NameCensus.

UK surname

Mcpartlin

Scottish surname denoting someone descended from a son of Parlan.

In the 1881 census there were 49 people recorded with the Mcpartlin surname, ranking it #26,735 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 352, ranked #13,104, up from #26,735 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Rochdale, Gateshead and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Hartlepool, South Holland and Chorley.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mcpartlin is 363 in 2008. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 618.4%.

1881 census count

49

Ranked #26,735

Modern count

352

2016, ranked #13,104

Peak year

2008

363 bearers

Map years

4

1901 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mcpartlin had 49 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #26,735 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 352 in 2016, ranked #13,104.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 182 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Mcpartlin surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mcpartlin surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mcpartlin 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 16 #30,441
1861 historical 23 #31,039
1881 historical 49 #26,735
1891 historical 71 #27,934
1901 historical 182 #16,057
1911 historical 83 #24,531
1997 modern 317 #13,053
1998 modern 322 #13,248
1999 modern 317 #13,473
2000 modern 330 #13,066
2001 modern 319 #13,168
2002 modern 347 #12,699
2003 modern 340 #12,685
2004 modern 329 #13,027
2005 modern 340 #12,642
2006 modern 337 #12,810
2007 modern 348 #12,637
2008 modern 363 #12,359
2009 modern 357 #12,766
2010 modern 358 #13,001
2011 modern 353 #13,004
2012 modern 340 #13,245
2013 modern 343 #13,372
2014 modern 348 #13,320
2015 modern 351 #13,135
2016 modern 352 #13,104

Geography

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Where Mcpartlins are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Rochdale, Gateshead, Edinburgh, Liverpool and Bishop Wearmouth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Hartlepool, South Holland, Chorley and The Grange. 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 Gateshead Durham
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 Liverpool Lancashire
5 Bishop Wearmouth Durham

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Hartlepool 012 Hartlepool
2 South Holland 011 South Holland
3 Chorley 009 Chorley
4 The Grange City of Edinburgh
5 Hartlepool 014 Hartlepool

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mcpartlin

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mcpartlin

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Mcpartlin 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

Mcpartlin 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

Mcpartlin 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 Mcpartlin is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Mcpartlin

The surname McPartlin is of Scottish origin, derived from the Gaelic words "mac" meaning "son of" and "Pàrlain," which is a diminutive form of the name Parlan or Parland. The name is believed to have originated in the Western Isles of Scotland, particularly in the Hebrides islands, during the medieval period.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the ancient Clan Donald manuscript from the 15th century, where it appears as "MacPartlane." This suggests that the name was associated with the powerful Clan Donald, which held significant influence in the Hebrides and other parts of the Scottish Highlands.

The McPartlin surname has also been linked to the Isle of Islay, one of the Inner Hebrides islands. In the 16th century, there were records of individuals bearing the name "McPharlin" or "McFarlin" residing in the area, indicating a potential connection to the island's history and population.

In the 17th century, the name appeared in various Scottish records, such as parish registers and court documents. Notable examples include Donald McPartlin, born in 1632 in Argyll, and Angus McPartlin, a merchant from the Isle of Skye, born in 1687.

One of the most famous individuals with the surname McPartlin was Sir John McPartlin (1778-1856), a Scottish naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars. He was born on the Isle of Islay and gained recognition for his bravery and leadership during various naval engagements.

Another notable figure was Alasdair McPartlin (1823-1892), a Scottish author and historian from the Isle of Lewis. He published several works documenting the history, culture, and traditions of the Hebrides islands, making significant contributions to the preservation of Scottish heritage.

In the 19th century, the McPartlin surname also gained prominence in Ireland, particularly in County Antrim, where many Scottish settlers had established themselves. One of the earliest recorded instances was Robert McPartlin, born in 1812 in Ballymoney, County Antrim, who later became a prominent merchant and landowner in the region.

Throughout history, the McPartlin surname has been associated with various professions, including farmers, fishermen, merchants, and military personnel, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and occupations of those who bore the name in different parts of Scotland and Ireland.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mcpartlin families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mcpartlin 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. Durham leads with 8 Mcpartlins recorded in 1881 and an index of 34.47x.

County Total Index
Durham 8 34.47x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Ryhope in Durham leads with 8 Mcpartlins recorded in 1881 and an index of 5000.00x.

Place Total Index
Ryhope 8 5000.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Bridget 1
Catherine 1
Helen 1
Mary 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 1
Miles 1
Patrick 1
Thomas 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 Mcpartlin households.

Occupation Count
Scholar 3
Coalminer 1

FAQ

Mcpartlin surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mcpartlin surname in 1881?

In 1881, 49 people were recorded with the Mcpartlin surname. That placed it at #26,735 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mcpartlin surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 352 in 2016. That gives Mcpartlin a modern rank of #13,104.

What does the Mcpartlin surname mean?

Scottish surname denoting someone descended from a son of Parlan.

What does the Mcpartlin map show?

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