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

Macam, 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 Macam surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Macam in America

Macam is the 122314th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Macam surname appeared 141 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 Macam.

The history of the last name Macam

The surname MACAM has its origins in Scotland, dating back to the 12th century. It is a variant of the Gaelic name MacCaim, derived from the personal name Cam, which means "crooked" or "bent." This name was likely given as a nickname to someone with a physical deformity or perhaps as a descriptive term for someone's personality.

The earliest recorded instances of the MACAM surname can be found in medieval Scottish records and charters. One of the earliest known bearers of this name was Gillebride MacCaim, who was mentioned in a charter from the reign of King Alexander II of Scotland (1214-1249).

In the 13th century, the MACAM family was based primarily in the regions of Argyll and the Western Isles of Scotland. The name is closely associated with the Clan Gregor, one of the oldest and most influential Scottish clans.

During the 16th century, the MACAM surname appeared in various spellings, such as MacCame, MacKame, and MacKayme, reflecting the linguistic variations of the time. One notable individual from this period was John MacCam, a member of the Scottish Parliament who represented Argyll in the 1560s.

In the 17th century, the MACAM name gained prominence with the birth of Duncan MacCam (1610-1692), a renowned Scottish mathematician and astronomer. He made significant contributions to the field of celestial mechanics and was a professor at the University of Edinburgh.

Another notable figure was Robert MacCam (1720-1785), a Scottish poet and playwright who wrote several popular works in the Scots language. His most famous play, "The Gentle Shepherd," is considered a masterpiece of Scottish literature.

In the 18th century, the MACAM surname was also associated with the Jacobite risings, as several members of the clan supported the cause of the exiled Stuart monarchy. One such individual was Alasdair MacCam (1745-1820), who fought alongside Bonnie Prince Charlie at the Battle of Culloden in 1746.

As the MACAM family spread throughout Scotland and beyond, the name evolved into various spellings and variations, including MacKam, MacCamm, and MacCammie. Despite its relatively rare occurrence, the MACAM surname has left an indelible mark on Scottish history and culture.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Macam

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

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 Macam 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.

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

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

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