NameCensus.

UK surname

Mcreynolds

A patronymic surname of Irish and Scottish origin, meaning "son of Reginald" or "son of the bold ruler."

In the 1881 census there were 47 people recorded with the Mcreynolds surname, ranking it #27,019 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 262, ranked #16,256, up from #27,019 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Arbroath Warddykes, IZ08 and Bromley.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mcreynolds is 268 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 457.4%.

1881 census count

47

Ranked #27,019

Modern count

262

2016, ranked #16,256

Peak year

2010

268 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mcreynolds had 47 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #27,019 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 262 in 2016, ranked #16,256.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 82 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Mcreynolds surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mcreynolds surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mcreynolds 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 8 #31,867
1861 historical 34 #29,685
1881 historical 47 #27,019
1891 historical 62 #28,991
1901 historical 82 #25,019
1911 historical 48 #28,006
1997 modern 216 #16,802
1998 modern 216 #17,257
1999 modern 239 #16,268
2000 modern 244 #16,004
2001 modern 237 #16,048
2002 modern 246 #15,988
2003 modern 241 #16,013
2004 modern 243 #16,004
2005 modern 247 #15,763
2006 modern 243 #16,052
2007 modern 250 #15,901
2008 modern 252 #15,984
2009 modern 258 #16,050
2010 modern 268 #15,978
2011 modern 268 #15,843
2012 modern 265 #15,862
2013 modern 268 #16,005
2014 modern 262 #16,380
2015 modern 268 #16,007
2016 modern 262 #16,256

Geography

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Where Mcreynolds' 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 Arbroath Warddykes, IZ08, Bromley, Hinckley and Bosworth and Leicester. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Arbroath Warddykes Angus
2 IZ08 West Dunbartonshire
3 Bromley 004 Bromley
4 Hinckley and Bosworth 005 Hinckley and Bosworth
5 Leicester 011 Leicester

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mcreynolds

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mcreynolds

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Mcreynolds, 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 Mcreynolds surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Mcreynolds household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

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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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Mcreynolds 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.

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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

Mcreynolds is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Mcreynolds

The surname McReynolds has its origins in Scotland, emerging in the 15th century. It is a variant of the more common Scottish surname Reynolds, which is derived from the given name Reynold or Reginald, an Old German name meaning "counsel-ruler" or "brave counsel." The prefix "Mc" or "Mac" indicates the name is of Scottish origin and means "son of."

The earliest known references to the name date back to the late 15th century in the Scottish Borders region. The name was particularly prevalent in the counties of Dumfries, Roxburgh, and Berwick. Early records show variations in spelling, including MacReynolds, McReynauld, and McRennald.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname is John McReynolds, who is mentioned in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland in 1488. Another notable early bearer of the name is William McReynolds, who served as a merchant and burgess in Edinburgh in the early 16th century.

In the 17th century, the McReynolds family played a significant role in the Scottish Covenanting movement, which sought to preserve Presbyterian church governance against the efforts of the Stuart monarchs to impose episcopacy. Robert McReynolds (1595-1672) was a prominent Covenanter minister and author from Dumfriesshire.

During the 18th and 19th centuries, many McReynolds families immigrated to North America, particularly to the United States and Canada. One notable early American bearer of the name was James McReynolds (1762-1839), a soldier from Virginia who fought in the American Revolutionary War.

Other notable individuals with the surname McReynolds include:

1. John McReynolds (1846-1916), an American rancher and businessman from Texas who was involved in the early development of the petroleum industry.

2. James Clark McReynolds (1862-1946), an American lawyer and jurist who served as the United States Attorney General and as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court.

3. Samuel McReynolds (1872-1952), an American artist and illustrator known for his work in magazines and newspapers in the early 20th century.

4. Marcia McReynolds (1921-2004), an American politician who served as a member of the Arkansas House of Representatives and advocated for civil rights and women's rights.

5. Jim McReynolds (born 1952), an American football player who played as a defensive back in the National Football League for the Philadelphia Eagles and the New Orleans Saints.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Mcreynolds surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mcreynolds surname in 1881?

In 1881, 47 people were recorded with the Mcreynolds surname. That placed it at #27,019 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mcreynolds surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 262 in 2016. That gives Mcreynolds a modern rank of #16,256.

What does the Mcreynolds surname mean?

A patronymic surname of Irish and Scottish origin, meaning "son of Reginald" or "son of the bold ruler."

What does the Mcreynolds map show?

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