NameCensus.

UK surname

Mcvean

A Scottish surname derived from the Gaelic "mac Bheathain" meaning "son of Beathan".

In the 1881 census there were 414 people recorded with the Mcvean surname, ranking it #7,778 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 275, ranked #15,720, down from #7,778 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Strachur and Stralachlan, Govan Combination and Kilmichael Glassary. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Windsor and Maidenhead, Newton Stewart and Galston.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mcvean is 441 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 33.6%.

1881 census count

414

Ranked #7,778

Modern count

275

2016, ranked #15,720

Peak year

1891

441 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mcvean had 414 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,778 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 275 in 2016, ranked #15,720.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 441 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Mcvean surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mcvean surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mcvean 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 333 #7,015
1861 historical 397 #6,460
1881 historical 414 #7,778
1891 historical 441 #8,197
1901 historical 408 #9,358
1911 historical 27 #30,437
1997 modern 265 #14,692
1998 modern 268 #14,978
1999 modern 273 #14,875
2000 modern 272 #14,868
2001 modern 266 #14,878
2002 modern 280 #14,660
2003 modern 254 #15,454
2004 modern 254 #15,540
2005 modern 254 #15,480
2006 modern 258 #15,402
2007 modern 260 #15,476
2008 modern 268 #15,311
2009 modern 265 #15,756
2010 modern 269 #15,935
2011 modern 268 #15,843
2012 modern 273 #15,546
2013 modern 277 #15,644
2014 modern 281 #15,583
2015 modern 275 #15,707
2016 modern 275 #15,720

Geography

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Where Mcveans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Strachur and Stralachlan, Govan Combination, Kilmichael Glassary, Kilmartin and Bonhill. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Windsor and Maidenhead, Newton Stewart, Galston, Bridge of Earn and Abernethy and Borestone. 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 Strachur and Stralachlan Argyll
2 Govan Combination Lanark
3 Kilmichael Glassary Argyll
4 Kilmartin Argyll
5 Bonhill Dunbarton

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Windsor and Maidenhead 018 Windsor and Maidenhead
2 Newton Stewart Dumfries and Galloway
3 Galston East Ayrshire
4 Bridge of Earn and Abernethy Perth and Kinross
5 Borestone Stirling

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mcvean

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mcvean

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Mcvean, 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 Mcvean surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Mcvean 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

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Mcvean 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

Mcvean 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

Mcvean falls in decile 9 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Mcvean 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 - British

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

Meaning and origin of Mcvean

The surname McVean is a Scottish surname that originated in the Highlands and Islands regions of Scotland, particularly in the Hebrides. It is a Gaelic surname derived from the Gaelic word "mhic" meaning "son of" and the personal name "Bheathain," which is believed to be a derivative of the name Beathan or Beithan.

The earliest recorded instances of the name McVean can be traced back to the late 16th and early 17th centuries in various Scottish records and parish registers. One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Donald McVean, who was recorded in the parish of Kilfinichen, Islay, in 1610.

The McVean surname has been historically associated with several notable individuals throughout its history. One such person was Angus McVean, a renowned Scottish poet and bard born in Islay in the late 18th century. He was known for his Gaelic poetry and his contributions to preserving the oral traditions of Scottish literature.

Another notable bearer of the McVean surname was Donald McVean, a Scottish sea captain and explorer who lived in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. He is renowned for his voyages to the Arctic regions and his contributions to the exploration and mapping of the northern seas.

In the 19th century, John McVean, a Scottish minister and educator, made significant contributions to the education system in Scotland. He served as the headmaster of several prestigious schools and was instrumental in promoting the teaching of Gaelic language and culture.

The McVean surname has also been linked to various place names and localities in Scotland, particularly in the Hebrides. For example, the island of Coll in the Inner Hebrides was once known as "Coll McVean" or "McVean's Coll," suggesting a historical connection between the surname and the island.

Another notable figure with the McVean surname was Archibald McVean, a Scottish soldier and military officer who served in the British Army during the 18th century. He was involved in various campaigns and battles, including the Jacobite Risings and the American Revolutionary War.

Throughout its history, the McVean surname has undergone various spellings and variations, including MacVean, McVeain, McVeen, and McVain, among others. However, the core meaning and origin of the name remain rooted in the Scottish Gaelic language and the Highlands and Islands regions of Scotland.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mcvean families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mcvean 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 2 Mcveans recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.42x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 2 3.42x
Northumberland 2 23.02x
Cumberland 1 19.88x
Renfrewshire 1 22.08x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Tynemouth in Northumberland leads with 2 Mcveans recorded in 1881 and an index of 425.53x.

Place Total Index
Tynemouth 2 425.53x
Bow London 1 135.14x
Kirkandrews On Esk 1 5000.00x
Mile End Old Town 1 108.70x
Paisley Middle Church 1 384.62x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Annie 1
Margaret 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Andrew 1
John 1
Neil 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 Mcvean households.

FAQ

Mcvean surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mcvean surname in 1881?

In 1881, 414 people were recorded with the Mcvean surname. That placed it at #7,778 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mcvean surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 275 in 2016. That gives Mcvean a modern rank of #15,720.

What does the Mcvean surname mean?

A Scottish surname derived from the Gaelic "mac Bheathain" meaning "son of Beathan".

What does the Mcvean map show?

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