 modern 124 #27,049
2015 modern 126 #26,654
2016 modern 118 #27,873

Geography

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Where Mcnerneys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Sheffield, West Kirkwall, Richmond upon Thames, St. Helens and Bridgend. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Sheffield 005 Sheffield
2 West Kirkwall Orkney Islands
3 Richmond upon Thames 016 Richmond upon Thames
4 St. Helens 001 St. Helens
5 Bridgend 012 Bridgend

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mcnerney

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mcnerney

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

Mcnerney 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

Mcnerney falls in decile 9 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Mcnerney

The surname McNerney is of Irish origin, originating from the Gaelic Mac an Airchinnigh, meaning "son of the erenagh" or "son of the hereditary landlord." The name traces its roots back to the 12th century in County Sligo, Ireland.

The earliest recorded instance of the name appears in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history compiled in the early 17th century. The manuscript mentions a Gillacrist Mac an Airchinnigh, who was the erenagh (church landlord) of Cluain Cairpri in County Sligo in the year 1171.

As the name evolved over time, it took on various spellings, such as McNerny, McNernie, and McNerny. These variations were likely influenced by regional dialects and the anglicization of Irish names during the English conquest of Ireland.

One notable figure in the history of the McNerney surname was Dermot McNerney (c. 1510-1585), an Irish nobleman who served as the Lord of Coolavin in County Sligo. He was a prominent figure during the Elizabethan conquest of Ireland and was known for his resistance against English rule.

Another historical figure was John McNerney (1789-1857), an Irish-born journalist and political activist who emigrated to the United States. He founded the first Catholic newspaper in Philadelphia, The Catholic Herald, and was a vocal advocate for Irish immigrants' rights.

In the 19th century, during the Great Famine in Ireland, many McNerneys were among the millions who fled to America and other parts of the world in search of better opportunities. One such individual was Patrick McNerney (1817-1899), who settled in New York City and became a successful businessman and philanthropist.

The name has also been associated with several geographical locations in Ireland, such as McNerney's Bog in County Sligo and McNerney's Lough in County Monaghan, reflecting the historical presence of the family in these areas.

Other notable individuals with the surname McNerney include James McNerney (born 1949), an American business executive who served as the CEO of Boeing from 2005 to 2015, and Kelly McNerney (born 1988), an Australian professional soccer player who played for the Australian national team.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mcnerney families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mcnerney 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 7 Mcnerneys recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.67x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 7 8.67x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Toxteth Park in Lancashire leads with 4 Mcnerneys recorded in 1881 and an index of 145.99x.

Place Total Index
Toxteth Park 4 145.99x
Crompton 2 869.57x
Liverpool 1 20.37x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Margaret 2
Catherine 1
Mary 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 1
Joshua 1
Matthew 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 Mcnerney households.

FAQ

Mcnerney surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mcnerney surname in 1881?

In 1881, 77 people were recorded with the Mcnerney surname. That placed it at #22,617 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mcnerney surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 118 in 2016. That gives Mcnerney a modern rank of #27,873.

What does the Mcnerney surname mean?

A surname of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic "Mac an Airchinnigh," meaning "son of the erenagh."

What does the Mcnerney map show?

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