UK surname

Mcquillin

A patronymic surname derived from the Gaelic personal name "Cuillén", meaning "little whelp" or "wolf cub".

In the 1881 census there were 97 people recorded with the Mcquillin surname, ranking it #20,127 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 152, ranked #23,516, down from #20,127 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Gainsborough, Paddocks and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Shropshire, Earlston Stow and Clovernfords Area and Sunderland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mcquillin is 160 in 2013. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 56.7%.

1881 census count

Ranked #20,127

Modern count

152

2016, ranked #23,516

Peak year

2013

160 bearers

Map years

1901 to 2016

Key insights

• Mcquillin had 97 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #20,127 surname in that year.
• The latest modern count shown here is 152 in 2016, ranked #23,516.
• Within the historical census years, the highest count was 103 in 1901.
• The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Map

Mcquillin surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mcquillin surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Year

Loading map

Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Mcquillin 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	26	#28,667
1861	historical	60	#26,313
1881	historical	97	#20,127
1891	historical	88	#25,677
1901	historical	103	#22,444
1911	historical	84	#24,442
1997	modern	147	#21,393
1998	modern	143	#22,317
1999	modern	151	#21,740
2000	modern	151	#21,684
2001	modern	145	#21,951
2002	modern	146	#22,302
2003	modern	155	#21,217
2004	modern	143	#22,471
2005	modern	146	#22,146
2006	modern	143	#22,619
2007	modern	136	#23,708
2008	modern	142	#23,270
2009	modern	149	#23,031
2010	modern	156	#22,886
2011	modern	149	#23,408
2012	modern	155	#22,762
2013	modern	160	#22,621
2014	modern	155	#23,333
2015	modern	156	#23,106
2016	modern	152	#23,516

Geography

Where Mcquillins are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Gainsborough, Paddocks, Edinburgh, Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars and Liverpool. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Shropshire, Earlston Stow and Clovernfords Area, Sunderland and Hinckley and Bosworth. 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	London parishes	London 3
2	Gainsborough, Paddocks	Lincolnshire
3	Edinburgh	Edinburgh
4	Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars	Leicestershire
5	Liverpool	Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank	Area	District
1	Shropshire 001	Shropshire
2	Earlston Stow and Clovernfords Area	Scottish Borders
3	Sunderland 014	Sunderland
4	Hinckley and Bosworth 010	Hinckley and Bosworth
5	Sunderland 008	Sunderland

Forenames

First names often paired with Mcquillin

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

Historical female names

Mary Elizabeth Margaret Agnes Jane Catherine Sarah Ann Ellen Susan

Historical male names

James John Thomas William Charles Alfred Bernard Edward George Robert

Recent female names

Laura Alice Josephine Lucy Janet Alison Victoria Zoe Kimberley Angela

Recent male names

Thomas James Anthony George Paul Robert Kevin Neil Andrew Douglas

Modern profile

Neighbourhood profile for Mcquillin

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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Mcquillin surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Mcquillin household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles

Group

Established Homeowners with Children

Within London, Mcquillin is most associated with areas classed as Established Homeowners with Children, part of Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles. 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 predominantly British-born residents are typically married/in civil partnerships and own the properties in which they are raising their children. Parents are typically over 45, and many other residents are beyond normal retirement age. Detached and semi-detached houses predominate and multiple car ownership is common.

Wider London pattern

These neighbourhoods house people of all ages, predominantly of White British or European extraction. Resident turnover is low. Religious affiliation is less common than average and tends to be Christian if expressed. Homeownership, typically of terraced houses, is common but use of the social rented sector is not. Employment is typically in professional, managerial and associate professional or technical occupations. There are few full-time students. Level 4 qualifications are common. More households lack dependent children than have them which, considered alongside low levels of crowding and over-all age structure, indicates that many households may be post child-rearing and in late middle age. Incidence of disability is low, as is residence in communal establishments.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Mcquillin 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.

Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Mcquillin falls in decile 5 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Mcquillin 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.

Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate: White - British

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

Origin

Meaning and origin of Mcquillin

The surname MCQUILLIN has its origins in Scotland, with roots dating back to the Middle Ages. It is believed to have derived from the Gaelic Mac Laomuinn, which translates to "son of the servant of the monk." This suggests that the name's earliest bearers may have been servants or retainers of a monastery or religious order.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which documented Scottish landowners who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England. The name appears as "MacQuillin" in these rolls, indicating its long-standing presence in Scotland.

The MCQUILLIN name has also been associated with the Scottish Highlands, particularly the regions of Argyll and the Isles. Historical records from the 15th and 16th centuries mention the name in connection with these areas, suggesting that the family may have held lands or positions of influence there.

During the 17th century, the name appeared in various Scottish documents, such as parish records and legal papers. One notable figure from this period was John MCQUILLIN, born in 1620, who was a merchant and landowner in Ayrshire.

As the centuries progressed, the MCQUILLIN name spread across Scotland and beyond. In the 18th century, Robert MCQUILLIN (1735-1810) was a prominent figure in the Scottish Enlightenment, known for his contributions to philosophy and literature.

The 19th century saw the MCQUILLIN name take root in other parts of the British Isles and North America. One notable individual was William MCQUILLIN (1845-1917), an Irish-born architect who designed several notable buildings in New York City, including the St. Regis Hotel and the Knickerbocker Hotel.

In more recent history, the MCQUILLIN name has continued to be represented across various fields. Basil MCQUILLIN (1920-2006) was a British chemist and academic who made significant contributions to the field of analytical chemistry. Meanwhile, John MCQUILLIN (1927-2016) was a respected English cricketer who played for Middlesex and captained the team in the 1950s.

While these are just a few examples, the MCQUILLIN surname has a rich history that spans centuries and crosses borders, reflecting the diverse journeys and accomplishments of those who have carried this name throughout the ages.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Mcquillin families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mcquillin 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. Lincolnshire leads with 9 Mcquillins recorded in 1881 and an index of 33.99x.

County	Total	Frequency	Index
Lincolnshire	9	0.00%	33.99x
Ayrshire	8	0.00%	64.52x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Gainsborough in Lincolnshire leads with 9 Mcquillins recorded in 1881 and an index of 1451.61x.

Place	Total	Frequency	Index
Gainsborough	9	0.08%	1451.61x
Maybole	8	0.12%	2105.26x

Top female names

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

Name	Count
Mary	2
Rosetta	1

Top male names

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

Name	Count
Andrew	1
Arthur	1
Bernard	1
Charles	1
Francis	1
Philip	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 Mcquillin households.

Occupation	Count
Bootmaker	1
Fitters App (E & M)	1
Labourer At Oil Mill	1
Machinist At Ironworks	1
Scholar	1

FAQ

Mcquillin surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mcquillin surname in 1881?

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

How common is the Mcquillin surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 152 in 2016. That gives Mcquillin a modern rank of #23,516.

What does the Mcquillin surname mean?