NameCensus.

UK surname

Moncur

Derived from the Scottish Gaelic "Mong Cùir" meaning "courteous" or "benevolent".

In the 1881 census there were 591 people recorded with the Moncur surname, ranking it #5,910 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 664, ranked #8,037, down from #5,910 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Edinburgh, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry and Glasgow. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Hillside and Calton Hill, Colchester and Isle of Anglesey.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Moncur is 713 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 12.4%.

1881 census count

591

Ranked #5,910

Modern count

664

2016, ranked #8,037

Peak year

1901

713 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Moncur had 591 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,910 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 664 in 2016, ranked #8,037.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 713 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Moncur surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Moncur surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Moncur 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 425 #5,746
1861 historical 454 #5,705
1881 historical 591 #5,910
1891 historical 630 #6,141
1901 historical 713 #6,189
1911 historical 164 #16,879
1997 modern 648 #7,671
1998 modern 683 #7,621
1999 modern 678 #7,703
2000 modern 666 #7,788
2001 modern 647 #7,824
2002 modern 673 #7,753
2003 modern 636 #7,954
2004 modern 624 #8,099
2005 modern 618 #8,081
2006 modern 632 #7,973
2007 modern 634 #8,028
2008 modern 634 #8,060
2009 modern 648 #8,093
2010 modern 649 #8,252
2011 modern 656 #8,094
2012 modern 658 #7,996
2013 modern 655 #8,163
2014 modern 663 #8,125
2015 modern 663 #8,063
2016 modern 664 #8,037

Geography

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Where Moncurs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Edinburgh, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry, Glasgow, Longforgan and London parishes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Hillside and Calton Hill, Colchester, Isle of Anglesey, County Durham and Luncarty and Dunkeld. 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 Edinburgh Edinburgh
2 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar
3 Glasgow Lanark
4 Longforgan Perth
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Hillside and Calton Hill City of Edinburgh
2 Colchester 021 Colchester
3 Isle of Anglesey 002 Isle of Anglesey
4 County Durham 016 County Durham
5 Luncarty and Dunkeld Perth and Kinross

Forenames

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First names often paired with Moncur

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Moncur

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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Moncur surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Moncur household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Moncur 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

Moncur 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

Moncur falls in decile 10 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.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Moncur is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Moncur

The surname Moncur has its origins in Scotland, with the earliest recorded instances dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to have originated from the lands of Moncrieffe, located near the town of Perth in central Scotland. The name itself is thought to derive from the Gaelic words "moine" meaning "moss" or "peat," and "criadh" meaning "clay," suggesting a connection to the local geography and landscape.

One of the earliest known references to the name Moncur can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a historical record of Scottish nobles and landowners who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England during the Scottish Wars of Independence. The name appears as "Moncreif," indicating that variations in spelling were common in those times.

In the 14th century, the Moncur family held lands in the counties of Perthshire and Fife, with their ancestral seat being the Barony of Moncrieffe. Notable figures from this period include Sir John Moncur, who fought alongside Robert the Bruce during the Wars of Scottish Independence in the early 1300s.

The Moncurs played a significant role in Scottish history throughout the centuries. Sir John Moncreiff (1516-1591) was a prominent Scottish judge and Lord Justice Clerk, while Sir Henry Moncreiff Wellwood (1809-1883) was a Scottish lawyer and judge who served as Lord Justice Clerk of Scotland.

One of the most famous bearers of the Moncur name was Sir Hugh Moncreiff (1670-1737), a Scottish clergyman and theologian. He was a leading figure in the Church of Scotland and played a crucial role in the Marrow Controversy, a theological debate within the church in the early 18th century.

Other notable individuals with the Moncur surname include Robert Moncreiff (1767-1833), a Scottish minister and author, and William Moncreiff (1795-1857), a Scottish clergyman and principal of the University of Glasgow.

While the Moncur name has its roots in Scotland, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly to countries with significant Scottish emigration, such as Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. However, the historical significance and connections to the Moncrieffe lands in central Scotland remain an integral part of the surname's legacy.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Moncur families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Moncur 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. Angus leads with 183 Moncurs recorded in 1881 and an index of 34.32x.

County Total Index
Angus 183 34.32x
Midlothian 100 12.97x
Perthshire 60 23.23x
Kincardineshire 45 64.20x
Lanarkshire 37 1.99x
Aberdeenshire 32 6.00x
Lancashire 27 0.40x
Middlesex 23 0.40x
Fife 21 6.16x
Kinross-shire 13 89.35x
Dunbartonshire 9 5.82x
Renfrewshire 8 1.79x
Durham 6 0.35x
Surrey 6 0.21x
Ayrshire 5 1.16x
Cornwall 3 0.46x
Shetland 3 5.10x
Northumberland 2 0.23x
Yorkshire 2 0.04x
Glamorgan 1 0.10x
Leicestershire 1 0.16x
Orkney 1 1.58x
Roxburghshire 1 0.96x
Somerset 1 0.11x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Dundee in Angus leads with 92 Moncurs recorded in 1881 and an index of 46.22x.

Place Total Index
Dundee 92 46.22x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 63 20.31x
Bervie 28 674.70x
Liff Benvie 27 33.36x
Kirriemuir 22 167.17x
Glasgow 20 6.05x
Longforgan 20 547.95x
Rattray 13 216.31x
St Cyrus 12 409.56x
Forfar 11 38.10x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 10 10.03x
Edinburgh Canongate 10 50.97x
Everton 10 4.59x
Barony 9 1.91x
Birkdale 9 52.08x
Bromley London 9 7.11x
Kinloch 9 1800.00x
Aberdeen Old Machar 8 7.19x
Cardross 8 43.08x
Govan 8 1.74x
Abbey 7 10.29x
Dunnichen 7 249.11x
Hammersmith London 7 4.94x
Monikie 7 250.00x
Edinburgh New North 6 89.42x
Stretford 6 15.97x
Tibbermore 6 162.16x
Barry 5 78.13x
Coupar Angus 5 99.01x
Cupar 5 33.74x
Edinburgh Old Church 5 80.78x
Islington London 5 0.90x
Kinross 5 100.20x
Orwell 5 124.69x
Southwark Christchurch 5 18.54x
Stewarton 5 58.69x
Strathmiglo 5 122.85x
Edinburgh New 4 66.78x
Monifieth 4 21.24x
Newhills 4 36.66x
Bishopwearmouth 3 2.04x
Crathie Braemar 3 94.04x
Falmouth 3 13.01x
Fettercairn 3 100.67x
Glamis 3 93.17x
Lerwick Gulberwick 3 32.97x
Monzievaird Strowan 3 217.39x
North Leith 3 8.41x
Perth East Church 3 12.32x
Peterhead 3 10.64x
Southwick 3 18.50x
Balmerino 2 152.67x
Blairgowrie 2 19.57x
Colinton 2 23.26x
Crail 2 57.47x
Edinburgh Trinity 2 80.65x
Falkland 2 37.31x
Ferry Port On Craig 2 35.71x
Fossoway 2 80.00x
Hackney London 2 0.62x
Laurencekirk 2 49.26x
Liberton 2 16.81x
South Leith 2 2.31x
St Martins 2 136.05x
Westgate 2 3.77x
Bootle Cum Linacre 1 1.84x
Caputh 1 24.63x
Cleish 1 102.04x
Dairsie 1 72.46x
Drypool 1 11.45x
Edinburgh St Marys 1 6.67x
Kemnay 1 30.96x
Kettle 1 24.45x
Monquhitter 1 18.12x
Row 1 5.00x
Swannington 1 42.37x
Swansea Town 1 1.22x
Throxenby 1 400.00x
Tullynessle Forbes 1 51.28x
Wilton 1 8.74x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 7
Alexander 3
John 3
William 3
David 2
Edward 2
Henry 2
Joseph 2
Thomas 2
Augusta 1
Geo.Hy. 1
George 1
Jacob 1
Jas. 1
Robert 1
Walter 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Moncur surname: questions and answers

How common was the Moncur surname in 1881?

In 1881, 591 people were recorded with the Moncur surname. That placed it at #5,910 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Moncur surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 664 in 2016. That gives Moncur a modern rank of #8,037.

What does the Moncur surname mean?

Derived from the Scottish Gaelic "Mong Cùir" meaning "courteous" or "benevolent".

What does the Moncur map show?

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