NameCensus.

UK surname

Mcquiggan

A Scottish surname derived from the Gaelic "Mac Cuagáin" meaning "son of the buck".

In the 1881 census there were 97 people recorded with the Mcquiggan surname, ranking it #20,127 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 89, ranked #32,297, down from #20,127 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ochiltree, Wigton and Toxteth Park. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Gateshead, Cornwall and Coventry.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mcquiggan is 121 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 8.2%.

1881 census count

97

Ranked #20,127

Modern count

89

2016, ranked #32,297

Peak year

2002

121 bearers

Map years

3

1901 to 2006

Key insights

  • Mcquiggan had 97 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #20,127 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 89 in 2016, ranked #32,297.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 106 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Mcquiggan surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mcquiggan surname density by area, 2006 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mcquiggan 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 36 #26,838
1861 historical 31 #30,058
1881 historical 97 #20,127
1891 historical 89 #25,542
1901 historical 106 #22,076
1911 historical 90 #23,797
1997 modern 111 #25,394
1998 modern 114 #25,589
1999 modern 114 #25,766
2000 modern 114 #25,717
2001 modern 113 #25,489
2002 modern 121 #24,984
2003 modern 106 #26,775
2004 modern 98 #28,297
2005 modern 102 #27,689
2006 modern 102 #27,926
2007 modern 107 #27,557
2008 modern 112 #27,061
2009 modern 113 #27,520
2010 modern 107 #29,153
2011 modern 107 #28,979
2012 modern 102 #29,902
2013 modern 97 #31,239
2014 modern 94 #31,909
2015 modern 93 #31,972
2016 modern 89 #32,297

Geography

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Where Mcquiggans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ochiltree, Wigton, Toxteth Park, Gateshead and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Gateshead, Cornwall, Coventry, Tendring and Knowsley. 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 Ochiltree Ayr
2 Wigton Cumberland
3 Toxteth Park Lancashire
4 Gateshead Durham
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Gateshead 013 Gateshead
2 Cornwall 001 Cornwall
3 Coventry 010 Coventry
4 Tendring 002 Tendring
5 Knowsley 001 Knowsley

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mcquiggan

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mcquiggan

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Mcquiggan is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Mcquiggan 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

Mcquiggan 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 Mcquiggan 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 - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Mcquiggan

The surname MCQUIGGAN is of Scottish origin and dates back to the early medieval period. It is derived from the Gaelic personal name "Odhagan", which means "young deer". The prefix "Mc" or "Mac" is a common patronymic prefix in Scottish surnames, meaning "son of".

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, where several individuals with variations of the name, such as Macquoggan and Macquhoggan, are listed as swearing fealty to King Edward I of England. This suggests that the name was already established in Scotland by the late 13th century.

The MCQUIGGAN family is believed to have originated in the Argyll region of western Scotland, where they were part of the Clan Campbell. The name is also found in historical records from the Isle of Islay and the Hebrides islands, indicating that the family had a presence in these areas as well.

One notable figure bearing the surname was Sir John McQuiggan (c. 1580-1644), a Scottish soldier who fought in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. He served as a colonel in the Scottish Covenanter army and was known for his bravery and military prowess.

Another individual of note was James McQuiggan (1786-1870), a Scottish-born Australian explorer and pastoralist. He was one of the first European settlers in the Bathurst region of New South Wales and played a significant role in the early development of the Australian wool industry.

In the literary world, the name is associated with Agnes McQuiggan (1855-1943), an Irish-born poet and writer who published several collections of verse and prose works. Her work often drew inspiration from her Scottish heritage and the rugged landscapes of her homeland.

In the realm of academia, one can find mention of Professor William McQuiggan (1912-1997), a renowned Scottish-American mathematician and educator. He made significant contributions to the field of topology and spent much of his career teaching at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).

Finally, in more recent history, the name gained some recognition through the accomplishments of John McQuiggan (1932-2018), a Scottish-born American businessman and philanthropist. He co-founded the successful biotechnology company Amgen and later became a prominent supporter of various educational and cultural institutions in California.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mcquiggan families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mcquiggan 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 7 Mcquiggans recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.50x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 7 5.50x
Durham 4 12.54x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Liverpool in Lancashire leads with 7 Mcquiggans recorded in 1881 and an index of 90.56x.

Place Total Index
Liverpool 7 90.56x
Heworth 4 634.92x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Ann 1
Barbara 1
Mary 1
Rose 1
Sarah 1
Theresa 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Michael 2
Thomas 2
Henry 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 Mcquiggan households.

FAQ

Mcquiggan surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mcquiggan surname in 1881?

In 1881, 97 people were recorded with the Mcquiggan surname. That placed it at #20,127 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mcquiggan surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 89 in 2016. That gives Mcquiggan a modern rank of #32,297.

What does the Mcquiggan surname mean?

A Scottish surname derived from the Gaelic "Mac Cuagáin" meaning "son of the buck".

What does the Mcquiggan map show?

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