NameCensus.

UK surname

Mcqueen

A Scottish surname referring to the son of Sween, derived from the Gaelic "Mac Suibhne" meaning "son of Suibhne."

In the 1881 census there were 3,292 people recorded with the Mcqueen surname, ranking it #1,378 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 4,044, ranked #1,678, down from #1,378 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Govan Combination, London parishes and Cromdale, Inverallan and Advie. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Roystonhill, Blochairn, and Provanmill, Lochside and Lincluden and Summerville.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mcqueen is 4,062 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 22.8%.

1881 census count

3,292

Ranked #1,378

Modern count

4,044

2016, ranked #1,678

Peak year

2014

4,062 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mcqueen had 3,292 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,378 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 4,044 in 2016, ranked #1,678.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 3,564 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Mcqueen surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mcqueen surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mcqueen 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 2,710 #1,086
1861 historical 2,863 #1,018
1881 historical 3,292 #1,378
1891 historical 3,382 #1,409
1901 historical 3,564 #1,568
1911 historical 898 #4,961
1997 modern 3,597 #1,797
1998 modern 3,726 #1,809
1999 modern 3,774 #1,798
2000 modern 3,731 #1,810
2001 modern 3,648 #1,805
2002 modern 3,736 #1,815
2003 modern 3,686 #1,799
2004 modern 3,685 #1,794
2005 modern 3,733 #1,755
2006 modern 3,758 #1,748
2007 modern 3,790 #1,741
2008 modern 3,835 #1,733
2009 modern 3,922 #1,732
2010 modern 3,995 #1,739
2011 modern 3,958 #1,725
2012 modern 3,943 #1,708
2013 modern 4,014 #1,708
2014 modern 4,062 #1,700
2015 modern 4,036 #1,693
2016 modern 4,044 #1,678

Geography

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Where Mcqueens are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Govan Combination, London parishes, Cromdale, Inverallan and Advie, 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 Roystonhill, Blochairn, and Provanmill, Lochside and Lincluden, Summerville, Viewpark and Lochmaben. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Govan Combination Lanark
2 London parishes London 3
3 Cromdale, Inverallan and Advie Elgin
4 Edinburgh Edinburgh
5 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Roystonhill, Blochairn, and Provanmill Glasgow City
2 Lochside and Lincluden Dumfries and Galloway
3 Summerville Dumfries and Galloway
4 Viewpark North Lanarkshire
5 Lochmaben Dumfries and Galloway

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mcqueen

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mcqueen

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Mcqueen 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

Mcqueen 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

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

Meaning and origin of Mcqueen

The surname McQueen originated in Scotland during the Middle Ages. It is a Scottish variant of the Gaelic name MacShuibhne, which means "son of Suibhne." Suibhne is derived from the old Norse name Sweyn, meaning "young warrior" or "young man." The prefix "Mac" means "son of" in Gaelic.

The McQueen name is believed to have originated in the region of Argyll in western Scotland, where the Clan McQueen was historically based. The earliest recorded reference to the name dates back to the 13th century, when a charter from 1230 mentions "Sumerletus filius Suyni" (Sumerletus son of Suyni).

In the 14th century, the name appeared in several Scottish records, including the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland from 1364, which mention "Willelmo Makessone" (William McQueen). The name was also recorded in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a collection of homage rolls listing Scottish nobles who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England.

One of the earliest notable individuals with the McQueen surname was Somerled of Argyll, a 12th-century Scottish king and Lord of the Isles. He is often considered the progenitor of the Clan McQueen, although the connection is not definitively proven.

Another prominent figure was Sir John McQueen, a Scottish knight who fought alongside William Wallace during the Wars of Scottish Independence in the late 13th and early 14th centuries. He is mentioned in the medieval chronicle "The Acts and Deeds of Sir William Wallace, Knight of Elderslie."

In the 16th century, the McQueen family was involved in feuds with the Campbells of Argyll, which led to the burning of Dunavertie Castle, the McQueen clan seat, in 1647.

Other notable individuals with the McQueen surname include:

1. Alistair McQueen (1919-2008), British film director and screenwriter known for films like "The Battle of the River Plate" and "The Sand Pebbles." 2. Alexander McQueen (1969-2010), renowned British fashion designer and couturier known for his avant-garde and unconventional designs. 3. Butterfly McQueen (1911-1995), American actress best known for her role as Prissy in the film "Gone with the Wind." 4. Gordon McQueen (born 1952), Scottish former professional footballer who played for Leeds United and Manchester United. 5. Steve McQueen (1930-1980), American actor and cultural icon known for his roles in films like "The Great Escape," "The Thomas Crown Affair," and "Bullitt."

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mcqueen families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mcqueen 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 22 Mcqueens recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.52x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 22 1.52x
Northumberland 20 11.03x
Middlesex 19 1.56x
Essex 16 6.65x
Kent 8 1.92x
Yorkshire 5 0.41x
Cheshire 4 1.49x
Surrey 4 0.67x
Cumberland 3 2.86x
Durham 3 0.83x
Hampshire 3 1.20x
Staffordshire 3 0.73x
Buckinghamshire 2 2.71x
Channel Islands 2 5.54x
Midlothian 2 1.22x
Nottinghamshire 2 1.22x
Royal Navy 2 13.76x
Warwickshire 2 0.65x
Ayrshire 1 1.10x
Berkshire 1 1.09x
Gloucestershire 1 0.42x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Newcastle On Tyne All Sts in Northumberland leads with 11 Mcqueens recorded in 1881 and an index of 101.57x.

Place Total Index
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 11 101.57x
Aspull 8 235.29x
Liverpool 8 9.11x
Colchester St Mary 6 2727.27x
Greenwich 4 20.61x
Islington London 4 3.39x
Kilpin 4 2857.14x
Lexden 4 412.37x
West Ham 4 7.53x
Appleton 3 491.80x
Everton 3 6.51x
Hammersmith London 3 9.99x
Preston In Tynemouth 3 422.54x
Shoreditch London 3 5.68x
Belsay 2 1250.00x
Elswick 2 13.81x
Gateshead 2 7.37x
Hampstead London 2 10.53x
Kirkdale 2 8.22x
Lambeth 2 1.88x
Lenton 2 51.68x
South Leith 2 10.88x
St George Hanover 2 12.57x
St Helier 2 17.01x
Wolstanton 2 16.00x
Alnwick 1 32.05x
Aston 1 1.18x
Birmingham 1 0.98x
Bishopwearmouth 1 3.21x
Brenchley 1 67.11x
Burslem 1 8.48x
Caldewgate 1 17.39x
Canterbury St Paul 1 133.33x
Charlton 1 36.23x
Croydon 1 3.03x
Ealing 1 9.18x
Enfield 1 12.50x
Farnborough 1 38.17x
Girvan 1 43.67x
Great Horwood 1 333.33x
Hitcham 1 588.24x
Newcastle On Tyne St 1 10.64x
Northbourne 1 250.00x
Penrith 1 25.77x
Raby 1 1000.00x
Royal Navy 1 8.05x
Ryde 1 18.62x
Sandhurst 1 56.50x
Springfield 1 95.24x
St Cuthbert W O 1 19.53x
St James Dukes Place 1 384.62x
St Martin In Fields 1 13.70x
Stoke Newington London 1 10.53x
Stroud 1 21.51x
Sutton 1 23.26x
Ventnor 1 42.02x
Walton On Hill 1 12.76x
Wormingford 1 500.00x
York St Crux 1 294.12x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 7
Ellen 4
Jane 4
Sarah 4
Eliza 3
Elizabeth 3
Alice 2
Ann 2
Kate 2
Margaret 2
Maria 2
Minnie 2
Agnes 1
Agness 1
Annie 1
Bridget 1
E. 1
Emily 1
Flora 1
Frances 1
Hannah 1
Harriett 1
Isabella 1
J. 1
Jessie 1
Julia 1
Lillian 1
Louisa 1
Marjary 1
Rebecca 1
Susannah 1
W. 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 14
James 7
William 7
Thomas 6
Charles 4
Robert 3
Alexander 2
Andrew 2
Edward 2
Algernon 1
Ambrose 1
Archibold 1
Colin 1
David 1
Ernest 1
Frederic 1
Fredk. 1
George 1
Harold 1
Henry 1
Neil 1
Norman 1
Oscar 1
Patrick 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Mcqueen surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mcqueen surname in 1881?

In 1881, 3,292 people were recorded with the Mcqueen surname. That placed it at #1,378 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mcqueen surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 4,044 in 2016. That gives Mcqueen a modern rank of #1,678.

What does the Mcqueen surname mean?

A Scottish surname referring to the son of Sween, derived from the Gaelic "Mac Suibhne" meaning "son of Suibhne."

What does the Mcqueen map show?

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