NameCensus.

UK surname

Mcshane

An Anglicized form of the Irish surname Mac Seáin, meaning "son of Seán" (John).

In the 1881 census there were 622 people recorded with the Mcshane surname, ranking it #5,678 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 3,079, ranked #2,190, up from #5,678 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Gateshead, Glasgow and Liverpool. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Machars South, Greenock East and Alva.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mcshane is 3,117 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 395.0%.

1881 census count

622

Ranked #5,678

Modern count

3,079

2016, ranked #2,190

Peak year

2010

3,117 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mcshane had 622 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,678 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 3,079 in 2016, ranked #2,190.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 882 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Mcshane surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mcshane surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mcshane 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 120 #15,144
1861 historical 288 #8,743
1881 historical 622 #5,678
1891 historical 705 #5,565
1901 historical 882 #5,211
1911 historical 409 #9,140
1997 modern 2,665 #2,394
1998 modern 2,790 #2,381
1999 modern 2,810 #2,387
2000 modern 2,808 #2,373
2001 modern 2,750 #2,377
2002 modern 2,841 #2,362
2003 modern 2,778 #2,362
2004 modern 2,817 #2,338
2005 modern 2,827 #2,299
2006 modern 2,881 #2,251
2007 modern 2,897 #2,264
2008 modern 2,952 #2,230
2009 modern 3,031 #2,223
2010 modern 3,117 #2,214
2011 modern 3,045 #2,233
2012 modern 3,008 #2,218
2013 modern 3,087 #2,201
2014 modern 3,095 #2,208
2015 modern 3,077 #2,195
2016 modern 3,079 #2,190

Geography

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Where Mcshanes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Gateshead, Glasgow, Liverpool, Paisley Abbey and Old Monkland. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Machars South, Greenock East, Alva, Nitshill and Greenock Town Centre and East Central. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Gateshead Durham
2 Glasgow Lanark
3 Liverpool Lancashire
4 Paisley Abbey Renfrew
5 Old Monkland Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Machars South Dumfries and Galloway
2 Greenock East Inverclyde
3 Alva Clackmannanshire
4 Nitshill Glasgow City
5 Greenock Town Centre and East Central Inverclyde

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mcshane

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mcshane

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Mcshane, 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 Mcshane surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Mcshane 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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Mcshane 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

Mcshane 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

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

Meaning and origin of Mcshane

The surname McShane originates from Ireland and is derived from the Gaelic name "Mac Seáin," which translates to "son of Seán" or "son of John." It is a prominent Irish surname found predominantly in the counties of Antrim, Armagh, and Down in the northern part of Ireland.

During the Middle Ages, the McShane clan played a significant role in Irish history, particularly in the region of Glenarm, County Antrim. Records indicate that the McShanes were among the principal septs (family branches) of the powerful O'Neill dynasty, who ruled a large part of Ulster for several centuries.

The earliest recorded mention of the surname McShane can be traced back to the 16th century in the "Annals of the Four Masters," a historical chronicle compiled by Irish Franciscan monks. This document mentions a notable figure named Turlough McShane, who was a prominent leader in the late 16th century.

In the 17th century, the McShane surname appeared in various legal documents and records, such as the "Hearth Money Rolls" and the "Census of Ireland" conducted in 1659. These records provide valuable insights into the distribution and prominence of the McShane family during that period.

One notable figure bearing the McShane surname was John McShane (1711-1786), an Irish Catholic patriot and member of the United Irishmen movement. He played a crucial role in advocating for Catholic rights and Irish independence during the late 18th century.

Another prominent individual was Bernard McShane (1809-1888), an Irish-born Roman Catholic priest who served as the Bishop of Dubuque, Iowa, in the United States. He was instrumental in establishing several educational institutions and promoting the growth of the Catholic Church in the Midwestern United States.

In the literary realm, James McShane (1844-1908), an Irish writer and journalist, gained recognition for his contributions to Irish literature and his advocacy for Irish nationalism through his writings and editorials.

The McShane surname has also been associated with various place names in Ireland, such as McShane's Fort in County Antrim and McShane's Glebe in County Down, reflecting the historical presence and influence of the McShane clan in these regions.

Throughout history, the McShane surname has undergone various spelling variations, including MacShane, McShain, and McSheyne, reflecting the phonetic adaptations and regional dialects in different parts of Ireland.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mcshane families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mcshane 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. Lancashire leads with 19 Mcshanes recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.22x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 19 2.22x
Durham 18 8.38x
Yorkshire 11 1.54x
Cumberland 10 16.10x
Northumberland 9 8.38x
Cheshire 4 2.51x
Kent 1 0.41x
Royal Navy 1 11.63x
Surrey 1 0.28x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Liverpool in Lancashire leads with 13 Mcshanes recorded in 1881 and an index of 25.00x.

Place Total Index
Liverpool 13 25.00x
Tanfield 7 274.51x
Gateshead 5 31.11x
Kirkdale 5 34.72x
Ormesby 5 260.42x
Westgate 5 75.19x
Wortley In Bramley 5 88.34x
Birkenhead 4 31.50x
Brandon Byshottles 4 148.70x
Crosscanonby 4 195.12x
Egremont 4 270.27x
Longbenton 3 65.93x
Esh 2 128.21x
Charlton Next Woolwich 1 38.91x
Elswick 1 11.67x
Elton 1 33.78x
Linthorpe 1 23.42x
Putney 1 30.40x
Royal Navy 1 13.61x
Whitehaven 1 30.21x
Workington 1 28.09x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 12
Margaret 4
Ann 2
Annie 2
Catherine 2
Elizabeth 2
Agnes 1
Alice 1
Bridget 1
Elizb. 1
Ellen 1
Hannah 1
Johnanna 1
Katherine 1
Rose 1
Sarah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 10
John 6
Patrick 5
Michael 4
Daniel 3
Francis 3
Peter 2
William 2
Charles 1
Corneilous 1
Felix 1
Hugh 1
Jerry 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 Mcshane households.

FAQ

Mcshane surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mcshane surname in 1881?

In 1881, 622 people were recorded with the Mcshane surname. That placed it at #5,678 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mcshane surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 3,079 in 2016. That gives Mcshane a modern rank of #2,190.

What does the Mcshane surname mean?

An Anglicized form of the Irish surname Mac Seáin, meaning "son of Seán" (John).

What does the Mcshane map show?

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