NameCensus.

UK surname

Mcritchie

Scottish surname transferred from a nickname meaning "son of the wealthy man".

In the 1881 census there were 554 people recorded with the Mcritchie surname, ranking it #6,228 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 468, ranked #10,507, down from #6,228 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lochs, Barvas and Carloway and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Huntly, Fyvie-Rothie and Heldon West, Fogwatt to Inchberry.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mcritchie is 554 in 1881. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 15.5%.

1881 census count

554

Ranked #6,228

Modern count

468

2016, ranked #10,507

Peak year

1881

554 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mcritchie had 554 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,228 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 468 in 2016, ranked #10,507.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 554 in 1881.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Mcritchie surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mcritchie surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mcritchie 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 349 #6,747
1861 historical 394 #6,504
1881 historical 554 #6,228
1891 historical 535 #7,026
1901 historical 520 #7,818
1911 historical 71 #25,742
1997 modern 449 #10,094
1998 modern 465 #10,155
1999 modern 478 #10,007
2000 modern 463 #10,200
2001 modern 457 #10,113
2002 modern 465 #10,163
2003 modern 474 #9,865
2004 modern 469 #9,983
2005 modern 477 #9,764
2006 modern 467 #9,969
2007 modern 480 #9,860
2008 modern 480 #9,948
2009 modern 495 #9,942
2010 modern 500 #10,059
2011 modern 472 #10,400
2012 modern 448 #10,702
2013 modern 467 #10,544
2014 modern 469 #10,570
2015 modern 466 #10,552
2016 modern 468 #10,507

Geography

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Where Mcritchies are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lochs, Barvas and Carloway, Edinburgh, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry and Couper Angus. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Huntly, Fyvie-Rothie, Heldon West, Fogwatt to Inchberry, Brechin East and Forres South West and Mannachie. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Lochs Ross And Cromarty
2 Barvas and Carloway Ross And Cromarty
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar
5 Couper Angus Perth

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Huntly Aberdeenshire
2 Fyvie-Rothie Aberdeenshire
3 Heldon West, Fogwatt to Inchberry Moray
4 Brechin East Angus
5 Forres South West and Mannachie Moray

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mcritchie

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mcritchie

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

Read profile summary

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Mcritchie is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Mcritchie 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

Mcritchie falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Mcritchie is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Mcritchie

The surname McRitchie is of Scottish origin, with its roots tracing back to the 12th century in the Highlands region of Scotland. The name is believed to be derived from the Gaelic words "mac" meaning "son of" and "riabhach" meaning "brindled" or "grizzled," referring to a person with streaks of gray in their hair.

The name first appeared in written records in the early 14th century, with mentions of individuals bearing variations such as McRitchie, McRytchie, and McRitchy in various charters and legal documents from that era. One of the earliest known references is found in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland from 1328, which mentions a "Duncanus McRytchy" from the county of Argyll.

In the late 15th century, the McRitchie clan was known to have settled in the areas around Loch Lomond and the Trossachs, where they were involved in farming and cattle herding. The name is closely associated with the parish of Buchanan, which was once part of the ancient Kingdom of Strathclyde.

Notable individuals bearing the McRitchie surname throughout history include:

1. John McRitchie (c. 1580-1638), a Scottish clergyman and author who served as the minister of Clunie Parish in Perthshire. 2. Duncan McRitchie (1751-1829), a Scottish farmer and cattle breeder from Argyll, known for his contribution to the development of the Galloway cattle breed. 3. William McRitchie (1809-1891), a Scottish-born Australian explorer and pastoralist who played a significant role in the early settlement of South Australia and Victoria. 4. Alexander McRitchie (1836-1919), a Scottish-born Australian businessman and politician who served as a member of the New South Wales Legislative Council. 5. Robert McRitchie (1857-1923), a Scottish-born Australian writer and journalist, best known for his historical works on the settlement of Australia.

The name McRitchie has also been associated with several place names in Scotland, such as McRitchie's Burn, a stream located near the village of Buchanan, and McRitchie's Hill, a prominent landmark in the Trossachs region. These place names serve as a testament to the long-standing presence and influence of the McRitchie clan in the Scottish Highlands.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mcritchie families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mcritchie 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. Durham leads with 6 Mcritchies recorded in 1881 and an index of 18.81x.

County Total Index
Durham 6 18.81x
Kent 3 8.20x
Huntingdonshire 1 46.95x
Royal Navy 1 78.13x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Westoe in Durham leads with 6 Mcritchies recorded in 1881 and an index of 331.49x.

Place Total Index
Westoe 6 331.49x
Deptford St Paul 3 106.38x
Huntingdon St John 1 1666.67x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 2
Elizabeth 1
Margt. 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 2
David 1
Donald 1
Edward 1
Thos.J. 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 Mcritchie households.

FAQ

Mcritchie surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mcritchie surname in 1881?

In 1881, 554 people were recorded with the Mcritchie surname. That placed it at #6,228 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mcritchie surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 468 in 2016. That gives Mcritchie a modern rank of #10,507.

What does the Mcritchie surname mean?

Scottish surname transferred from a nickname meaning "son of the wealthy man".

What does the Mcritchie map show?

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