NameCensus.

UK surname

Mcteer

A variant of the Scots surname McTear, meaning "son of the tearful one."

In the 1881 census there were 36 people recorded with the Mcteer surname, ranking it #28,559 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 146, ranked #24,173, up from #28,559 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Gateshead and Northumberland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mcteer is 161 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 305.6%.

1881 census count

36

Ranked #28,559

Modern count

146

2016, ranked #24,173

Peak year

1999

161 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mcteer had 36 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #28,559 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 146 in 2016, ranked #24,173.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 62 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Mcteer surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mcteer surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Mcteer 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 34 #27,194
1861 historical 38 #29,216
1881 historical 36 #28,559
1891 historical 62 #28,991
1901 historical 54 #28,178
1911 historical 53 #27,508
1997 modern 155 #20,684
1998 modern 158 #20,992
1999 modern 161 #20,868
2000 modern 161 #20,822
2001 modern 158 #20,788
2002 modern 156 #21,348
2003 modern 142 #22,460
2004 modern 141 #22,689
2005 modern 145 #22,253
2006 modern 145 #22,420
2007 modern 143 #22,924
2008 modern 142 #23,270
2009 modern 146 #23,352
2010 modern 148 #23,697
2011 modern 143 #24,056
2012 modern 145 #23,780
2013 modern 143 #24,434
2014 modern 145 #24,395
2015 modern 146 #24,148
2016 modern 146 #24,173

Geography

Back to top

Where Mcteers 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 Gateshead and Northumberland. 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 Gateshead 004 Gateshead
2 Gateshead 009 Gateshead
3 Gateshead 005 Gateshead
4 Gateshead 013 Gateshead
5 Northumberland 020 Northumberland

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Mcteer

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Mcteer

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

Young Families in Industrial Towns

Nationally, the Mcteer surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Mcteer household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Mcteer is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Mcteer is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Mcteer

The surname MCTEER is of Scottish origin, deriving from the Gaelic Mac an t-Saoirse, meaning "son of the freeman." This name emerged during the Middle Ages in the Scottish Highlands, specifically in the regions of Argyll and the Hebrides.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name MCTEER can be found in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland from the late 13th century, where it appears as "Makintyre." This spelling variation reflects the evolution of the name over time as it adapted to different dialects and scribal interpretations.

In the 16th century, the MCTEER family held lands in the parish of Kilcalmonell, located in the district of Kintyre, Argyllshire. During this period, the name was also recorded as "McInteir" and "McIntyre" in various Scottish records and charters.

Notably, the MCTEER surname has been associated with several historical figures. One prominent example is Duncan McTeer (c. 1650-1733), a Scottish clergyman who served as the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 1719.

Another notable bearer of the name was Donald McTeer (1782-1870), a Scottish soldier who fought in the Napoleonic Wars and later emigrated to Canada, settling in Glengarry County, Ontario.

In the literary realm, Robert McTeer (1894-1975), a Scottish poet and novelist, gained recognition for his works capturing the life and language of rural Scotland, particularly in his novel "Thistledown" published in 1928.

The MCTEER surname has also been linked to place names, such as the village of Tayinloan in Argyll, which was once known as "Baile McTyre" or "McTyer's Town" in reference to its association with the MCTEER clan.

While not as widespread as some other Scottish surnames, the MCTEER name has left its mark throughout history, with bearers contributing to various fields, including religion, military service, and literature.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Mcteer families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mcteer 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 3 Mcteers recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.51x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 3 6.51x
Northumberland 1 17.30x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Toxteth Park in Lancashire leads with 3 Mcteers recorded in 1881 and an index of 192.31x.

Place Total Index
Toxteth Park 3 192.31x
West Matfen 1 0.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Anne 1
Annie 1
Bridget 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Peter 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 Mcteer households.

FAQ

Mcteer surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mcteer surname in 1881?

In 1881, 36 people were recorded with the Mcteer surname. That placed it at #28,559 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mcteer surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 146 in 2016. That gives Mcteer a modern rank of #24,173.

What does the Mcteer surname mean?

A variant of the Scots surname McTear, meaning "son of the tearful one."

What does the Mcteer map show?

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