NameCensus.

UK surname

Mcsheffrey

An Irish surname derived from Mac Shéamais, meaning "son of James".

In the 1881 census there were 14 people recorded with the Mcsheffrey surname, ranking it #31,604 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 192, ranked #20,118, up from #31,604 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Kirklees, Lossiemouth East and Seatown and Coventry.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mcsheffrey is 192 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 1271.4%.

1881 census count

14

Ranked #31,604

Modern count

192

2016, ranked #20,118

Peak year

2016

192 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mcsheffrey had 14 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #31,604 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 192 in 2016, ranked #20,118.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 15 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Mcsheffrey surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mcsheffrey surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mcsheffrey 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 4 #32,658
1861 historical 2 #34,135
1881 historical 14 #31,604
1891 historical 15 #32,956
1901 historical 2 #34,263
1911 historical 1 #34,332
1997 modern 157 #20,513
1998 modern 159 #20,916
1999 modern 163 #20,698
2000 modern 171 #20,044
2001 modern 169 #19,912
2002 modern 175 #19,902
2003 modern 170 #20,023
2004 modern 166 #20,441
2005 modern 169 #20,153
2006 modern 171 #20,131
2007 modern 178 #19,887
2008 modern 177 #20,169
2009 modern 186 #19,946
2010 modern 185 #20,453
2011 modern 189 #19,997
2012 modern 188 #20,018
2013 modern 178 #21,108
2014 modern 183 #20,880
2015 modern 189 #20,345
2016 modern 192 #20,118

Geography

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Where Mcsheffreys 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 Kirklees, Lossiemouth East and Seatown and Coventry. 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 Kirklees 037 Kirklees
2 Kirklees 030 Kirklees
3 Lossiemouth East and Seatown Moray
4 Coventry 035 Coventry
5 Kirklees 027 Kirklees

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mcsheffrey

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mcsheffrey

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

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Young Asian Family Terraces

Within London, Mcsheffrey 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.

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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

Mcsheffrey is most concentrated in decile 5 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Mcsheffrey falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Mcsheffrey is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Mcsheffrey

The surname MCSHEFFREY originates from Ireland, tracing its roots back to the 12th century. It is a variant of the Gaelic name "Mac Shéafra," which means "son of Shéafra." The progenitor, Shéafra, was likely a personal name derived from the Old Irish word "seamar," meaning "wealthy" or "prosperous."

The earliest recorded instances of the MCSHEFFREY surname can be found in medieval Irish annals and genealogical records. One notable mention is in the Annals of Ulster, which reference a Muircheartach Mac Shéafra in the year 1246, suggesting the name's use in the province of Ulster during that period.

In the 16th century, the MCSHEFFREY name appears in the Fiants of the Reign of Queen Elizabeth, which were records of royal pardons and grants. This indicates the surname's presence in various parts of Ireland during the Tudor era. Variant spellings like "McSheffry" and "McSheffrey" were also used interchangeably.

The MCSHEFFREY surname has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One such figure was Seán Ó Shéafra (anglicized as John MCSHEFFREY), a 17th-century Irish poet and scholar from County Cavan, renowned for his compositions in the Irish language.

Another prominent bearer of the name was Patrick MCSHEFFREY (1675-1748), an Irish Catholic priest and writer who served as the Bishop of Raphoe in County Donegal. His works included theological treatises and sermons, and he played a significant role in preserving Irish Catholic traditions during the Penal Laws.

In the 19th century, John MCSHEFFREY (1808-1885) was a notable Irish-American businessman and philanthropist from County Tyrone. He immigrated to the United States and established successful enterprises in the mining and railroad industries, eventually becoming a significant benefactor to various educational and charitable causes.

Another notable MCSHEFFREY was Michael Joseph MCSHEFFREY (1864-1940), an Irish-American lawyer and politician from Boston, Massachusetts. He served as a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives and played a crucial role in advocating for the rights of Irish immigrants in the United States.

The MCSHEFFREY surname has also been linked to several place names in Ireland, such as Sheffrey's Pass in County Wicklow, which was likely named after a member of the MCSHEFFREY family who resided in or owned land in that area.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Mcsheffrey surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mcsheffrey surname in 1881?

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

How common is the Mcsheffrey surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 192 in 2016. That gives Mcsheffrey a modern rank of #20,118.

What does the Mcsheffrey surname mean?

An Irish surname derived from Mac Shéamais, meaning "son of James".

What does the Mcsheffrey map show?

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