NameCensus.

UK surname

Mcroy

An Irish surname derived from MacRuaidhri meaning "son of the red king."

In the 1881 census there were 49 people recorded with the Mcroy surname, ranking it #26,735 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 120, ranked #27,563, down from #26,735 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Redcar and Cleveland, Salford and Northumberland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mcroy is 141 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 144.9%.

1881 census count

49

Ranked #26,735

Modern count

120

2016, ranked #27,563

Peak year

2010

141 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mcroy had 49 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #26,735 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 120 in 2016, ranked #27,563.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 96 in 1851.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Mcroy surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mcroy surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mcroy 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 96 #17,594
1861 historical 66 #25,487
1881 historical 49 #26,735
1891 historical 50 #30,253
1901 historical 89 #24,154
1911 historical 64 #26,435
1997 modern 130 #23,021
1998 modern 128 #23,828
1999 modern 115 #25,620
2000 modern 111 #26,111
2001 modern 110 #25,900
2002 modern 116 #25,632
2003 modern 116 #25,415
2004 modern 124 #24,559
2005 modern 118 #25,301
2006 modern 113 #26,267
2007 modern 116 #26,209
2008 modern 119 #26,067
2009 modern 131 #25,056
2010 modern 141 #24,460
2011 modern 136 #24,819
2012 modern 131 #25,439
2013 modern 127 #26,452
2014 modern 126 #26,781
2015 modern 124 #26,944
2016 modern 120 #27,563

Geography

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Where Mcroys 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 Redcar and Cleveland, Salford and Northumberland. 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 Redcar and Cleveland 022 Redcar and Cleveland
2 Salford 023 Salford
3 Salford 021 Salford
4 Northumberland 029 Northumberland
5 Redcar and Cleveland 009 Redcar and Cleveland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mcroy

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mcroy

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

Young Families in Industrial Towns

Nationally, the Mcroy surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Mcroy household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

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

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Young Asian Family Terraces

Within London, Mcroy is most associated with areas classed as Young Asian Family Terraces, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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 households with dependent children typically live in terraced housing and are of (non-Chinese) Asian extraction. Individuals with Bangladeshi origins are particularly in evidence. Employment is often in elementary occupations or as process, plant or machine operatives, and part-time work is common. Students are much in evidence.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Mcroy is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Mcroy 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 Mcroy is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Mcroy

The surname McRoy has its origins in Scotland, dating back to the 16th century. It is a variant of the name Roy, which is derived from the Gaelic word "ruadh," meaning "red" or "red-haired." The prefix "Mc" or "Mac" was commonly used in Scottish surnames to indicate "son of."

The McRoy name was particularly prevalent in the Scottish Highlands, where many families bearing this surname resided. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a historical record of Scottish nobles who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England. The name appears as "Makroy" in this document.

In the 17th century, the McRoy surname is found in various records and manuscripts, including parish registers and court documents. One notable example is John McRoy, a merchant from Glasgow, who was born in 1640 and played a role in the city's trade and commerce during that time.

The name McRoy has also been associated with several place names in Scotland, such as the village of Roag on the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides. This place name is thought to be derived from the Gaelic word "ruadh," further reinforcing the connection between the surname and its meaning of "red" or "red-haired."

Throughout history, several individuals with the surname McRoy have achieved notable recognition. One such figure was Sir John McRoy (1688-1765), a Scottish politician and landowner who served as a member of the British Parliament for the constituency of Inverness Burghs. Another prominent individual was Reverend James McRoy (1715-1790), a Scottish minister and author who wrote extensively on religious topics.

In the 19th century, the name McRoy gained recognition through the achievements of individuals like William McRoy (1810-1888), a Scottish-born Australian settler who played a significant role in the early development of the city of Melbourne. Additionally, John McRoy (1835-1904), a Scottish-born American businessman, made his mark as a successful industrialist and philanthropist in the United States.

One of the more recent historical figures bearing the surname McRoy was Sir John McRoy (1914-2001), a British diplomat who served as the Ambassador to the United Nations and played a crucial role in international affairs during the latter half of the 20th century.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mcroy families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mcroy 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 3 Mcroys recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.81x.

County Total Index
Durham 3 14.81x
Lancashire 3 3.71x
Cheshire 1 6.65x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. East Murton in Durham leads with 3 Mcroys recorded in 1881 and an index of 7500.00x.

Place Total Index
East Murton 3 7500.00x
Manchester 3 82.64x
Liscard 1 370.37x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 3
John 1
Owen 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 Mcroy households.

FAQ

Mcroy surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mcroy surname in 1881?

In 1881, 49 people were recorded with the Mcroy surname. That placed it at #26,735 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mcroy surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 120 in 2016. That gives Mcroy a modern rank of #27,563.

What does the Mcroy surname mean?

An Irish surname derived from MacRuaidhri meaning "son of the red king."

What does the Mcroy map show?

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