Find out how popular the last name Cathcart is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Cathcart.

Cathcart, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Cathcart surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Cathcart in America

Cathcart is the 7099th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Cathcart surname appeared 4,716 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Cathcart.

We can also compare 2010 data for Cathcart to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Cathcart

The surname Cathcart is a Scottish locational name derived from the lands of Cathcart, situated within the former county of Renfrewshire, Scotland. The name is believed to have originated from the Gaelic words "cath," meaning "battle," and "ceart," meaning "tax" or "tribute," suggesting a connection to a battle or military engagement in the area.

The earliest recorded instance of the name Cathcart can be traced back to the 12th century, when Rainaldus de Kethcart witnessed a charter granted by Walter Fitzalan, the High Steward of Scotland, in the year 1160. This suggests that the Cathcart family held land in the region during this period.

In the 13th century, the Cathcarts were well-established landowners in Renfrewshire, and their name appeared in various charters and legal documents. One notable figure was Sir Alan Cathcart, who served as a Scottish ambassador to England in the late 13th century.

During the Scottish Wars of Independence, the Cathcarts played a significant role in supporting the cause of Robert the Bruce. Sir Alan Cathcart fought alongside Bruce at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314 and was later rewarded with additional lands for his loyalty.

In the 15th century, the Cathcarts gained prominence through their service to the Scottish crown. William Cathcart was appointed Lord Treasurer of Scotland in 1436, while his son, Alan Cathcart, served as Lord Chancellor of Scotland from 1484 to 1493.

The Cathcart family continued to hold significant influence in Scotland throughout the centuries, with many members serving in various military and political roles. Notable individuals include:

1. Sir John Cathcart (1562-1651), a Scottish soldier who fought in the Thirty Years' War and served as a Privy Councillor to King Charles I.
2. Charles Cathcart, 9th Lord Cathcart (1686-1740), a Scottish nobleman and military officer who served as Governor of Gibraltar and fought in the War of the Spanish Succession.
3. William Schaw Cathcart, 1st Earl Cathcart (1755-1843), a British Army officer who served in the American Revolutionary War and the Napoleonic Wars.
4. Sir George Cathcart (1794-1854), a British Army officer who served in the Crimean War and was killed during the Battle of Inkerman.
5. Charles Murray Cathcart, 2nd Earl Cathcart (1783-1859), a British politician and diplomat who served as Governor-General of British North America (Canada) from 1846 to 1847.

The Cathcart surname has also been associated with several place names, including Cathcart Castle, an ancient fortification located near Glasgow, and the town of Cathcart, which is now a suburban area within the city of Glasgow.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Cathcart

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Cathcart.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Cathcart was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Cathcart has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Cathcart was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Cathcart, please contact us.

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