UK surname
A Scottish surname with Irish Gaelic roots, likely derived from the name "MacCuinn" meaning "son of Conn."
In the 1881 census there were 31 people recorded with the Mcquien surname, ranking it #29,218 among surnames in the records. By 2008, the modern count was 1, ranked #38,949, down from #29,218 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Bracadale, Duirnish and Strath. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mcquien is 112 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 96.8%.
1881 census count
31
Ranked #29,218
Modern count
1
2008, ranked #38,949
Peak year
1851
112 bearers
Map years
1
1851 to 1851
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Mcquien surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Mcquien surname density by area, 1851 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 112 | #15,913 |
| 1861 | historical | 71 | #24,765 |
| 1881 | historical | 31 | #29,218 |
| 1891 | historical | 15 | #32,956 |
| 1901 | historical | 31 | #30,616 |
| 2008 | modern | 1 | #38,949 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Bracadale, Duirnish, Strath, South Uist and Harris. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bracadale | Inverness |
| 2 | Duirnish | Inverness |
| 3 | Strath | Inverness |
| 4 | South Uist | Inverness |
| 5 | Harris | Inverness |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Mcquien surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Mcquien, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Mcquien surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Mcquien household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Mcquien is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Mcquien is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Mcquien, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname MCQUIEN originated in Scotland in the 12th century. It is derived from the Gaelic words "mac" meaning "son" and "cuien" meaning "shaggy-haired person". This suggests the name may have initially referred to someone with a distinct mop of unkempt hair.
In the early 13th century, a clan bearing the name MCQUIEN was recorded living in Ayrshire, a region in southwestern Scotland. Historic scrolls from this time period mention a Laird Dougal MCQUIEN who owned land near the village of Kilwinning. He is believed to be one of the earliest known bearers of the surname.
The name can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, an ancient record of Scottish nobles who swore fealty to King Edward I of England. An entry lists "Gylmyn McQwyne of Kyngartyn" as taking this oath, providing evidence of the surname's spelling variation at that time.
One of the most notable figures with this surname was Sir John MCQUIEN (1505-1570), a Scottish landowner and Member of the Parliament of Scotland. He was a staunch supporter of the Protestant Reformation and owned estates in Renfrewshire.
Another prominent MCQUIEN was Robert MCQUIEN (1722-1778), a Scottish physician who conducted early research into smallpox inoculation. His work advanced the practice of immunization against this deadly disease.
In the 19th century, Alexander MCQUIEN (1832-1901) gained fame as an Arctic explorer. He embarked on multiple expeditions attempting to locate the Northwest Passage and charted large areas of Canada's northern wilderness.
Variations of the spelling over time have included MacQuien, McQuene, McQuene, and McQuiain, reflecting the fluid nature of surname spellings before they became standardized.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mcquien surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Inverness-shire leads with 1 Mcquiens recorded in 1881 and an index of 344.83x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Inverness-shire | 1 | 344.83x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. North Uist in Inverness-shire leads with 1 Mcquiens recorded in 1881 and an index of 10000.00x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| North Uist | 1 | 10000.00x |
FAQ
In 1881, 31 people were recorded with the Mcquien surname. That placed it at #29,218 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 1 in 2008. That gives Mcquien a modern rank of #38,949.
A Scottish surname with Irish Gaelic roots, likely derived from the name "MacCuinn" meaning "son of Conn."
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Mcquien bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.