NameCensus.

UK surname

Mcpherson

Son of a parson or parish priest.

In the 1881 census there were 10,464 people recorded with the Mcpherson surname, ranking it #408 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 7,639, ranked #873, down from #408 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Govan Combination, Edinburgh and Ardnamurchan. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Burghead, Roseisle and Laich, Keith and Fife Keith and Paisley Glenburn East.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mcpherson is 10,489 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 27.0%.

1881 census count

10,464

Ranked #408

Modern count

7,639

2016, ranked #873

Peak year

1901

10,489 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mcpherson had 10,464 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #408 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 7,639 in 2016, ranked #873.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 10,489 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Mcpherson surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mcpherson surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mcpherson 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 9,496 #271
1861 historical 9,017 #303
1881 historical 10,464 #408
1891 historical 10,103 #438
1901 historical 10,489 #501
1911 historical 1,723 #2,844
1997 modern 7,335 #878
1998 modern 7,495 #897
1999 modern 7,499 #907
2000 modern 7,448 #905
2001 modern 7,307 #901
2002 modern 7,445 #903
2003 modern 7,192 #913
2004 modern 7,224 #911
2005 modern 7,187 #897
2006 modern 7,190 #898
2007 modern 7,255 #903
2008 modern 7,349 #898
2009 modern 7,580 #893
2010 modern 7,787 #885
2011 modern 7,573 #898
2012 modern 7,410 #894
2013 modern 7,473 #901
2014 modern 7,611 #891
2015 modern 7,602 #884
2016 modern 7,639 #873

Geography

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Where Mcphersons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Govan Combination, Edinburgh, Ardnamurchan, Greenock and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Burghead, Roseisle and Laich, Keith and Fife Keith, Paisley Glenburn East, Parkhead East and Braidfauld North and Falkirk - Middlefield. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Govan Combination Lanark
2 Edinburgh Edinburgh
3 Ardnamurchan Argyll
4 Greenock Renfrew
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Burghead, Roseisle and Laich Moray
2 Keith and Fife Keith Moray
3 Paisley Glenburn East Renfrewshire
4 Parkhead East and Braidfauld North Glasgow City
5 Falkirk - Middlefield Falkirk

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mcpherson

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mcpherson

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

Mcpherson 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

Mcpherson 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 Mcpherson is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Mcpherson

The surname McPherson has its origins in Scotland, emerging in the late 12th century. It is derived from the Gaelic "Mac a'Phearsain," meaning "son of the parson" or "son of the priest." This indicates that the earliest bearers of this surname were likely the offspring of members of the clergy.

The name first appeared in historical records around 1230, in the Ragman Rolls, a series of parchment rolls that recorded acts of homage to King Edward I of England. One of the earliest recorded individuals with this surname was Donald MacPerson, who swore fealty to the English king in 1296.

By the 14th century, the name had spread throughout various regions of Scotland, including Inverness-shire, Perthshire, and Argyllshire. Variations in spelling began to emerge, such as McPharson, McPhirson, and McFerson, reflecting regional dialects and the phonetic nature of surname formation.

One notable bearer of the McPherson name was Sir David McPherson, a Scottish knight who fought alongside Robert the Bruce during the Wars of Scottish Independence in the early 14th century. Another prominent individual was John McPherson, a 16th-century Scottish bishop who played a significant role in the Protestant Reformation.

In the 17th century, the McPherson surname became associated with the Clan McPherson, a Highland Scottish clan centered in the Badenoch region of Inverness-shire. The clan was known for their involvement in the Jacobite uprisings, supporting the Stuart claim to the British throne.

As the Scottish diaspora spread worldwide, the McPherson surname was carried to various corners of the globe. One notable figure was James McPherson, a Scottish-American writer and poet born in 1736, who became known as the "Poet of the American Revolution" for his works celebrating the American cause during the Revolutionary War.

Another prominent bearer of the name was James Birdseye McPherson, an American Civil War general born in 1828. He served in the Union Army and was killed in action during the Battle of Atlanta in 1864.

In the 19th century, the McPherson surname also gained recognition in the field of literature with the Scottish author James McPherson, born in 1810, who wrote several notable works, including "A History of the Working Classes in Scotland."

These examples illustrate the rich history and diverse backgrounds of individuals bearing the surname McPherson, a name that has left an indelible mark across various regions and disciplines throughout the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mcpherson families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mcpherson 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 63 Mcphersons recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.38x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 63 1.38x
Middlesex 60 1.56x
Durham 39 3.41x
Northumberland 26 4.55x
Inverness-shire 15 13.07x
Yorkshire 15 0.39x
Derbyshire 14 2.33x
Kent 14 1.07x
Essex 13 1.71x
Lanarkshire 13 1.05x
Hampshire 12 1.52x
Nottinghamshire 11 2.12x
Cheshire 10 1.18x
Staffordshire 10 0.77x
Gloucestershire 9 1.19x
Ayrshire 7 2.43x
Leicestershire 6 1.41x
Brecknockshire 5 6.51x
Glamorgan 5 0.75x
Midlothian 5 0.97x
Ross-shire 4 3.79x
Surrey 4 0.21x
Warwickshire 4 0.41x
Cumberland 3 0.91x
Denbighshire 3 2.07x
Devon 3 0.38x
Angus 2 0.56x
Flintshire 2 1.94x
Norfolk 2 0.34x
Perthshire 2 1.16x
Royal Navy 2 4.37x
Suffolk 2 0.43x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.28x
Argyllshire 1 0.93x
Berkshire 1 0.35x
Dumfriesshire 1 1.18x
Dunbartonshire 1 0.97x
Fife 1 0.44x
Northamptonshire 1 0.28x
Sussex 1 0.15x
Westmorland 1 1.18x

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 18 Mcphersons recorded in 1881 and an index of 23.46x.

Place Total Index
Kirkdale 18 23.46x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 13 26.25x
Everton 9 6.19x
Bolton Le Sands 8 776.70x
Bromley London 8 9.46x
Liverpool 8 2.89x
Wilford 8 547.95x
Winshill 8 208.33x
Audley 7 54.52x
Barony 7 2.23x
Birkenhead 7 10.35x
Brandon Byshottles 7 48.88x
Kensington London 7 3.28x
Kingussie Insh 7 266.16x
Loudoun 7 101.16x
Walthamstow 7 25.63x
Westminster St 7 49.40x
Bishopwearmouth 6 6.11x
Brentwood 6 129.59x
Islington London 6 1.61x
Leicester St Mary 6 17.43x
Urquhart Glenmoriston 6 184.62x
Westgate 6 16.94x
Baildon 5 69.74x
Elswick 5 10.96x
Hackney London 5 2.32x
Hasland 5 81.57x
Llanelly 5 54.35x
Maryhill 5 20.55x
Salford 5 3.73x
St Pancras London 5 1.62x
West Derby 5 3.75x
Whippingham 5 83.89x
Birmingham 4 1.24x
Cardiff St Mary 4 10.85x
Clifton 4 10.50x
Earsdon 4 86.02x
Gateshead 4 4.67x
Holy Trinity 4 4.37x
Lewisham 4 5.72x
Newcastle On Tyne St John 4 53.19x
South Leith 4 6.90x
St George Hanover 4 7.97x
St Sepulchre London 4 71.05x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 3 4.23x
Church Coppenhall 3 79.16x
Deptford St Paul 3 2.97x
Gairloch 3 49.34x
Great Bolton 3 4.97x
Gresford Gwersyllt 3 66.67x
Hartley 3 197.37x
Limehouse London 3 7.11x
Toxteth Park 3 1.94x
Alverstoke 2 7.02x
Chatham 2 5.54x
Collierley 2 39.29x
Ebchester 2 112.99x
Manchester 2 0.98x
Methven 2 79.05x
Northallerton 2 41.15x
Portsea 2 1.30x
Shoreditch London 2 1.20x
St George Bloomsbury 2 9.07x
St Luke London 2 3.24x
St Vigeans 2 10.41x
Stapleford 2 47.51x
Stapleton 2 13.99x
Stockton On Tees 2 3.63x
Tormoham 2 5.91x
Alvie 1 107.53x
Ambleside 1 38.17x
Caldewgate 1 5.52x
Great Yarmouth 1 2.04x
Hope 1 19.46x
Laggan 1 82.64x
Reigate Foreign 1 4.93x
Swansea Town 1 1.82x
Walton On Hill 1 4.05x
Whitechapel London 1 2.64x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 32
Margaret 13
Elizabeth 11
Ann 7
Annie 7
Isabella 7
Jane 7
Ellen 5
Catherine 4
Hannah 4
Sarah 4
Agnes 3
Christina 3
Eliza 3
Frances 3
Harriett 3
Martha 3
Beatrice 2
Caroline 2
Jessie 2
Kate 2
Katherine 2
Lucy 2
Prudence 2
Anna 1
Barbara 1
Bessie 1
Betsy 1
Bettey 1
Christiana 1
Constantie 1
Dora 1
Dorothy 1
Eleanor 1
Elizebeth 1
Emily 1
Esther 1
Fanny 1
Flora 1
Helen 1
Janet 1
Joyce 1
Julia 1
Kathleen 1
Laura 1
Lavinia 1
Lily 1
Louisa 1
Lucey 1
Theophila 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 31
William 19
James 16
Alexander 8
Robert 8
George 6
Thomas 6
David 5
Duncan 5
Henry 4
Malcolm 4
Alfred 3
Charles 3
Donald 3
Frederick 3
Angus 2
Daniel 2
Francis 2
Frank 2
Wm. 2
Aleck 1
Alex.H. 1
Alexandra 1
Anderson 1
Archibald 1
Augustus 1
Bruce 1
Dorothy 1
Edward 1
Fenton 1
Hamilton 1
Hugh 1
Jame 1
Jno. 1
Joseph 1
Leonard 1
Macdonald 1
Michael 1
Peter 1
Richard 1
Robt. 1
Rowland 1
Sydon 1
Walter 1
Willie 1

FAQ

Mcpherson surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mcpherson surname in 1881?

In 1881, 10,464 people were recorded with the Mcpherson surname. That placed it at #408 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mcpherson surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 7,639 in 2016. That gives Mcpherson a modern rank of #873.

What does the Mcpherson surname mean?

Son of a parson or parish priest.

What does the Mcpherson map show?

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