NameCensus.

UK surname

Mcsweeney

Derived from the Gaelic "Mac Suibhne," meaning "son of Suibhne," a personal name meaning "pleasant" or "well-disposed."

In the 1881 census there were 241 people recorded with the Mcsweeney surname, ranking it #11,374 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,379, ranked #4,378, up from #11,374 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St Pancras and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Sheffield, Barking and Dagenham and Hammersmith and Fulham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mcsweeney is 1,429 in 2011. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 472.2%.

1881 census count

241

Ranked #11,374

Modern count

1,379

2016, ranked #4,378

Peak year

2011

1,429 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mcsweeney had 241 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,374 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,379 in 2016, ranked #4,378.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 433 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Mcsweeney surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mcsweeney surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Mcsweeney 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 61 #22,412
1861 historical 82 #23,321
1881 historical 241 #11,374
1891 historical 280 #11,665
1901 historical 371 #9,997
1911 historical 433 #8,762
1997 modern 1,352 #4,256
1998 modern 1,386 #4,313
1999 modern 1,408 #4,281
2000 modern 1,391 #4,309
2001 modern 1,350 #4,330
2002 modern 1,382 #4,337
2003 modern 1,352 #4,346
2004 modern 1,368 #4,315
2005 modern 1,327 #4,363
2006 modern 1,343 #4,333
2007 modern 1,357 #4,338
2008 modern 1,356 #4,361
2009 modern 1,382 #4,374
2010 modern 1,406 #4,390
2011 modern 1,429 #4,299
2012 modern 1,370 #4,383
2013 modern 1,382 #4,424
2014 modern 1,405 #4,383
2015 modern 1,392 #4,369
2016 modern 1,379 #4,378

Geography

Back to top

Where Mcsweeneys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St Pancras, Manchester and St Mary Islington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Sheffield, Barking and Dagenham, Hammersmith and Fulham, Reading and Basildon. 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 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 St Pancras London (North Districts)
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 St Mary Islington London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Sheffield 003 Sheffield
2 Barking and Dagenham 015 Barking and Dagenham
3 Hammersmith and Fulham 020 Hammersmith and Fulham
4 Reading 017 Reading
5 Basildon 002 Basildon

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Mcsweeney

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Mcsweeney

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Mcsweeney surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Mcsweeney household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Mcsweeney 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

Mcsweeney 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

Mcsweeney falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Mcsweeney

The surname McSweeney originated in Ireland, specifically in the southwestern region of County Cork. It is derived from the Irish Gaelic name Mac Suibhne, which means "son of Suibhne." Suibhne is an ancient personal name that has been anglicized as Sweeney.

The McSweeney name can be traced back to the 11th century when the family was part of the Dál gCais clan, which ruled the region of Thomond (now County Clare and parts of County Limerick). The McSweeneys were a prominent sept (branch) of the Dál gCais and held significant power and influence in the area.

In the 14th century, a notable figure named Niall McSweeney was recorded as the Chief of the McSweeneys in County Cork. He was involved in various conflicts and battles during the Norman invasion of Ireland.

The name McSweeney is also mentioned in the Annals of the Four Masters, an important chronicle of medieval Irish history compiled in the 17th century. The annals record several McSweeney clan chiefs and their activities during that period.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname is found in the Papal Taxation Rolls of 1302-1307, which list a "John McSweeney" as a tenant in County Cork.

In the 16th century, a famous McSweeney was Donogh McSweeney, who became the Bishop of Raphoe in County Donegal. He was a prominent figure in the Irish Catholic Church during the tumultuous years of the Protestant Reformation.

Another notable McSweeney was John McSweeney (1754-1826), an Irish-born political activist and military leader who fought in the American Revolutionary War. He later became a prominent figure in the Irish Patriot movement, advocating for Irish independence.

In the 19th century, John McSweeney (1834-1906) was an Irish-American journalist and politician who served as the 49th Mayor of New York City from 1894 to 1897.

The McSweeney name has also been associated with various place names in Ireland, such as Ballymacswiney (meaning "McSweeney's town") in County Cork and Kilmeedy (derived from Cill Mhic Suibhne, meaning "McSweeney's church") in County Limerick.

Over time, the name has been anglicized and has variations such as Sweeney, Sweeny, and Swiney, but McSweeney remains the most common spelling.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Mcsweeney families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mcsweeney 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. Middlesex leads with 19 Mcsweeneys recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.28x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 19 9.28x
Hampshire 1 2.38x
Surrey 1 1.00x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Mary Le Strand in Middlesex leads with 5 Mcsweeneys recorded in 1881 and an index of 7142.86x.

Place Total Index
St Mary Le Strand 5 7142.86x
Limehouse London 3 133.33x
St Pancras London 3 18.20x
Kensington London 2 17.56x
St Marylebone London 2 18.30x
Camberwell 1 7.65x
Farnborough 1 227.27x
Isleworth 1 109.89x
Mile End Old Town 1 30.96x
St George Hanover 1 37.45x
Whitechapel London 1 49.51x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Catherine 2
Eliza 2
Mary 2
Sophie 2
Annie 1
Elizabeth 1
Ellen 1
Emily 1
Hannah 1
Johanna 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 3
Daniel 1
James 1
Richard 1
William 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 Mcsweeney households.

FAQ

Mcsweeney surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mcsweeney surname in 1881?

In 1881, 241 people were recorded with the Mcsweeney surname. That placed it at #11,374 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mcsweeney surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,379 in 2016. That gives Mcsweeney a modern rank of #4,378.

What does the Mcsweeney surname mean?

Derived from the Gaelic "Mac Suibhne," meaning "son of Suibhne," a personal name meaning "pleasant" or "well-disposed."

What does the Mcsweeney map show?

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