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McDonald family name history and map

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Ireland
McDonald

McDonald in 1911 Ireland

The 1911 Census recorded 7,791 people named McDonald in Ireland, about 0.178% of everyone living in the country at the time and the 77th most common surname overall. The name was split fairly evenly between men and women: 3,807 men and 3,962 women. (A small number, 22, had no sex recorded.)

Counties with McDonald in Ireland

Dublin had the largest share of McDonalds, 13.7% (1,069 people). Next came Antrim (1,067), Down (537), Wexford (525) and Cavan (475).
Surname distribution map, 1911 census

McDonald average age in 1911

The average McDonald in 1911 was 30.0 years old, 29.5 for men and 30.4 for women; almost exactly in line with the national averages of 29.6 for men and 30.5 for women. That low figure reflects just how many children there were in Edwardian Ireland, along with high infant mortality and the limits of public health at the time. For comparison, average life expectancy in Ireland today is around 83.

McDonald literacy in 1911

Of the McDonalds whose literacy was recorded, 76.2% could both read and write, 4.9% could read but not write, and 18.8% could do neither. The figures were much the same for men and women. Bear in mind these figures include young children; the census itself only counted people aged nine and over when calculating illiteracy, on the grounds that it was unfair to label a child illiterate before they'd had a chance to learn.

McDonald common first names

The most common male names were John (543), James, Patrick, Thomas and William. For women it was Mary (554), followed by Margaret, Bridget, Annie and Elizabeth.

McDonald occupations in 1911

The most common entry on a McDonald's census form was "Scholar"; 17.5% (1,367) were children at school. Among the rest, the most common occupations were farmer (11.2%), farm labourer (4.4%), general labourer (4.3%) and domestic servant (3.4%). Grouped by sector, agriculture accounted for 16.5% of all McDonalds, followed by textiles & clothing, domestic service and general labourers.

What religion is McDonald?

McDonalds were predominantly Roman Catholic (77.4%). The remainder were mostly Anglican (9.7%), Presbyterian (9.7%), Methodist (1.3%) and Baptist (0.2%).
Map showing where Roman Catholic families of this surname lived in Ireland, 1911 census
Map showing where Anglican families of this surname lived in Ireland, 1911 census
Map showing where Presbyterian families of this surname lived in Ireland, 1911 census
Map showing where Methodist families of this surname lived in Ireland, 1911 census

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Pete F
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McDonald statistics (1911)

Number: 7,791
Rank: 77
Average Age: 30

McDonald in the USA (2020)

Number: 172,700
Rank: 145

Note: If there were less than 100 in the USA census it will show as zero. 

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Also see...

O'Donnell
13550 people in 1911

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