NameCensus.

UK surname

Miskelly

An Anglicized surname of Irish origin referring to a descendant of Miscall.

In the 1881 census there were 46 people recorded with the Miskelly surname, ranking it #27,188 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 207, ranked #19,118, up from #27,188 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Burnley, Dyce and Crathes and Torphins.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Miskelly is 209 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 350.0%.

1881 census count

46

Ranked #27,188

Modern count

207

2016, ranked #19,118

Peak year

2010

209 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Miskelly had 46 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #27,188 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 207 in 2016, ranked #19,118.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 51 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Miskelly surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Miskelly surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Miskelly 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 13 #30,970
1861 historical 14 #32,072
1881 historical 46 #27,188
1891 historical 50 #30,253
1901 historical 51 #28,492
1911 historical 48 #28,006
1997 modern 173 #19,295
1998 modern 183 #19,106
1999 modern 184 #19,178
2000 modern 187 #18,990
2001 modern 186 #18,773
2002 modern 182 #19,411
2003 modern 192 #18,568
2004 modern 191 #18,723
2005 modern 189 #18,807
2006 modern 190 #18,898
2007 modern 194 #18,855
2008 modern 195 #18,958
2009 modern 201 #18,965
2010 modern 209 #18,893
2011 modern 201 #19,213
2012 modern 196 #19,463
2013 modern 203 #19,327
2014 modern 209 #19,128
2015 modern 206 #19,208
2016 modern 207 #19,118

Geography

Back to top

Where Miskellys 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 Burnley, Dyce, Crathes and Torphins and Trafford. 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 Burnley 006 Burnley
2 Dyce Aberdeen City
3 Crathes and Torphins Aberdeenshire
4 Trafford 014 Trafford
5 Trafford 016 Trafford

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Miskelly

These lists show first names that appear often with the Miskelly 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 Miskelly

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Miskelly surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Miskelly household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Miskelly 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

Miskelly is most concentrated in decile 9 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Miskelly falls in decile 8 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.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Miskelly 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 Miskelly, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Miskelly

The surname Miskelly is believed to have originated in Ireland, deriving from the Irish Gaelic personal name "Mìosguil," which means "my guide" or "my leader." This name was likely used to describe someone who was a guide or leader within their community.

Miskelly is a variant spelling of the more common Irish surname Miskell or Miskill. The earliest recorded instances of this surname can be traced back to the 16th century in County Donegal, Ireland. It is thought that the name may have been anglicized from the original Irish form during the 17th century when English record-keeping became more widespread in Ireland.

One of the earliest documented references to the Miskelly surname can be found in the Fiants of the Reign of Queen Elizabeth I, which were legal documents issued by the Crown in Ireland. In these records, a man named Edmond Miskelly is mentioned as receiving a pardon in 1598.

In the 18th century, the Miskelly surname appeared in various parish records and land surveys throughout County Donegal and neighboring counties in Ulster. Notable individuals from this time period include John Miskelly, who was born in County Donegal around 1710 and served as a Presbyterian minister in Antrim.

During the 19th century, many Irish families bearing the Miskelly surname emigrated to other parts of the world, particularly to America and Australia. One prominent individual was Patrick Miskelly, born in County Donegal in 1822, who became a successful businessman and landowner in New South Wales, Australia.

Other notable individuals with the Miskelly surname include:

1. William Miskelly (1857-1924), an Irish-American politician who served as a member of the New York State Assembly. 2. George Miskelly (1876-1955), a British architect and surveyor who designed several notable buildings in London and the surrounding areas. 3. James Miskelly (1885-1965), an Irish-born Australian farmer and politician who served as a member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly. 4. Noreen Miskelly (1919-2006), an American author and journalist who wrote several children's books and worked for the New York Times. 5. Michael Miskelly (1929-2012), an Irish-born Australian rules footballer who played for the Fitzroy Football Club in the Victorian Football League.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Miskelly families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Miskelly 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 11 Miskellys recorded in 1881 and an index of 29.12x.

County Total Index
Cumberland 11 29.12x
Lancashire 9 1.73x
Glamorgan 8 10.47x
Yorkshire 6 1.38x
Durham 5 3.83x
Lanarkshire 4 2.82x
Ayrshire 1 3.05x
Peeblesshire 1 48.54x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Penrith in Cumberland leads with 9 Miskellys recorded in 1881 and an index of 642.86x.

Place Total Index
Penrith 9 642.86x
St John Near Swansea 8 851.06x
Southcoates 6 248.96x
Darlington 5 99.21x
Barony 4 11.14x
Toxteth Park 4 22.69x
Caldewgate 2 96.62x
Everton 2 12.06x
West Derby 2 13.13x
Innerleithen 1 181.82x
Kilmarnock 1 25.58x
Liverpool 1 3.16x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 5
Annie 3
Agnes 2
Jane 2
Catherine 1
Isabella 1
Jessy 1
Lily 1
Mary 1
Maud 1
Rose 1
Sarah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 5
John 5
William 3
Albert 1
Alex. 1
Jasper 1
Joseph 1
Robert 1
Thomas 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 Miskelly households.

FAQ

Miskelly surname: questions and answers

How common was the Miskelly surname in 1881?

In 1881, 46 people were recorded with the Miskelly surname. That placed it at #27,188 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Miskelly surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 207 in 2016. That gives Miskelly a modern rank of #19,118.

What does the Miskelly surname mean?

An Anglicized surname of Irish origin referring to a descendant of Miscall.

What does the Miskelly map show?

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