NameCensus.

UK surname

Mcnish

A Gaelic surname derived from the Gaelic word meaning "son of the champion."

In the 1881 census there were 363 people recorded with the Mcnish surname, ranking it #8,545 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 411, ranked #11,654, down from #8,545 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Borgue, Govan Combination and Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Newark and Sherwood, Mid Nithsdale and Corby.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mcnish is 427 in 2009. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 13.2%.

1881 census count

363

Ranked #8,545

Modern count

411

2016, ranked #11,654

Peak year

2009

427 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mcnish had 363 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,545 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 411 in 2016, ranked #11,654.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 367 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Mcnish surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mcnish surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mcnish 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 339 #6,922
1861 historical 367 #6,963
1881 historical 363 #8,545
1891 historical 325 #10,426
1901 historical 299 #11,673
1911 historical 129 #19,577
1997 modern 368 #11,719
1998 modern 383 #11,748
1999 modern 413 #11,180
2000 modern 413 #11,142
2001 modern 406 #11,096
2002 modern 404 #11,353
2003 modern 405 #11,168
2004 modern 411 #11,053
2005 modern 391 #11,378
2006 modern 380 #11,666
2007 modern 396 #11,459
2008 modern 405 #11,351
2009 modern 427 #11,129
2010 modern 420 #11,536
2011 modern 401 #11,843
2012 modern 393 #11,874
2013 modern 415 #11,604
2014 modern 417 #11,632
2015 modern 412 #11,642
2016 modern 411 #11,654

Geography

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Where Mcnishs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Borgue, Govan Combination, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, Edinburgh and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Newark and Sherwood, Mid Nithsdale, Corby, Renfrew North and Linwood South. 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 Borgue Kirkcudbright
2 Govan Combination Lanark
3 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
4 Edinburgh Edinburgh
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Newark and Sherwood 008 Newark and Sherwood
2 Mid Nithsdale Dumfries and Galloway
3 Corby 008 Corby
4 Renfrew North Renfrewshire
5 Linwood South Renfrewshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mcnish

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mcnish

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Mcnish, 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 Mcnish surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Mcnish household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

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, Mcnish 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.

Read profile summary

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

Mcnish 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

Mcnish falls in decile 4 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Mcnish is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Mcnish

The surname McNish is a Scottish name that originated in the Highlands region of Scotland. It is believed to have derived from the Gaelic words "mac" meaning "son of" and "naois" meaning "by a stream". This suggests that the name may have been given to someone living by a stream or river.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be traced back to the 16th century in the areas around Inverness-shire and Ross-shire. Some variations of the spelling found in historical records include McNaysh, McNaish, and McNayche. The name appears to have been particularly concentrated in these northern regions of Scotland.

One notable historical reference to the name is found in the "Records of the Privy Council of Scotland" from the year 1609, which mentions a "John McNayche" being involved in a legal dispute. This provides evidence of the name's existence and use during that time period.

In the late 17th century, a McNish family is recorded as having been landowners in the parish of Kilmorack, near Beauly in Inverness-shire. This suggests that the name had gained some prominence and status within the local community.

A notable figure bearing the McNish surname was William McNish, a Scottish soldier and military engineer who lived from 1685 to 1766. He served in the British Army and was involved in the construction of fortifications during the War of the Austrian Succession.

Another significant individual was James McNish, a Scottish minister and author born in 1808. He published several works on religious subjects and served as a minister in various parishes throughout Scotland.

In the 19th century, a notable bearer of the name was David McNish, a Scottish-born Australian politician who lived from 1828 to 1906. He served as a member of the Legislative Council in South Australia and was involved in promoting education and social reform.

Additionally, John McNish, born in 1859, was a Scottish-American businessman and philanthropist who made his fortune in the steel industry. He was known for his charitable contributions to educational institutions and cultural organizations.

While the McNish surname may not be as prominent as some other Scottish names, it has a rich history rooted in the Highlands region and can be traced back several centuries through historical records and notable individuals who carried the name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mcnish families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mcnish 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. Yorkshire leads with 10 Mcnishs recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.14x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 10 4.14x
Lancashire 7 2.42x
Middlesex 4 1.64x
Durham 3 4.14x
Leicestershire 1 3.70x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Upperthong in Yorkshire leads with 10 Mcnishs recorded in 1881 and an index of 4761.90x.

Place Total Index
Upperthong 10 4761.90x
Salford 6 70.59x
Bishopwearmouth 3 48.23x
Kensington London 3 22.14x
Blackley 1 196.08x
Leicester St Margaret 1 15.17x
St Marylebone London 1 7.69x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Emely 2
Ada 1
Annie 1
Clementine 1
Edith 1
Isabella 1
Lillias 1
Margt. 1
Mary 1
Rosa 1
Sarah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 4
Alexander 2
William 2
George 1
Harold 1
J.Vincent 1
Mathew 1
Robert 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 Mcnish households.

FAQ

Mcnish surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mcnish surname in 1881?

In 1881, 363 people were recorded with the Mcnish surname. That placed it at #8,545 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mcnish surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 411 in 2016. That gives Mcnish a modern rank of #11,654.

What does the Mcnish surname mean?

A Gaelic surname derived from the Gaelic word meaning "son of the champion."

What does the Mcnish map show?

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