NameCensus.

UK surname

Mcqueeney

A surname derived from the Irish Gaelic "Mac Uidhir" meaning "son of the dun or pale-colored man".

In the 1881 census there were 68 people recorded with the Mcqueeney surname, ranking it #23,950 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 133, ranked #25,765, down from #23,950 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Gateshead, Edinburgh and Gargrave. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Middlesbrough, Calderdale and Mid Suffolk.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mcqueeney is 133 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 95.6%.

1881 census count

68

Ranked #23,950

Modern count

133

2016, ranked #25,765

Peak year

2016

133 bearers

Map years

4

1901 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mcqueeney had 68 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #23,950 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 133 in 2016, ranked #25,765.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 103 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Mcqueeney surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mcqueeney surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mcqueeney 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 11 #31,309
1861 historical 29 #30,287
1881 historical 68 #23,950
1891 historical 84 #26,229
1901 historical 103 #22,444
1911 historical 95 #23,294
1997 modern 120 #24,158
1998 modern 130 #23,603
1999 modern 126 #24,239
2000 modern 125 #24,351
2001 modern 124 #24,114
2002 modern 129 #24,021
2003 modern 116 #25,415
2004 modern 123 #24,679
2005 modern 118 #25,301
2006 modern 115 #25,969
2007 modern 121 #25,469
2008 modern 120 #25,922
2009 modern 124 #25,957
2010 modern 127 #26,176
2011 modern 128 #25,793
2012 modern 129 #25,705
2013 modern 129 #26,211
2014 modern 131 #26,089
2015 modern 125 #26,808
2016 modern 133 #25,765

Geography

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Where Mcqueeneys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Gateshead, Edinburgh, Gargrave, Liverpool and Halesowen (all except Hunnington, Romsley; partly in Halesowen, Worcestershire). These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Middlesbrough, Calderdale, Mid Suffolk, Rochdale and Salford. 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 Gateshead Durham
2 Edinburgh Edinburgh
3 Gargrave Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Liverpool Lancashire
5 Halesowen (all except Hunnington, Romsley; partly in Halesowen, Worcestershire) Staffordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Middlesbrough 006 Middlesbrough
2 Calderdale 007 Calderdale
3 Mid Suffolk 002 Mid Suffolk
4 Rochdale 007 Rochdale
5 Salford 018 Salford

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mcqueeney

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mcqueeney

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Mcqueeney, 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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Mcqueeney surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Mcqueeney household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

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Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Mcqueeney 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

Mcqueeney is most concentrated in decile 9 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Mcqueeney 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 Mcqueeney is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Mcqueeney

The surname McQueeney originates from Ireland and is believed to have emerged during the late medieval period, around the 14th or 15th century. It is a anglicized form of the Gaelic surname "Mac Cuinneagáin," which means "son of Cuinneagán." Cuinneagán itself is a personal name derived from the Irish word "cuinne," meaning "moss" or "boggy place."

McQueeney is primarily associated with County Fermanagh in Ulster, Northern Ireland. It is thought to have first appeared in this region, where the family held lands and claimed descent from the ancient Irish clan of the Uí Bressail. Early references to the name can be found in various historical records and manuscripts, including the Fiants of the Tudor Sovereigns and the Annals of the Four Masters.

One of the earliest documented individuals with the surname McQueeney was Rory McQueeney, a prominent landowner in County Fermanagh during the 16th century. He is mentioned in the Fiants of Elizabeth I, dated 1587, where he is referred to as "Rory McQueeney of Fermanagh."

Another notable figure was Brian McQueeney, who lived in the late 17th century and was involved in the Williamite War in Ireland. He fought alongside the Jacobite forces and is mentioned in contemporary accounts of the conflict.

During the 18th century, the McQueeney family continued to hold land and influence in County Fermanagh. The surname can be found in various legal documents and land records from this period, including the Grattan's Valuation of 1864.

One prominent individual from this era was Patrick McQueeney (1744-1820), who served as a member of the Irish House of Commons for the constituency of Enniskillen in County Fermanagh.

In the 19th century, the McQueeney surname began to spread beyond Ireland as many family members emigrated to other parts of the world, particularly North America and Australia. One notable individual from this period was John McQueeney (1829-1901), a successful businessman and politician who served as the Mayor of Toronto, Canada, in the late 1800s.

While the surname McQueeney is relatively uncommon, it has a rich history deeply rooted in the annals of County Fermanagh and the broader Irish tradition, with numerous individuals bearing this name making their mark across various historical periods.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mcqueeney families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mcqueeney 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 9 Mcqueeneys recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.80x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 9 7.80x
Berkshire 1 13.70x

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 9 Mcqueeneys recorded in 1881 and an index of 463.92x.

Place Total Index
Kirkdale 9 463.92x
Sandhurst 1 714.29x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Cath. 1
Catherine 1
Margaret 1
Winifred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 2
Francis 1
James 1
Patrick 1
Terrance 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 Mcqueeney households.

FAQ

Mcqueeney surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mcqueeney surname in 1881?

In 1881, 68 people were recorded with the Mcqueeney surname. That placed it at #23,950 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mcqueeney surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 133 in 2016. That gives Mcqueeney a modern rank of #25,765.

What does the Mcqueeney surname mean?

A surname derived from the Irish Gaelic "Mac Uidhir" meaning "son of the dun or pale-colored man".

What does the Mcqueeney map show?

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