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

MacIntyre, 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 MacIntyre surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of MacIntyre in America

MacIntyre is the 11371st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The MacIntyre surname appeared 2,774 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname MacIntyre.

We can also compare 2010 data for MacIntyre 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 MacIntyre

The surname MacIntyre is of Scottish origin and dates back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Gaelic words "mac an t-sair," meaning "son of the carpenter" or "son of the wright." This occupational name suggests that the first bearer was likely a skilled carpenter or woodworker.

The name MacIntyre is believed to have originated in the Highlands of Scotland, particularly in the regions of Argyll and the Western Isles. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland from the late 13th century, where a Donald McIntyir is mentioned.

In the 16th century, the MacIntyres were known to be a prominent clan in the Highlands, with a strong presence in the areas around Loch Lomond and Loch Awe. The clan is said to have played a significant role in the Scottish Wars of Independence against the English.

One of the earliest notable individuals with the surname MacIntyre was Dougall MacIntyre, a renowned Highland warrior who lived in the late 15th and early 16th centuries. He is said to have fought alongside the legendary Robert the Bruce during the Wars of Scottish Independence.

In the 17th century, the MacIntyres were involved in the Covenanting struggle against Charles I. Duncan McIntyre, born in 1602, was a prominent Covenanter and minister who played a key role in the conflict.

Another notable figure was Duncan Ban MacIntyre, a Gaelic poet and bard who lived from 1724 to 1812. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest poets in the Scottish Gaelic language and is celebrated for his vivid descriptions of nature and Highland life.

In the 19th century, John MacIntyre (1822-1892) was a Scottish-Australian explorer and surveyor who played a significant role in the exploration and mapping of Australia's interior. He is credited with discovering several important rivers and establishing routes that facilitated further exploration and settlement.

The surname MacIntyre has also been associated with various place names in Scotland, such as Inverinan, which is derived from the Gaelic "Inbhir nan t-Sair," meaning "the confluence of the carpenters' stream." This suggests that the MacIntyres may have had a strong presence in this area and influenced the naming of local landmarks.

Overall, the surname MacIntyre has a rich history deeply rooted in the Scottish Highlands, with notable bearers who have made significant contributions to various fields throughout the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name MacIntyre

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

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

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

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