NameCensus.

UK surname

Mctear

A surname deriving from the Gaelic "Mac an t-Saoirmhiacair" meaning "son of the carpenter."

In the 1881 census there were 192 people recorded with the Mctear surname, ranking it #13,185 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 389, ranked #12,109, up from #13,185 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Plumbland, Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside and Govan Combination. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Ribble Valley and Allerdale.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mctear is 402 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 102.6%.

1881 census count

192

Ranked #13,185

Modern count

389

2016, ranked #12,109

Peak year

2010

402 bearers

Map years

6

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mctear had 192 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,185 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 389 in 2016, ranked #12,109.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 253 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Mctear surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mctear surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mctear 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 64 #21,914
1861 historical 99 #21,294
1881 historical 192 #13,185
1891 historical 187 #15,679
1901 historical 253 #13,045
1911 historical 82 #24,635
1997 modern 339 #12,464
1998 modern 354 #12,438
1999 modern 361 #12,347
2000 modern 350 #12,564
2001 modern 338 #12,669
2002 modern 343 #12,803
2003 modern 346 #12,511
2004 modern 351 #12,422
2005 modern 336 #12,767
2006 modern 352 #12,396
2007 modern 361 #12,303
2008 modern 372 #12,123
2009 modern 392 #11,908
2010 modern 402 #11,949
2011 modern 397 #11,921
2012 modern 388 #11,996
2013 modern 396 #12,015
2014 modern 397 #12,076
2015 modern 390 #12,139
2016 modern 389 #12,109

Geography

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Where Mctears are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Plumbland, Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Govan Combination, Prescot and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Ribble Valley and Allerdale. 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 Plumbland Cumberland
2 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
3 Govan Combination Lanark
4 Prescot Lancashire
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Ribble Valley 003 Ribble Valley
2 Allerdale 003 Allerdale
3 Allerdale 005 Allerdale
4 Allerdale 001 Allerdale
5 Allerdale 004 Allerdale

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mctear

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mctear

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

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Mctear 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

Mctear 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

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

Meaning and origin of Mctear

The surname MCTEAR originates from Scotland, with its roots dating back to the 16th century. It is derived from the Gaelic words "mac" meaning "son of" and "tear" meaning "smooth hill" or "fertile land." This suggests that the earliest bearers of this name were likely inhabitants of or had close ties to a region characterized by gently rolling hills or arable land.

The name MCTEAR appears in various historical records, including the Scottish Clan and Family Records, which document its presence in the Highlands and Lowlands regions. One of the earliest known references is found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which recorded individuals swearing allegiance to King Edward I of England. The name is also mentioned in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland from the 14th century.

In the 17th century, the MCTEAR name gained prominence with the birth of Robert MCTEAR (1610-1678), a notable Scottish landowner and merchant who played a significant role in the local economy of his region. His descendants continued to contribute to the cultural and economic fabric of Scotland in the following centuries.

Another noteworthy figure bearing the MCTEAR surname was Sir William MCTEAR (1788-1856), a prominent Scottish lawyer and politician who served as Lord Advocate of Scotland from 1834 to 1835. He was recognized for his legal expertise and contributions to the Scottish legal system.

In the literary realm, the poet and playwright James MCTEAR (1820-1892) gained recognition for his works that captured the essence of Scottish life and culture. His collection of poems, "The Heather Bells of Scotland," published in 1865, remains a celebrated work among Scottish literary circles.

The MCTEAR name has also been associated with various place names in Scotland, such as Mctearville and Mctearton, which were likely derived from the surname or vice versa. These place names reflect the historical presence and influence of the MCTEAR family in certain regions of the country.

Throughout history, the MCTEAR surname has undergone various spellings, including McTeer, McTier, and McTeir, reflecting the evolution of language and regional dialects. However, the core elements of the name have remained intact, preserving its Scottish heritage and connection to the land.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mctear families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mctear 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. Cumberland leads with 7 Mctears recorded in 1881 and an index of 46.30x.

County Total Index
Cumberland 7 46.30x
Ayrshire 6 45.66x
Cheshire 4 10.32x
Lancashire 1 0.48x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Aspatria in Cumberland leads with 7 Mctears recorded in 1881 and an index of 4666.67x.

Place Total Index
Aspatria 7 4666.67x
Dalmellington 6 1538.46x
Birkenhead 4 129.45x
Kirkdale 1 28.57x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Ann 1
Ellenor 1
Kate 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 2
Isaac 1
John 1
Josia 1
Robert 1
Thomas 1
Walter 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 Mctear households.

FAQ

Mctear surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mctear surname in 1881?

In 1881, 192 people were recorded with the Mctear surname. That placed it at #13,185 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mctear surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 389 in 2016. That gives Mctear a modern rank of #12,109.

What does the Mctear surname mean?

A surname deriving from the Gaelic "Mac an t-Saoirmhiacair" meaning "son of the carpenter."

What does the Mctear map show?

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