NameCensus.

UK surname

Mcsharry

Irish surname meaning "son of a sea warrior" or "mariner's son".

In the 1881 census there were 14 people recorded with the Mcsharry surname, ranking it #31,604 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 351, ranked #13,127, up from #31,604 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Swindon, Warwick and Rutland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mcsharry is 366 in 2011. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 2407.1%.

1881 census count

14

Ranked #31,604

Modern count

351

2016, ranked #13,127

Peak year

2011

366 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mcsharry had 14 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #31,604 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 351 in 2016, ranked #13,127.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 22 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Suburban Professionals.

Mcsharry surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mcsharry surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mcsharry 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 10 #31,497
1861 historical 22 #31,140
1881 historical 14 #31,604
1891 historical 22 #32,449
1901 historical 14 #32,506
1911 historical 6 #33,255
1997 modern 301 #13,492
1998 modern 313 #13,504
1999 modern 318 #13,444
2000 modern 329 #13,090
2001 modern 323 #13,083
2002 modern 312 #13,639
2003 modern 340 #12,685
2004 modern 326 #13,122
2005 modern 321 #13,195
2006 modern 330 #13,021
2007 modern 333 #13,062
2008 modern 348 #12,751
2009 modern 355 #12,832
2010 modern 359 #12,975
2011 modern 366 #12,667
2012 modern 355 #12,816
2013 modern 355 #13,045
2014 modern 358 #13,045
2015 modern 351 #13,135
2016 modern 351 #13,127

Geography

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Where Mcsharrys 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 Swindon, Warwick, Rutland, Birmingham and Rothesay Town. 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 Swindon 001 Swindon
2 Warwick 015 Warwick
3 Rutland 001 Rutland
4 Birmingham 132 Birmingham
5 Rothesay Town Argyll and Bute

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mcsharry

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mcsharry

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

Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals

Group

Suburban Professionals

Nationally, the Mcsharry surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Suburban Professionals, within Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals. This does not mean every Mcsharry household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Employment in this Group is typically in managerial and professional occupations, and education to degree level is common. Residents are typically of working age, many of whom identify with an Indian ethnicity. Households are unlikely to be of Mixed or Multiple ethnicities, and English is not the main language used in some households. This Group is found on the outskirts of most conurbations as well as in the suburbs of some free-standing towns.

Wider pattern

Those working within the managerial, professional and administrative occupations typically reflect a wide range of ethnic groups, and reside in detached or semi-detached housing. Their residential locations at the edges of cities and conurbations and car-based lifestyles are more characteristic of Supergroup membership than birthplace or participation in child-rearing. Houses are typically owner-occupied and marriage rates are lower than the national average. This Supergroup is found throughout suburban UK.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Mcsharry is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, 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 residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

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

Mcsharry 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

Mcsharry falls in decile 5 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Mcsharry 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 Mcsharry, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Mcsharry

The surname MCSHARRY is of Irish origin, originating from County Donegal in the northwest of Ireland. It is derived from the Gaelic name Mac Sharaidh, meaning "son of Sharry" or "son of the keen-eyed one". The prefix "Mac" means "son of" in Gaelic.

MCSHARRY is a variant spelling of the more common Irish surname McSherry or McSherry. The name is thought to have originated in the 12th or 13th century, during the period of the Normans' arrival in Ireland. The earliest recorded instance of the name is found in the Annals of Ulster, a chronicle of medieval Irish history, which mentions a "Mac Sharry" in 1336.

The McSharrys were a prominent family in County Donegal, particularly in the baronies of Raphoe and Kilmacrenan. They were part of the Gaelic aristocracy and held lands in the area for centuries. The name is also associated with the parish of Culdaff in Inishowen, Donegal, where a branch of the family settled.

One of the earliest recorded bearers of the name was Niall McSherry, a 16th-century Irish chieftain and lord of the McSherry clan in Donegal. Another notable figure was Reverend Patrick McSharry (1609-1677), a Catholic priest and one of the founders of the Irish College in Paris.

During the Plantation of Ulster in the 17th century, many McSharrys were dispossessed of their lands and displaced. Some emigrated to continental Europe, while others remained in Ireland. In the 19th century, the name became more widespread due to the Irish diaspora, with many McSharrys settling in Britain, North America, and Australia.

Other notable bearers of the name include:

1. Luke McSharry (1843-1917), an Irish-American politician and businessman from New York. 2. Michael McSharry (1865-1942), an Irish Nationalist politician and member of the Irish Parliamentary Party. 3. John McSharry (1872-1946), an Irish-American baseball player for the Pittsburgh Pirates. 4. Eamonn McSharry (1933-2018), an Irish journalist and broadcaster. 5. Stephen McSharry (born 1980), an Irish rugby union player and coach.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mcsharry families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mcsharry 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. Essex leads with 1 Mcsharrys recorded in 1881 and an index of 52.63x.

County Total Index
Essex 1 52.63x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Chelmsford in Essex leads with 1 Mcsharrys recorded in 1881 and an index of 3333.33x.

Place Total Index
Chelmsford 1 3333.33x

Top male names

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

Name Count
Jas. 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 Mcsharry households.

Occupation Count
Genl Laborer 1

FAQ

Mcsharry surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mcsharry surname in 1881?

In 1881, 14 people were recorded with the Mcsharry surname. That placed it at #31,604 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mcsharry surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 351 in 2016. That gives Mcsharry a modern rank of #13,127.

What does the Mcsharry surname mean?

Irish surname meaning "son of a sea warrior" or "mariner's son".

What does the Mcsharry map show?

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