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

Highlander, 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 Highlander surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Highlander in America

Highlander is the 39607th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Highlander surname appeared 555 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Highlander.

We can also compare 2010 data for Highlander 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 Highlander

The surname Highlander is of Scottish origin and dates back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Gaelic words "ard" meaning "high" and "tir" meaning "land," referring to those who lived in the elevated regions of Scotland known as the Highlands.

The Highlander name is closely associated with the clans and families that inhabited the rugged and mountainous areas of northern Scotland. The earliest recorded instances of the name appear in ancient Scottish charters and records, such as the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which documented the names of Scottish landowners who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England.

One of the earliest known bearers of the Highlander name was Sir Gillespie Highlander, a prominent Highland chief who lived in the late 13th century. He played a significant role in the Wars of Scottish Independence against the English, fighting alongside legendary figures like William Wallace and Robert the Bruce.

In the 14th century, the Highlander name was closely linked to the influential Clan MacDonald, one of the largest and most powerful clans in the Scottish Highlands. Notable members of this clan included Angus Og Highlander, who led the clan during the Battle of Inverlochy in 1431, and John Highlander, the 6th Lord of the Isles, who was a key figure in the power struggles between the Scottish monarchy and the Highland clans.

The 16th century saw the rise of another prominent Highlander, Alasdair Highlander, also known as Alasdair MacColla. He was a renowned military leader and chief of the Clan MacDonald of Keppoch, who played a pivotal role in the Scottish Civil War, leading Highland forces in support of King Charles I against the Covenanters.

In the 18th century, the name Highlander gained further prominence with the exploits of Jacobite leaders like John Highlander of Glengarry, who fought for the restoration of the Stuart monarchy during the Jacobite risings of 1715 and 1745. The Highlanders were also known for their fierce resistance against the forces of the Duke of Cumberland in the aftermath of the Battle of Culloden in 1746.

Throughout its long history, the Highlander name has been associated with bravery, loyalty, and a deep connection to the rugged landscape and traditions of the Scottish Highlands. The name remains a source of pride for those with Scottish ancestry and a reminder of the rich cultural heritage of the Highland clans and families.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Highlander

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

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 Highlander 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 Highlander 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 Highlander was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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