NameCensus.

UK surname

Mcphail

A Scottish occupational surname derived from the Gaelic "Mac Phàil," meaning "son of Paul."

In the 1881 census there were 2,897 people recorded with the Mcphail surname, ranking it #1,548 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,128, ranked #3,037, down from #1,548 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lochs, Torosay and Kinlochspervie and Govan Combination. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wakefield, Doon Valley South and Drumchapel North.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mcphail is 3,002 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 26.5%.

1881 census count

2,897

Ranked #1,548

Modern count

2,128

2016, ranked #3,037

Peak year

1901

3,002 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mcphail had 2,897 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,548 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,128 in 2016, ranked #3,037.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 3,002 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Mcphail surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mcphail surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mcphail 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 2,398 #1,243
1861 historical 2,402 #1,222
1881 historical 2,897 #1,548
1891 historical 2,929 #1,606
1901 historical 3,002 #1,865
1911 historical 322 #10,873
1997 modern 1,998 #3,052
1998 modern 2,064 #3,083
1999 modern 2,070 #3,100
2000 modern 2,072 #3,081
2001 modern 2,002 #3,112
2002 modern 2,045 #3,121
2003 modern 1,972 #3,151
2004 modern 1,970 #3,158
2005 modern 1,966 #3,135
2006 modern 1,985 #3,116
2007 modern 2,018 #3,101
2008 modern 2,016 #3,132
2009 modern 2,065 #3,130
2010 modern 2,120 #3,125
2011 modern 2,087 #3,123
2012 modern 2,049 #3,125
2013 modern 2,101 #3,106
2014 modern 2,138 #3,069
2015 modern 2,127 #3,055
2016 modern 2,128 #3,037

Geography

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Where Mcphails are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lochs, Torosay and Kinlochspervie, Govan Combination, Edinburgh and Tiree and Coll. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wakefield, Doon Valley South, Drumchapel North, Cranhill, Lightburn and Queenslie South and Carntyne West and Haghill. 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 Lochs Ross And Cromarty
2 Torosay and Kinlochspervie Argyll
3 Govan Combination Lanark
4 Edinburgh Edinburgh
5 Tiree and Coll Argyll

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wakefield 027 Wakefield
2 Doon Valley South East Ayrshire
3 Drumchapel North Glasgow City
4 Cranhill, Lightburn and Queenslie South Glasgow City
5 Carntyne West and Haghill Glasgow City

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mcphail

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mcphail

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Mcphail, 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 Mcphail surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Mcphail 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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Mcphail 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

Mcphail is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Mcphail 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 Mcphail 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 - British

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

Meaning and origin of Mcphail

The surname McPhail originated in Scotland, with the earliest recorded instances dating back to the 16th century. It is derived from the Gaelic words "mac" meaning "son" and "pail" or "phaill," which can refer to a place name or a personal name.

One theory suggests that the name is linked to the Isle of Islay, where the place name "Ardfhuill" or "Ardphuill" is found. This could indicate that the McPhail surname originated from a family or individual who resided in that area.

Another possibility is that the name is connected to the personal name "Paul" or its Gaelic equivalent "Pàl." In this case, McPhail would signify "son of Paul" or "son of Pàl."

Historical records show variations in the spelling of the name, including McPhaill, McPhayill, and McFail. One of the earliest documented instances is the mention of John McPhaill in the Register of the Privy Seal of Scotland in 1551.

Prominent figures bearing the McPhail surname include:

1. Archibald McPhail (1833-1897), a Scottish-Canadian businessman and politician who served as a member of the Canadian House of Commons. 2. Angus McPhail (1870-1958), a Scottish poet and author known for his works in the Gaelic language. 3. James McPhail (1756-1816), a Scottish-American Presbyterian minister and educator who founded the University of North Carolina. 4. Donald McPhail (1851-1926), a Canadian politician and lawyer who served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario. 5. Ewan McPhail (1890-1970), a Scottish artist and painter known for his landscapes and portraits.

While the McPhail surname has its roots in Scotland, it has since spread to various parts of the world, particularly through Scottish immigration to North America and other regions. The name continues to be a part of historical records and has been carried on by numerous individuals throughout the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mcphail families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mcphail 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 16 Mcphails recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.37x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 16 3.37x
Lanarkshire 5 3.87x
Middlesex 5 1.25x
Worcestershire 4 7.66x
Ayrshire 2 6.68x
Shropshire 2 5.79x
Yorkshire 2 0.50x
Berkshire 1 3.33x
Essex 1 1.27x
Gloucestershire 1 1.27x
Ross-shire 1 9.11x
Sussex 1 1.48x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kirkdale in Lancashire leads with 10 Mcphails recorded in 1881 and an index of 125.31x.

Place Total Index
Kirkdale 10 125.31x
New Monkland 5 130.89x
Kidderminster Foreign 4 540.54x
Rumworth 4 588.24x
Kensington London 2 8.99x
Shrewsbury St Mary 2 147.06x
Ardrossan 1 96.15x
Bramham Cum Oglethorpe 1 625.00x
Brighton 1 7.35x
Bristol St Michael 1 149.25x
Chelmsford 1 74.07x
Habergham Eaves 1 23.04x
Kilmarnock 1 28.09x
Lochs 1 114.94x
Melbecks 1 625.00x
St Marylebone London 1 4.68x
St Pancras London 1 3.11x
West Derby 1 7.20x
Westminster St 1 68.03x
Winkfield 1 200.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Emma 3
Annie 2
Elizabeth 2
Mary 2
Alice 1
Betsy 1
Catherine 1
Ellen 1
Florence 1
Hannah 1
Ida 1
Isabella 1
Jane 1
Kesiah 1
Maria 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Duncan 2
John 2
William 2
Daniel 1
David 1
James 1
Jno. 1
Joseph 1
Keaton 1
Peter 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 Mcphail households.

FAQ

Mcphail surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mcphail surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,897 people were recorded with the Mcphail surname. That placed it at #1,548 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mcphail surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,128 in 2016. That gives Mcphail a modern rank of #3,037.

What does the Mcphail surname mean?

A Scottish occupational surname derived from the Gaelic "Mac Phàil," meaning "son of Paul."

What does the Mcphail map show?

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