UK surname
A Gaelic surname derived from the epithet meaning "prosperous" or "fortunate".
In the 1881 census there were 127 people recorded with the Mcready surname, ranking it #17,166 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 72, ranked #33,585, down from #17,166 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Hamilton, New Monkland and Beith. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mcready is 139 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 43.3%.
1881 census count
127
Ranked #17,166
Modern count
72
2016, ranked #33,585
Peak year
1851
139 bearers
Map years
4
1851 to 1901
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Mcready surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Mcready surname density by area, 1881 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 | 139 | #13,659 |
| 1861 | historical | 113 | #19,151 |
| 1881 | historical | 127 | #17,166 |
| 1891 | historical | 93 | #24,965 |
| 1901 | historical | 106 | #22,076 |
| 1911 | historical | 23 | #30,923 |
| 1997 | modern | 77 | #29,874 |
| 1998 | modern | 77 | #30,289 |
| 1999 | modern | 85 | #29,578 |
| 2000 | modern | 75 | #30,668 |
| 2001 | modern | 70 | #31,016 |
| 2002 | modern | 71 | #31,351 |
| 2003 | modern | 70 | #31,486 |
| 2004 | modern | 68 | #31,880 |
| 2005 | modern | 68 | #32,097 |
| 2006 | modern | 70 | #32,240 |
| 2007 | modern | 69 | #32,662 |
| 2008 | modern | 71 | #32,753 |
| 2009 | modern | 73 | #32,923 |
| 2010 | modern | 76 | #33,009 |
| 2011 | modern | 72 | #33,323 |
| 2012 | modern | 68 | #33,763 |
| 2013 | modern | 75 | #33,409 |
| 2014 | modern | 72 | #33,647 |
| 2015 | modern | 71 | #33,666 |
| 2016 | modern | 72 | #33,585 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Hamilton, New Monkland, Beith, Govan Combination and Gateshead. 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 | Hamilton | Lanark |
| 2 | New Monkland | Lanark |
| 3 | Beith | Ayr |
| 4 | Govan Combination | Lanark |
| 5 | Gateshead | Durham |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Mcready 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 Mcready, 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 Mcready surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Mcready 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, Mcready 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 Mcready is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Mcready, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname McReady is of Scottish origin, derived from the Gaelic personal name "Ruaidhrí" meaning "red king" or "red-haired one." It is a variant of the more common Scottish surname MacRae.
The earliest recorded bearers of the name McReady can be traced back to the 16th century in the Scottish Highlands, particularly in the areas around Inverness-shire and Ross-shire. The name is believed to have originated from the same Highland clan as the MacRaes, who were a prominent family in the region.
Historically, the McReadys were known to be involved in the Jacobite uprisings of the 17th and 18th centuries, supporting the cause of the exiled House of Stuart in their attempts to regain the British throne. Several McReadys are mentioned in records of the Battle of Culloden in 1746, which marked the decisive defeat of the Jacobite forces.
One notable figure bearing the name was Sir John McReady (1650-1725), a Scottish military commander who fought for the Jacobite cause during the 1689 uprising against King William III. He later served as a member of the Parliament of Scotland and played a role in the negotiations leading to the Acts of Union in 1707.
Another prominent McReady was Reverend Alexander McReady (1772-1854), a Scottish Presbyterian minister and author who served as the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 1826. He was known for his influential works on theology and church governance.
In the 19th century, James McReady (1801-1879) was a successful businessman and philanthropist from Glasgow, who made his fortune in the textile industry. He was known for his generous donations to educational institutions and charitable causes in Scotland.
The McReady name also found its way to the United States, where one of the earliest recorded bearers was William McReady (1767-1842), a Scottish immigrant who settled in Pennsylvania and served as a soldier during the American Revolutionary War.
Over time, various spellings of the name emerged, such as McReddey, McReddy, and McRedy, but McReady remained the most common form. While the name is still found in Scotland and other parts of the UK, it has also spread to other parts of the world through migration and diaspora.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mcready 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. Lancashire leads with 3 Mcreadys recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.21x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 3 | 5.21x |
| Durham | 2 | 13.86x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kirkdale in Lancashire leads with 2 Mcreadys recorded in 1881 and an index of 206.19x.
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Mcready surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Mcready surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Mcready households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Beerhouse Keeper | 1 |
| Glass Maker | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 127 people were recorded with the Mcready surname. That placed it at #17,166 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 72 in 2016. That gives Mcready a modern rank of #33,585.
A Gaelic surname derived from the epithet meaning "prosperous" or "fortunate".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Mcready 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.