NameCensus.

UK surname

Mctavish

An Anglicized form of the Scottish Gaelic surname "MacTàbhais" meaning "son of the philosopher or learned man".

In the 1881 census there were 889 people recorded with the Mctavish surname, ranking it #4,278 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 543, ranked #9,384, down from #4,278 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Dull, South Knapdale and Govan Combination. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Huntly, New Elgin West and Nairn Rural.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mctavish is 889 in 1881. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 38.9%.

1881 census count

889

Ranked #4,278

Modern count

543

2016, ranked #9,384

Peak year

1881

889 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mctavish had 889 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,278 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 543 in 2016, ranked #9,384.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 889 in 1881.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Mctavish surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mctavish surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mctavish 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 861 #3,161
1861 historical 779 #3,531
1881 historical 889 #4,278
1891 historical 868 #4,730
1901 historical 816 #5,532
1911 historical 98 #22,959
1997 modern 498 #9,324
1998 modern 512 #9,414
1999 modern 516 #9,439
2000 modern 509 #9,504
2001 modern 495 #9,544
2002 modern 494 #9,718
2003 modern 466 #9,973
2004 modern 484 #9,729
2005 modern 504 #9,393
2006 modern 502 #9,463
2007 modern 508 #9,455
2008 modern 515 #9,430
2009 modern 513 #9,654
2010 modern 523 #9,726
2011 modern 511 #9,792
2012 modern 496 #9,921
2013 modern 503 #9,979
2014 modern 517 #9,846
2015 modern 525 #9,669
2016 modern 543 #9,384

Geography

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Where Mctavishs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Dull, South Knapdale, Govan Combination, Kilmichael Glassary and Edinburgh. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Huntly, New Elgin West, Nairn Rural, Broomhill and Viewpark. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Dull Perth
2 South Knapdale Argyll
3 Govan Combination Lanark
4 Kilmichael Glassary Argyll
5 Edinburgh Edinburgh

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Huntly Aberdeenshire
2 New Elgin West Moray
3 Nairn Rural Highland
4 Broomhill Glasgow City
5 Viewpark North Lanarkshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mctavish

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mctavish

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

Legacy Communities

Group

Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities

Nationally, the Mctavish surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Mctavish household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Households in these areas often include divorced or separated parents and commonly include children and young adults. The age structure is heavily skewed towards the most advanced age groups. Individuals identifying as members of ethnic minorities are not present in large numbers. Flats predominate, with some terraced, semi-detached, and detached units. Multiple car ownership is low, and housing is predominantly in the private and social rented sectors. Employment is less skewed towards traditional routine industrial occupations. Levels of educational attainment are generally low. The Group occurs principally in the Central Lowlands of Scotland and other Scottish towns.

Wider pattern

These neighbourhoods characteristically comprise pockets of flats that are scattered across the UK, particularly in towns that retain or have legacies of heavy industry or are in more remote seaside locations. Employed residents of these neighbourhoods work mainly in low-skilled occupations. Residents typically have limited educational qualifications. Unemployment is above average. Some residents live in overcrowded housing within the social rented sector and experience long-term disability. All adult age groups are represented, although there is an overall age bias towards elderly people in general and the very old in particular. Individuals identifying as belonging to ethnic minorities or Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups are uncommon.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Mctavish is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Mctavish 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

Mctavish 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 Mctavish is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Mctavish

The surname McTavish originates from Scotland, arising in the late medieval period around the 13th century. It is an Anglicized form of the Scottish Gaelic "MacTàbhais" or "MacTàthais", meaning "son of Tàbhais" or "son of Tàthas". These Gaelic personal names were likely derived from the old Celtic name "Tàveis" or "Tàthas".

The earliest known bearer of this surname was Gillecrist MacTavys, who was recorded in a charter dated 1263 in Argyll, Scotland. Another early example is Gillecrist McTavisch, who was mentioned in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland in 1329. The name appeared in various spellings in old Scottish records, such as McTauisch, McTauys, and McTawisch.

The McTavish clan was historically based in the Scottish Highlands, particularly in Argyllshire and the Hebrides Islands. The clan's ancestral lands included the islands of Mull and Islay, where they were a prominent family. The McTavish chiefs held the hereditary title of "Baron of Dunardry" on the island of Islay.

Notable individuals with the surname McTavish include:

1. John McTavish (c. 1745-1804), a Scottish-Canadian fur trader and explorer who was instrumental in the early development of the Canadian Northwest.

2. Dugald McTavish (c. 1770-1858), a Scottish-Canadian fur trader and partner in the North West Company, who played a significant role in the company's operations in the Pacific Northwest.

3. Sir Patrick McTavish (1854-1937), a Scottish-Canadian businessman and philanthropist, who was instrumental in the development of the Canadian Pacific Railway.

4. Angus McTavish (1863-1940), a Scottish-born Canadian politician who served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia.

5. James McTavish (1892-1976), a Scottish-Canadian politician and businessman, who served as the 21st Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba from 1958 to 1964.

The McTavish surname is still found predominantly in Scotland, particularly in the Argyll and Bute region, as well as in Canada, where many Scottish immigrants settled over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mctavish families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mctavish 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 15 Mctavishs recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.93x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 15 3.93x
Aberdeenshire 6 20.14x
Glamorgan 4 7.14x
Inverness-shire 3 31.22x
Morayshire 2 40.00x
Cheshire 1 1.41x
Denbighshire 1 8.23x
Royal Navy 1 26.11x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Everton in Lancashire leads with 8 Mctavishs recorded in 1881 and an index of 65.79x.

Place Total Index
Everton 8 65.79x
Kirkdale 7 109.03x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 6 107.72x
Roath 4 157.48x
Laggan 3 3000.00x
New Spynie 2 1111.11x
Abenbury Fawr 1 5000.00x
Birkenhead 1 17.67x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 2
Sarah 2
Ann 1
Annie 1
Flora 1
Isabella 1
Jane 1
Janet 1
Mary 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Alexander 2
John 2
Donald 1
Duncan 1
James 1
Robert 1
Thomas 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 Mctavish households.

FAQ

Mctavish surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mctavish surname in 1881?

In 1881, 889 people were recorded with the Mctavish surname. That placed it at #4,278 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mctavish surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 543 in 2016. That gives Mctavish a modern rank of #9,384.

What does the Mctavish surname mean?

An Anglicized form of the Scottish Gaelic surname "MacTàbhais" meaning "son of the philosopher or learned man".

What does the Mctavish map show?

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