NameCensus.

UK surname

Mcquilken

An Anglicized form of the Irish surname Mac Uilcin, meaning "son of the descendant of Uilcan".

In the 1881 census there were 28 people recorded with the Mcquilken surname, ranking it #29,646 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 100, ranked #31,123, down from #29,646 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Glenwood South, Glenwood North and Port Glasgow Upper, West and Central.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mcquilken is 103 in 2013. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 257.1%.

1881 census count

28

Ranked #29,646

Modern count

100

2016, ranked #31,123

Peak year

2013

103 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mcquilken had 28 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #29,646 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 100 in 2016, ranked #31,123.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 34 in 1851.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Routine Occupations or Retirement.

Mcquilken surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mcquilken surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mcquilken 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 34 #27,194
1881 historical 28 #29,646
1891 historical 26 #32,189
1901 historical 25 #31,259
1997 modern 82 #29,325
1998 modern 79 #30,080
1999 modern 80 #30,152
2000 modern 80 #30,139
2001 modern 82 #29,714
2002 modern 82 #30,181
2003 modern 81 #30,311
2004 modern 81 #30,569
2005 modern 81 #30,740
2006 modern 93 #29,411
2007 modern 92 #29,929
2008 modern 90 #30,567
2009 modern 96 #30,239
2010 modern 94 #31,111
2011 modern 98 #30,384
2012 modern 101 #30,078
2013 modern 103 #30,235
2014 modern 102 #30,714
2015 modern 103 #30,444
2016 modern 100 #31,123

Geography

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Where Mcquilkens are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Glenwood South, Glenwood North, Port Glasgow Upper, West and Central, Port Glasgow Mid, East and Central and Shawlands West. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Glenwood South Glasgow City
2 Glenwood North Glasgow City
3 Port Glasgow Upper, West and Central Inverclyde
4 Port Glasgow Mid, East and Central Inverclyde
5 Shawlands West Glasgow City

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mcquilken

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mcquilken

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

Routine Occupations or Retirement

Nationally, the Mcquilken surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Routine Occupations or Retirement, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Mcquilken household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods are characterised by high proportions of single, often never-married adults of normal retirement age or older, including many that are in the most advanced age groups. Most adults are UK born and live at high residential densities, and many of the children living with parents are in adulthood. Individuals identifying as members of ethnic minorities are uncommon, but above average proportions of households include individuals that identify with different ethnic groups. Long-term disability is relatively common, and the dominant accommodation type is flats. Unemployment rates are high, with most of those employed working in routine occupations. Few individuals have high level qualifications. Car ownership is not high.

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Mcquilken is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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 concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Mcquilken is most concentrated in decile 2 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Mcquilken

The surname McQuilken is of Scottish origin and is believed to have originated in the 16th century. It is thought to be a variant of the Scottish surname McQuillan, which is derived from the Gaelic personal name "MacCuilleanáin," meaning "son of the little lad."

The name McQuilken is closely associated with the Scottish county of Ayrshire, particularly the town of Kilwinning. Some of the earliest recorded instances of the surname can be found in parish records from this region, with references to individuals such as John McQuilken, who was born in Kilwinning in 1598.

In the 17th century, the McQuilken name appeared in various historical documents, including the Register of the Privy Council of Scotland, which mentions a William McQuilken who was involved in a legal dispute over land ownership in 1647.

One notable individual with the surname McQuilken was Robert McQuilken (1695-1772), a Scottish clergyman and author who served as the minister of Cadder Parish Church in Lanarkshire. His published works include a historical account of the parish and a collection of sermons.

Another prominent figure was Sir James McQuilken (1789-1856), a Scottish businessman and philanthropist who made his fortune in the textile industry. He was knighted for his contributions to the city of Glasgow and funded the construction of several churches and schools in the area.

In the 19th century, the McQuilken surname began to spread beyond Scotland, with individuals bearing this name emigrating to other parts of the United Kingdom and North America. One such individual was John McQuilken (1822-1897), a Scottish-born farmer who settled in Ontario, Canada, and played a significant role in the development of the local agricultural community.

Another notable figure from this period was William McQuilken (1856-1924), an Irish-born architect who worked in London and was responsible for designing several notable buildings, including the Royal Academy of Music and the City of London School.

While the McQuilken surname is not as common today as some other Scottish surnames, it has a rich history and has been borne by individuals who have made significant contributions in various fields, from religion and literature to business and architecture.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mcquilken families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mcquilken 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. Warwickshire leads with 1 Mcquilkens recorded in 1881 and an index of 41.15x.

County Total Index
Warwickshire 1 41.15x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Warwick St Nicholas in Warwickshire leads with 1 Mcquilkens recorded in 1881 and an index of 5000.00x.

Place Total Index
Warwick St Nicholas 1 5000.00x

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 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 Mcquilken households.

Occupation Count
Grocers Shopman 1

FAQ

Mcquilken surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mcquilken surname in 1881?

In 1881, 28 people were recorded with the Mcquilken surname. That placed it at #29,646 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mcquilken surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 100 in 2016. That gives Mcquilken a modern rank of #31,123.

What does the Mcquilken surname mean?

An Anglicized form of the Irish surname Mac Uilcin, meaning "son of the descendant of Uilcan".

What does the Mcquilken map show?

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