UK surname
Scottish surname derived from the Gaelic words "mac" meaning "son" and personal name "Pearsain".
In the 1881 census there were 141 people recorded with the Mcphearson surname, ranking it #16,091 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 36, ranked #35,648, down from #16,091 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Bothwell, Govan Combination and Dunblane and Lecropt. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mcphearson is 189 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 74.5%.
1881 census count
141
Ranked #16,091
Modern count
36
2016, ranked #35,648
Peak year
1891
189 bearers
Map years
3
1881 to 1901
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Mcphearson surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Mcphearson surname density by area, 1881 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 86 | #18,820 |
| 1861 | historical | 89 | #22,419 |
| 1881 | historical | 141 | #16,091 |
| 1891 | historical | 189 | #15,547 |
| 1901 | historical | 123 | #20,248 |
| 1911 | historical | 36 | #29,370 |
| 1997 | modern | 29 | #34,795 |
| 1998 | modern | 30 | #34,833 |
| 1999 | modern | 36 | #34,323 |
| 2000 | modern | 32 | #34,705 |
| 2001 | modern | 27 | #35,041 |
| 2002 | modern | 28 | #35,139 |
| 2003 | modern | 32 | #34,862 |
| 2004 | modern | 26 | #35,519 |
| 2005 | modern | 22 | #35,993 |
| 2006 | modern | 25 | #35,903 |
| 2007 | modern | 26 | #35,932 |
| 2008 | modern | 30 | #35,736 |
| 2009 | modern | 34 | #35,608 |
| 2010 | modern | 37 | #35,566 |
| 2011 | modern | 43 | #35,228 |
| 2012 | modern | 39 | #35,415 |
| 2013 | modern | 42 | #35,325 |
| 2014 | modern | 41 | #35,396 |
| 2015 | modern | 38 | #35,526 |
| 2016 | modern | 36 | #35,648 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Bothwell, Govan Combination, Dunblane and Lecropt, Edinburgh and Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bothwell | Lanark |
| 2 | Govan Combination | Lanark |
| 3 | Dunblane and Lecropt | Perth |
| 4 | Edinburgh | Edinburgh |
| 5 | Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry | Forfar |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Mcphearson surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Mcphearson, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Mcphearson surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Mcphearson household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Mcphearson is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Mcphearson is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Mcphearson, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname McPhearson is of Scottish origin and dates back to the 16th century. It is believed to have originated in the Highlands region of Scotland, specifically in the areas around Loch Lomond and Loch Fyne. The name is thought to be derived from the Gaelic words "mac" meaning "son of" and "pearson" or "phearsain," which may have been an occupational surname referring to a person who worked with pearls or a personal name derived from the French "Piers" or "Pierre."
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Parish Records of Dunoon, Argyll, Scotland, in 1567, where a John McPhearson is mentioned. Another early reference is in the Regality of Dunfermline Court Books from 1586, which lists a Malcolm McPhearson.
In the 17th century, the name appears in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland, where a Robert McPhearson is recorded as a tenant farmer in Arrochar, Dunbartonshire, in 1628. The Hearth Tax Rolls of 1691 also mention a James McPhearson in the Parish of Kilmodan, Argyll.
One notable bearer of the name was Sir John McPhearson (1633-1701), a Scottish soldier and landowner who served as the Governor of Dunottar Castle during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. He played a significant role in protecting the Honours of Scotland (the Scottish Crown Jewels) from Oliver Cromwell's forces.
Another prominent figure with the surname was Reverend William McPhearson (1756-1829), a Scottish minister and author who served as the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 1820. He was known for his writings on church history and theology.
In the 19th century, the name spread to other parts of the British Isles and beyond, with individuals like James McPhearson (1823-1892), a Scottish-born businessman and philanthropist who made his fortune in Australia and became a prominent figure in the city of Melbourne.
Other noteworthy individuals with the surname include Alexander McPhearson (1870-1946), a Scottish-born Canadian politician who served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan, and Katharine McPherson (1894-1976), an American playwright and screenwriter who co-wrote the Academy Award-winning film "The Informer" in 1935.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mcphearson surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Cumberland leads with 5 Mcphearsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 54.17x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Cumberland | 5 | 54.17x |
| Cheshire | 4 | 16.90x |
| Northumberland | 2 | 12.54x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Penrith in Cumberland leads with 5 Mcphearsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 1470.59x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Penrith | 5 | 1470.59x |
| Birkenhead | 4 | 211.64x |
| Newcastle On Tyne All Sts | 1 | 105.26x |
| Tynemouth | 1 | 117.65x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Mcphearson surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Mcphearson surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Mcphearson households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Carter | 2 |
| Scholar | 2 |
| A Certificate Teacher | 1 |
| Carter Wife | 1 |
| Dressmaker | 1 |
| Gun Cleaner | 1 |
| Railway Porter | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 141 people were recorded with the Mcphearson surname. That placed it at #16,091 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 36 in 2016. That gives Mcphearson a modern rank of #35,648.
Scottish surname derived from the Gaelic words "mac" meaning "son" and personal name "Pearsain".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Mcphearson bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.