NameCensus.

UK surname

Mcphie

A patronymic surname of Scottish origin meaning "son of the son of Hugh".

In the 1881 census there were 368 people recorded with the Mcphie surname, ranking it #8,454 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 353, ranked #13,081, down from #8,454 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Duirnish, Govan Combination and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Gallowgate North and Bellgrove, Winchburgh, Bridgend and Philpstoun and Newark and Sherwood.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mcphie is 530 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 4.1%.

1881 census count

368

Ranked #8,454

Modern count

353

2016, ranked #13,081

Peak year

1851

530 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mcphie had 368 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,454 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 353 in 2016, ranked #13,081.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 530 in 1851.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Mcphie surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mcphie surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mcphie 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 530 #4,736
1861 historical 401 #6,399
1881 historical 368 #8,454
1891 historical 385 #9,150
1901 historical 431 #8,982
1911 historical 63 #26,537
1997 modern 369 #11,690
1998 modern 386 #11,668
1999 modern 365 #12,245
2000 modern 353 #12,480
2001 modern 332 #12,841
2002 modern 345 #12,754
2003 modern 350 #12,417
2004 modern 345 #12,571
2005 modern 353 #12,292
2006 modern 344 #12,600
2007 modern 347 #12,661
2008 modern 351 #12,661
2009 modern 339 #13,281
2010 modern 352 #13,187
2011 modern 348 #13,134
2012 modern 346 #13,070
2013 modern 354 #13,079
2014 modern 357 #13,068
2015 modern 354 #13,063
2016 modern 353 #13,081

Geography

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Where Mcphies are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Duirnish, Govan Combination, Edinburgh, Kilmuir and South Uist. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Gallowgate North and Bellgrove, Winchburgh, Bridgend and Philpstoun, Newark and Sherwood, Greenock West and Central and Hambleton. 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 Duirnish Inverness
2 Govan Combination Lanark
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 Kilmuir Inverness
5 South Uist Inverness

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Gallowgate North and Bellgrove Glasgow City
2 Winchburgh, Bridgend and Philpstoun West Lothian
3 Newark and Sherwood 008 Newark and Sherwood
4 Greenock West and Central Inverclyde
5 Hambleton 003 Hambleton

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mcphie

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mcphie

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Mcphie, 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 Mcphie surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Mcphie household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

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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

Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles

Group

Inner London Working Professionals

Within London, Mcphie is most associated with areas classed as Inner London Working Professionals, part of Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

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Group profile

These primarily Inner London neighbourhoods are more densely populated than the Supergroup average. Residents have a younger over-all age profile than the Supergroup as a whole, and are less likely to be owner occupiers. Full time employment is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup and multiple car ownership is uncommon. Chinese and non-EU-born European migrants are less in evidence than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

These neighbourhoods house people of all ages, predominantly of White British or European extraction. Resident turnover is low. Religious affiliation is less common than average and tends to be Christian if expressed. Homeownership, typically of terraced houses, is common but use of the social rented sector is not. Employment is typically in professional, managerial and associate professional or technical occupations. There are few full-time students. Level 4 qualifications are common. More households lack dependent children than have them which, considered alongside low levels of crowding and over-all age structure, indicates that many households may be post child-rearing and in late middle age. Incidence of disability is low, as is residence in communal establishments.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Mcphie 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

Mcphie falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Mcphie 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 Mcphie, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Mcphie

The surname McPhie originates from the Scottish Highlands, particularly in the areas around Inverness and Ross-shire. It is believed to have derived from the Gaelic name "MacAidh," which means "son of Hugh." The name likely dates back to the 12th or 13th century.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name McPhie appears in the 1296 Ragman Rolls, which were a series of documents recording the names of Scottish noblemen and landowners who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England. The name is listed as "Macphee" in these rolls.

In the 16th century, the name appeared in various Highland clan records and manuscripts, often spelled as "MacPhee" or "McPhee." One notable example is Donald McPhee, who was a prominent member of the Clan Chattan in the late 16th century. He was known for his involvement in the Battle of Glenlivet in 1594.

The name McPhie can also be found in the records of the Scottish Privy Council from the 17th century, where it was typically spelled as "McPhie" or "McPhee." One such entry from 1634 mentions a John McPhie who was involved in a land dispute in Inverness-shire.

In the 18th century, the name McPhie began to appear more frequently in parish records and census documents across the Scottish Highlands. One notable individual from this period was Angus McPhie, who was born in Ross-shire in 1745 and served as a soldier in the British Army during the American Revolutionary War.

Another significant individual with the surname McPhie was Malcolm McPhie, a Scottish architect and engineer who lived from 1822 to 1896. He was responsible for designing several notable buildings in Glasgow, including the City Chambers and the Western Club.

Other notable individuals with the surname McPhie include:

1. John McPhie (1844-1919), a Scottish-born Canadian politician who served as a member of the Canadian Parliament. 2. William McPhie (1865-1941), a Scottish-born Australian politician and trade unionist. 3. Iain McPhie (1927-2005), a Scottish actor and theater director known for his work with the Royal Shakespeare Company. 4. Alasdair McPhie (1932-2012), a Scottish writer and poet who published several collections of poetry and short stories. 5. Gillian McPhie (born 1956), a Scottish-born Canadian actress and voice artist known for her work in animated films and television shows.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Mcphie surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mcphie surname in 1881?

In 1881, 368 people were recorded with the Mcphie surname. That placed it at #8,454 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mcphie surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 353 in 2016. That gives Mcphie a modern rank of #13,081.

What does the Mcphie surname mean?

A patronymic surname of Scottish origin meaning "son of the son of Hugh".

What does the Mcphie map show?

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