NameCensus.

UK surname

Mcquarrie

A Scottish surname derived from the Gaelic 'mac Guaire' meaning son of the wary one.

In the 1881 census there were 416 people recorded with the Mcquarrie surname, ranking it #7,749 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 510, ranked #9,846, down from #7,749 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Govan Combination, Edinburgh and Greenock. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Dalbeattie, Gatehouse and Renfrew West.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mcquarrie is 559 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 22.6%.

1881 census count

416

Ranked #7,749

Modern count

510

2016, ranked #9,846

Peak year

1901

559 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mcquarrie had 416 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,749 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 510 in 2016, ranked #9,846.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 559 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Mcquarrie surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mcquarrie surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mcquarrie 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 243 #8,983
1861 historical 303 #8,365
1881 historical 416 #7,749
1891 historical 447 #8,115
1901 historical 559 #7,443
1911 historical 83 #24,531
1997 modern 446 #10,142
1998 modern 456 #10,295
1999 modern 481 #9,958
2000 modern 490 #9,772
2001 modern 473 #9,862
2002 modern 458 #10,295
2003 modern 456 #10,179
2004 modern 454 #10,229
2005 modern 465 #9,958
2006 modern 468 #9,952
2007 modern 465 #10,096
2008 modern 473 #10,056
2009 modern 479 #10,179
2010 modern 492 #10,178
2011 modern 496 #10,012
2012 modern 491 #10,013
2013 modern 505 #9,949
2014 modern 515 #9,872
2015 modern 510 #9,875
2016 modern 510 #9,846

Geography

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Where Mcquarries are most common

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

The modern local-area list points to Dalbeattie, Gatehouse, Renfrew West, Thrashbush and Shortlees. 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 Greenock Renfrew
4 Kilninian and Kilmore Argyll
5 Small Isles Inverness

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Dalbeattie Dumfries and Galloway
2 Gatehouse Dumfries and Galloway
3 Renfrew West Renfrewshire
4 Thrashbush North Lanarkshire
5 Shortlees East Ayrshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mcquarrie

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mcquarrie

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Mcquarrie 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

Mcquarrie 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

Mcquarrie 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 Mcquarrie 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 Mcquarrie, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Mcquarrie

The surname McQuarrie has its origins in Scotland, dating back to the medieval period. It is a habitational name derived from the Gaelic Mac Uaraidh, meaning "son of the quarrier" or "son of the stone worker." This suggests that the earliest bearers of this name were likely employed in quarrying or working with stone.

The name is believed to have originated in the region of Argyll and the Hebrides, which were strongholds of the Clan MacQuarrie. The earliest recorded instances of the name appear in the 14th and 15th centuries, with variations in spelling such as MacQuharrie, MacQuarie, and McQuarrie.

One notable historical reference to the name can be found in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland from 1480, which mention a John McQuarrie. Additionally, the Clan MacQuarrie is mentioned in the Baronage of Scotland, a historical record of Scottish feudal nobility, indicating their significance in the region.

The earliest known bearer of the name was Reginald MacQuarrie, who lived in the late 13th century and is considered the progenitor of the Clan MacQuarrie. Another notable figure was John MacQuarrie (c. 1510-1570), who served as the Bishop of Ross in the Scottish Episcopal Church.

In the 17th century, a branch of the Clan MacQuarrie settled on the island of Ulva, off the west coast of Scotland. One prominent member of this branch was Lachlan McQuarrie (1693-1779), who served as a military leader and helped establish the settlement of Sydney, Australia.

The name McQuarrie has also been associated with place names such as Ulva and Oronsay, both islands in the Inner Hebrides. The name Oronsay is derived from the Old Norse name Örfirisey, meaning "tidal island," and was once a stronghold of the Clan MacQuarrie.

Other notable individuals with the surname McQuarrie include:

1. Archibald McQuarrie (1812-1897), a Scottish-born American merchant and philanthropist in San Francisco. 2. John McQuarrie (1856-1909), a Scottish-American painter and illustrator known for his depictions of Native American life. 3. Ralph McQuarrie (1929-2012), an American conceptual designer and illustrator who worked on films such as Star Wars and Raiders of the Lost Ark. 4. Kathleen McQuarrie (1857-1917), a Scottish suffragist and activist for women's rights. 5. Iain McQuarrie (born 1953), a Scottish professional golfer who played on the European Tour.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mcquarrie families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mcquarrie 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. Cheshire leads with 4 Mcquarries recorded in 1881 and an index of 23.23x.

County Total Index
Cheshire 4 23.23x
Northumberland 4 34.45x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Birkenhead in Cheshire leads with 4 Mcquarries recorded in 1881 and an index of 291.97x.

Place Total Index
Birkenhead 4 291.97x
Longbenton 4 816.33x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Flora 1
Jane 1
Margaret 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Alexander 1
Alexandra 1
John 1
Thomas 1
Thos. 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 Mcquarrie households.

FAQ

Mcquarrie surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mcquarrie surname in 1881?

In 1881, 416 people were recorded with the Mcquarrie surname. That placed it at #7,749 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mcquarrie surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 510 in 2016. That gives Mcquarrie a modern rank of #9,846.

What does the Mcquarrie surname mean?

A Scottish surname derived from the Gaelic 'mac Guaire' meaning son of the wary one.

What does the Mcquarrie map show?

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