UK surname
An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic Mac Bhuaidh meaning "son of the victorious one".
In the 1881 census there were 112 people recorded with the Mcvoy surname, ranking it #18,501 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 32, ranked #35,887, down from #18,501 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to St Bees, Gateshead and Knaresborough (Bilton and Harrogate, Scriven with Tentergate, Knaresborough), Pannall. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mcvoy is 112 in 1881. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 71.4%.
1881 census count
112
Ranked #18,501
Modern count
32
2016, ranked #35,887
Peak year
1881
112 bearers
Map years
1
1881 to 1881
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Mcvoy surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Mcvoy surname density by area, 1881 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 79 | #19,712 |
| 1861 | historical | 41 | #28,839 |
| 1881 | historical | 112 | #18,501 |
| 1891 | historical | 69 | #28,188 |
| 1901 | historical | 51 | #28,492 |
| 1911 | historical | 39 | #29,025 |
| 1997 | modern | 23 | #35,484 |
| 1998 | modern | 22 | #35,687 |
| 1999 | modern | 24 | #35,514 |
| 2000 | modern | 21 | #35,799 |
| 2001 | modern | 20 | #35,754 |
| 2002 | modern | 24 | #35,520 |
| 2003 | modern | 23 | #35,650 |
| 2004 | modern | 23 | #35,786 |
| 2005 | modern | 26 | #35,674 |
| 2006 | modern | 32 | #35,392 |
| 2007 | modern | 27 | #35,876 |
| 2008 | modern | 31 | #35,670 |
| 2009 | modern | 31 | #35,794 |
| 2010 | modern | 38 | #35,514 |
| 2011 | modern | 34 | #35,705 |
| 2012 | modern | 30 | #35,929 |
| 2013 | modern | 26 | #36,217 |
| 2014 | modern | 28 | #36,107 |
| 2015 | modern | 30 | #35,979 |
| 2016 | modern | 32 | #35,887 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around St Bees, Gateshead, Knaresborough (Bilton and Harrogate, Scriven with Tentergate, Knaresborough), Pannall, Manchester and Liverpool. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | St Bees | Cumberland |
| 2 | Gateshead | Durham |
| 3 | Knaresborough (Bilton and Harrogate, Scriven with Tentergate, Knaresborough), Pannall | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 4 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 5 | Liverpool | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Mcvoy surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Mcvoy, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Mcvoy surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Mcvoy household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Mcvoy is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Mcvoy is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Mcvoy, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname MCVOY originated in Scotland during the medieval period. It is derived from the Gaelic Mac Bheathaidh, which means "son of Betha". Betha was a personal name that was relatively common in Scotland during that time.
The earliest recorded instances of the MCVOY surname can be found in Scottish parish records from the 16th century. Some variations in spelling include MacVoy, McVoye, and McVeigh. These alternative spellings were likely due to differences in pronunciation and localized dialects.
The MCVOY name has a strong association with the Scottish Highlands and Islands, particularly in regions such as Argyll and the Hebrides. This suggests that the name may have originated in these areas before spreading to other parts of Scotland.
One notable historical figure bearing the MCVOY surname was Angus MCVOY (c. 1590-1660), a Scottish Presbyterian minister who played a prominent role in the religious conflicts of the 17th century. He was a staunch supporter of the Covenanters and was imprisoned for his beliefs during the reign of King Charles I.
Another MCVOY of historical significance was Ewen MCVOY (1701-1782), a Scottish soldier who fought in the Jacobite Risings of the 18th century. He initially supported the Jacobite cause but later switched allegiances to the Hanoverian side after the Battle of Culloden in 1746.
In the realm of literature, one of the earliest recorded instances of the MCVOY surname appears in the works of Sir Walter Scott, the renowned Scottish novelist and poet. In his novel "Waverley" (1814), Scott mentions a character named Donald MCVOY, a fictional Highland chieftain.
Moving into the 19th century, we find John MCVOY (1812-1895), an Irish-born architect who emigrated to Australia and became a prominent figure in the construction of several notable buildings in Sydney, including the Sydney Town Hall and the Australian Museum.
Another notable MCVOY was Mary MCVOY (1875-1957), a Scottish suffragette and activist for women's rights. She was a prominent member of the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU) and participated in numerous protests and demonstrations, often facing arrest and imprisonment for her activism.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mcvoy surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lancashire leads with 11 Mcvoys recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.32x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 11 | 4.32x |
| Yorkshire | 6 | 2.82x |
| Northumberland | 5 | 15.67x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Liverpool in Lancashire leads with 9 Mcvoys recorded in 1881 and an index of 58.25x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Liverpool | 9 | 58.25x |
| Bradford | 3 | 58.37x |
| Newcastle On Tyne All Sts | 3 | 157.07x |
| Bilton Cum Harrogate | 2 | 273.97x |
| Preston | 2 | 29.37x |
| Wallsend | 2 | 198.02x |
| Halifax | 1 | 32.05x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Mcvoy surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Mcvoy surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Mcvoy households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Dock Lab | 3 |
| Charwoman | 1 |
| Coal Heaver | 1 |
| Dyers Labourer | 1 |
| General Carter | 1 |
| Hosier | 1 |
| Iron Moulder | 1 |
| Iron Puddler | 1 |
| Labourer Cement Works | 1 |
| Lodging House Keeper | 1 |
| Sailor | 1 |
| Scholar | 1 |
| Tailor | 1 |
| Weaver Cotton Mill | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 112 people were recorded with the Mcvoy surname. That placed it at #18,501 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 32 in 2016. That gives Mcvoy a modern rank of #35,887.
An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic Mac Bhuaidh meaning "son of the victorious one".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Mcvoy bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.