NameCensus.

UK surname

Mcnulty

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic "Mac an Ultaigh," meaning "son of the Ulsterman."

In the 1881 census there were 1,299 people recorded with the Mcnulty surname, ranking it #3,150 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 4,803, ranked #1,414, up from #3,150 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Rochdale, Govan Combination and Gateshead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Huntingdonshire, Blantyre South and Wheatlands and Salford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mcnulty is 4,857 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 269.7%.

1881 census count

1,299

Ranked #3,150

Modern count

4,803

2016, ranked #1,414

Peak year

2010

4,857 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mcnulty had 1,299 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,150 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 4,803 in 2016, ranked #1,414.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,737 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Mcnulty surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mcnulty surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Mcnulty 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 376 #6,343
1861 historical 551 #4,778
1881 historical 1,299 #3,150
1891 historical 1,269 #3,403
1901 historical 1,737 #2,987
1911 historical 1,418 #3,403
1997 modern 4,502 #1,455
1998 modern 4,612 #1,473
1999 modern 4,672 #1,467
2000 modern 4,659 #1,464
2001 modern 4,604 #1,447
2002 modern 4,750 #1,436
2003 modern 4,620 #1,440
2004 modern 4,650 #1,423
2005 modern 4,590 #1,424
2006 modern 4,614 #1,413
2007 modern 4,690 #1,404
2008 modern 4,746 #1,397
2009 modern 4,780 #1,425
2010 modern 4,857 #1,434
2011 modern 4,797 #1,433
2012 modern 4,697 #1,430
2013 modern 4,799 #1,424
2014 modern 4,803 #1,434
2015 modern 4,772 #1,429
2016 modern 4,803 #1,414

Geography

Back to top

Where Mcnultys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Rochdale, Govan Combination, Gateshead, 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 Huntingdonshire, Blantyre South and Wheatlands, Salford, Stane and Cheviot East. 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 Rochdale Lancashire
2 Govan Combination Lanark
3 Gateshead Durham
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Huntingdonshire 001 Huntingdonshire
2 Blantyre South and Wheatlands South Lanarkshire
3 Salford 013 Salford
4 Stane North Lanarkshire
5 Cheviot East Scottish Borders

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Mcnulty

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Mcnulty

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

Mcnulty 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

Mcnulty 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 Mcnulty 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 - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Mcnulty

The surname McNulty is of Irish origin and dates back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Gaelic words "mac an uallaig", which translate to "son of the proud or arrogant one". This suggests that the name may have originally been a descriptive nickname for an ancestor who was known for their arrogance or pride.

The McNulty name is most closely associated with County Donegal in Ulster, Ireland, where it was first recorded in the Annals of the Four Masters in the year 1181. The Annals mention a man named Muircheartach McNulty, who was a member of the influential O'Donnell clan.

In the 16th century, the McNulty family was among the most prominent and powerful families in Donegal, holding significant land and influence in the region. They were part of the Gaelic aristocracy and played an important role in the political and military affairs of the time.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the McNulty name can be found in the Donegal Graces of 1603, where it is spelled "McNultagh". This was a document that granted land and privileges to several Gaelic families in the area.

A notable figure in the history of the McNulty name was Rory McNulty, a 16th-century chieftain who was involved in the Nine Years' War against English rule in Ireland. He was eventually captured and executed in 1607.

Another prominent McNulty was Hugh McNulty, a 17th-century Catholic priest and historian who wrote extensively about the history of Ireland and the struggles of the Catholic community during the Penal Laws.

In the 18th century, the McNulty family was largely dispossessed of their lands and power due to the ongoing conflicts between the English and Irish. Many members of the family were forced to emigrate, with significant numbers settling in North America and other parts of the world.

One notable McNulty from this period was John McNulty, an Irish-born soldier and explorer who served in the American Revolutionary War. He later became a prominent surveyor and helped map parts of the American frontier.

In the 19th century, James McNulty was a successful businessman and politician in New York City. He served as a member of the New York State Assembly and was involved in various civic and philanthropic endeavors.

As the McNulty name spread around the world, it also gave rise to various spelling variations, such as McNulty, McNulty, and McNulty, among others. Despite these variations, the name maintains its strong connection to its Irish roots and the proud history of the McNulty clan.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Mcnulty families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mcnulty 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 69 Mcnultys recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.76x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 69 2.76x
Yorkshire 42 2.01x
Durham 19 3.03x
Flintshire 15 26.48x
Staffordshire 14 1.97x
Northumberland 13 4.15x
Cheshire 10 2.15x
Cumberland 10 5.51x
Worcestershire 5 1.82x
Middlesex 4 0.19x
Essex 2 0.48x
Glamorgan 2 0.55x
Hampshire 2 0.46x
Shropshire 2 1.10x
Denbighshire 1 1.26x
Derbyshire 1 0.30x
Devon 1 0.23x
Kent 1 0.14x
Surrey 1 0.10x
Sussex 1 0.28x
Warwickshire 1 0.19x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Liverpool in Lancashire leads with 16 Mcnultys recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.54x.

Place Total Index
Liverpool 16 10.54x
Cleator 10 132.45x
Flint 9 279.50x
Toxteth Park 9 10.63x
Batley 7 35.28x
Earle 7 17500.00x
Rugeley 7 137.25x
Escomb 6 208.33x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 6 22.10x
Liscard 6 71.60x
St Asaph 6 535.71x
Kirkdale 5 11.89x
Ormskirk 5 104.60x
West Derby 5 6.84x
Wolverhampton 5 9.14x
Bishopwearmouth 4 7.43x
Bradford 4 7.91x
Burnley 4 19.00x
Dudley 4 11.96x
Ecclesfield 4 26.13x
Horton In Bradford 4 12.27x
Salford 4 5.44x
Sheffield 4 6.02x
Wallsend 4 40.24x
Walton On Hill 4 29.54x
Dewsbury 3 14.01x
Habergham Eaves 3 13.13x
Haslingden 3 28.99x
Kearsley 3 57.03x
Mile End Old Town 3 9.02x
Sculcoates 3 9.06x
Wetherby 3 220.59x
Aston By Budworth 2 606.06x
Bootle Cum Linacre 2 10.08x
Cardiff St Mary 2 9.90x
Eston 2 43.96x
Hunslet 2 6.14x
Ormesby 2 35.65x
Shifnal 2 40.49x
Whitton 2 408.16x
Aldershot 1 6.91x
Barnsley 1 4.64x
Birmingham 1 0.56x
Chesterfield 1 8.08x
Dukinfield 1 4.65x
East Ham 1 12.95x
Elvet 1 22.12x
Gillingham 1 6.75x
Great Bolton 1 3.02x
Headingley Cum Burley 1 7.44x
Kings Norton 1 4.05x
Leeds 1 0.85x
Manchester 1 0.89x
Much Woolton 1 29.50x
Newbiggin In Morpeth 1 100.00x
Portsea 1 1.18x
Poulton Cum Seacombe 1 18.69x
Preston 1 1.50x
Putney 1 10.42x
Sedgley 1 3.79x
St Budeaux 1 72.99x
St George Hanover 1 3.64x
Subdeanery 1 37.04x
Walsall Borough 1 18.12x
West Matfen 1 454.55x
West Thurrock 1 72.46x
Wigan 1 2.86x
Worsbrough 1 16.34x
Worsley 1 6.49x
Wrexham Regis 1 16.92x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 29
Ellen 10
Margaret 8
Catherine 6
Ann 5
Bridget 5
Elizabeth 4
Annie 3
Frances 3
Rose 3
Hannah 2
Jane 2
Kate 2
Maria 2
Sarah 2
Agnes 1
Alice 1
Cathrain 1
Faith 1
Hanur 1
Harriet 1
Louisa 1
Margret 1
Margt. 1
Roseana 1
Thersa 1
Thomas 1
Winiford 1
Winifred 1
Winnie 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 25
James 14
Patrick 12
William 11
Michael 7
Thomas 7
Joseph 6
Hugh 4
Francis 3
Andrew 2
Anthony 2
Peter 2
Arthur 1
Christopher 1
Clinton 1
Edward 1
Felix 1
Frederick 1
Henry 1
Jams 1
Luke 1
Margaret 1
Martin 1
P. 1
Patk. 1
Patsy 1
Richard 1
Terence 1
Thos. 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Mcnulty surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mcnulty surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,299 people were recorded with the Mcnulty surname. That placed it at #3,150 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mcnulty surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 4,803 in 2016. That gives Mcnulty a modern rank of #1,414.

What does the Mcnulty surname mean?

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic "Mac an Ultaigh," meaning "son of the Ulsterman."

What does the Mcnulty map show?

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