NameCensus.

UK surname

Mcrae

A Scottish surname derived from the Gaelic "Mac Raith," meaning "son of grace" or "son of prosperity."

In the 1881 census there were 4,662 people recorded with the Mcrae surname, ranking it #956 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,425, ranked #2,716, down from #956 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Applecross, Strath and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Fintry, Huntly and Rosehearty and Strathbeg.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mcrae is 4,662 in 1881. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 48.0%.

1881 census count

4,662

Ranked #956

Modern count

2,425

2016, ranked #2,716

Peak year

1881

4,662 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mcrae had 4,662 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #956 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,425 in 2016, ranked #2,716.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 4,662 in 1881.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Mcrae surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mcrae surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mcrae 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 3,922 #729
1861 historical 3,975 #701
1881 historical 4,662 #956
1891 historical 4,489 #1,051
1901 historical 4,282 #1,317
1911 historical 620 #6,668
1997 modern 2,227 #2,784
1998 modern 2,308 #2,798
1999 modern 2,314 #2,810
2000 modern 2,284 #2,826
2001 modern 2,173 #2,900
2002 modern 2,279 #2,832
2003 modern 2,210 #2,851
2004 modern 2,202 #2,862
2005 modern 2,183 #2,856
2006 modern 2,213 #2,827
2007 modern 2,230 #2,820
2008 modern 2,271 #2,799
2009 modern 2,322 #2,811
2010 modern 2,395 #2,791
2011 modern 2,384 #2,773
2012 modern 2,325 #2,783
2013 modern 2,368 #2,781
2014 modern 2,407 #2,754
2015 modern 2,410 #2,738
2016 modern 2,425 #2,716

Geography

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Where Mcraes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Applecross, Strath, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Old Machar and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Fintry, Huntly, Rosehearty and Strathbeg, Hilltown and The Glens. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Applecross Ross And Cromarty
2 Strath Inverness
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 Aberdeen and Old Machar Aberdeen
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Fintry Dundee City
2 Huntly Aberdeenshire
3 Rosehearty and Strathbeg Aberdeenshire
4 Hilltown Dundee City
5 The Glens Dundee City

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mcrae

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mcrae

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

Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities

Nationally, the Mcrae surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Mcrae household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Households in these areas often include divorced or separated parents and commonly include children and young adults. The age structure is heavily skewed towards the most advanced age groups. Individuals identifying as members of ethnic minorities are not present in large numbers. Flats predominate, with some terraced, semi-detached, and detached units. Multiple car ownership is low, and housing is predominantly in the private and social rented sectors. Employment is less skewed towards traditional routine industrial occupations. Levels of educational attainment are generally low. The Group occurs principally in the Central Lowlands of Scotland and other Scottish towns.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Mcrae 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

Mcrae is most concentrated in decile 1 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Mcrae falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Mcrae is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Mcrae

The surname McRae is of Scottish origin, dating back to the 12th century. It is a clan name derived from the Gaelic Mac Rath, which means "son of grace" or "son of fortune." The name has several variations in spelling, including MacRae, MacRae, and MacCrae.

The McRae clan was historically associated with the regions of Kintail and Lochalsh in the Scottish Highlands. They were a prominent clan in the area and played a significant role in the clan wars and conflicts of the time.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland in 1263, where a person named Gillecrist MacRath is mentioned. The name is also found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which recorded the names of Scottish landowners who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England.

In the 16th century, the McRae clan was involved in the Battle of Lochcarron, where they fought against the Clan Mackenzie. During this period, the chief of the clan was Christopher McRae, who lived from around 1550 to 1625.

Another notable figure with the surname McRae was John McRae (1715-1795), a Scottish poet and songwriter who is best known for his work "The Haughs of Cromdale." His songs were popular in Scotland and celebrated the clan's history and traditions.

In the 19th century, Duncan McRae (1796-1881) was a Scottish-born Canadian politician who served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada. He was also a prominent businessman and agriculturalist.

The name McRae is also associated with several place names in Scotland, such as Kintail and Lochcarron, where the clan had a strong presence. The village of Shieldaig in the Highlands was once known as Baile na Rath, which translates to "township of the McRaes."

Other notable individuals with the surname McRae include John McCrae (1872-1918), a Canadian poet and physician who wrote the famous poem "In Flanders Fields," and Reverend Donald McRae (1875-1952), a Scottish minister and author who wrote extensively on the history and culture of the Scottish Highlands.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mcrae families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mcrae 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. Middlesex leads with 32 Mcraes recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.47x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 32 2.47x
Surrey 25 3.95x
Lancashire 17 1.10x
Inverness-shire 13 33.56x
Hampshire 7 2.63x
Yorkshire 6 0.47x
Angus 4 3.33x
Cheshire 4 1.40x
Durham 4 1.04x
Kent 3 0.68x
Nottinghamshire 3 1.72x
Berkshire 2 2.05x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.83x
Berwickshire 1 6.37x
Buckinghamshire 1 1.27x
Denbighshire 1 2.04x
Essex 1 0.39x
Midlothian 1 0.58x
Northamptonshire 1 0.82x
Northumberland 1 0.52x
Oxfordshire 1 1.25x
Ross-shire 1 2.81x
Royal Navy 1 6.47x
Sussex 1 0.46x
Sutherland 1 10.02x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Carshalton in Surrey leads with 13 Mcraes recorded in 1881 and an index of 537.19x.

Place Total Index
Carshalton 13 537.19x
Kilmorack 13 1111.11x
St Pancras London 9 8.62x
Millbrook 7 104.48x
Bermondsey 6 15.54x
Ormskirk 6 203.39x
St Marylebone London 6 8.66x
Toxteth Park 6 11.51x
Brightside Bierlow 5 19.83x
Croydon 4 11.40x
Fulham London 4 21.25x
Liverpool 4 4.28x
Rescobie 4 1290.32x
Liscard 3 58.14x
Tudhoe 3 88.76x
Hampstead London 2 9.90x
Limehouse London 2 14.04x
Nottingham St Mary 2 4.42x
Paddington London 2 4.19x
St George Hanover 2 11.81x
St Giles In Fields 2 44.74x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 1 4.45x
Abergele 1 70.92x
Bray 1 34.97x
Brighton 1 2.27x
Chiswick 1 14.10x
Cookham 1 32.89x
Creich 1 101.01x
Crick 1 243.90x
Ewell 1 75.19x
Gillingham 1 10.95x
Gravesend 1 26.67x
Inveresk 1 21.23x
Islington London 1 0.80x
Kensington London 1 1.39x
Lauder 1 114.94x
Leeds 1 1.38x
Lenton 1 24.27x
Lochalsh 1 108.70x
Marston 1 434.78x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 1 8.67x
Putney 1 16.92x
Rochester St Nicholas 1 72.46x
Sale 1 28.49x
Stockton On Tees 1 5.37x
Upton Cum Chalvey 1 31.95x
West Ham 1 1.77x
Withington 1 20.16x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 6
Elizabeth 4
Ellen 4
Jane 4
Catherine 3
Alice 2
Ann 2
Annie 2
Eliza 2
Ada 1
Agnes 1
Anne 1
Bertha 1
Betsy 1
Carrie 1
Catharine 1
Clara 1
Constance 1
Edith 1
Emmeline 1
Evelyn 1
Florence 1
Georgina 1
Harreitt 1
Isabella 1
Jessie 1
Julie 1
Kate 1
Margaret 1
Minnie 1
Phillis 1
S.C. 1
Sarah 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Mcrae surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mcrae surname in 1881?

In 1881, 4,662 people were recorded with the Mcrae surname. That placed it at #956 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mcrae surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,425 in 2016. That gives Mcrae a modern rank of #2,716.

What does the Mcrae surname mean?

A Scottish surname derived from the Gaelic "Mac Raith," meaning "son of grace" or "son of prosperity."

What does the Mcrae map show?

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