Macker
A Scottish slang word for friend or mate.
Name Census estimates that about 5 living Americans carry the first name Macker. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Macker today is around 60 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Macker births was 1971 (6 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Macker. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Macker. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
5
~ 1 in 68,550,868 Americans
Peak year
1971
6 babies that year
Average age
60
years old
1971 SSA rank
#4,724
Tracked since 1971
Popularity
Macker: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Macker by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Macker during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 6 | 0 | 6 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Macker
The name Macker is believed to have originated from the Middle English word "makker," which was a variant spelling of the word "maker." This term was used to refer to a friend or companion, particularly in the context of a working partnership or collaboration. The name's roots can be traced back to the late 14th century and early 15th century in England and parts of Scotland.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Macker can be found in the Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer, written in the late 14th century. In the prologue to the Miller's Tale, Chaucer mentions a character named "Macker, the miller's man." This reference suggests that the name was in use among the working class during that time period.
In the 16th century, the name Macker gained some prominence in religious circles. Notably, John Macker (c. 1510-1584) was an English Protestant clergyman and a prominent figure during the Reformation. He served as the Bishop of Galloway in Scotland and was known for his staunch support of the Protestant cause.
During the 17th century, the name Macker appeared in various historical records and documents across England and Scotland. One notable figure was William Macker (1621-1684), a Scottish merchant and politician who served as a member of the Parliament of Scotland and was actively involved in the trading and mercantile affairs of the time.
In the 19th century, the name Macker found its way into literary works. Charles Dickens featured a character named Macker in his novel "The Pickwick Papers," published in 1836-1837. This character was portrayed as a jovial and friendly innkeeper, perhaps reflecting the name's associations with camaraderie and companionship.
Another noteworthy individual named Macker was John Macker (1818-1892), a British engineer and inventor. He is credited with numerous innovations in the field of steam engines and was instrumental in the development of early railway technology during the Industrial Revolution.
While the name Macker has fallen out of widespread use in recent times, it still carries a rich historical legacy, reflecting the spirit of friendship, collaboration, and hard work that was embedded in its origins.
People
Macker + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Macker as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with M
Other first names starting with M with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Macker: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Macker?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 5 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Macker going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 68,550,868 US residents.
Is Macker a common name?
We classify Macker as "Very Rare". It ranks above 18.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 6 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Macker most popular?
The single biggest year for Macker was 1971, when 6 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Macker is about 60 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Macker in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Macker a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Macker in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Macker still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Macker in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Macker can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people have the name Macker?
For a quick modern take, check how many people have the name Macker on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org.