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

MacLean, 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 MacLean surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of MacLean in America

MacLean is the 4726th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The MacLean surname appeared 7,504 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 3 people would have the surname MacLean.

We can also compare 2010 data for MacLean 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 MacLean

The surname MACLEAN has its origins in Scotland, tracing back to the 13th century. It is a Highland Scottish clan name derived from the Gaelic "MacGhillEain," meaning "son of the servant of St. John." The name is closely associated with the Isle of Mull in the Inner Hebrides, where the clan's ancestral lands were located.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, where Gillelan MacNaughtan is mentioned as a landowner in Argyll. This document was a record of Scottish landowners who swore fealty to King Edward I of England during the Wars of Scottish Independence.

In the 14th century, the MACLEAN clan played a significant role in the struggle for Scottish independence under the leadership of Lachlan Mor MACLEAN, who fought alongside Robert the Bruce. Lachlan Mor is regarded as the progenitor of the modern MACLEAN clan, and his descendants continued to wield considerable influence in the region for centuries.

The name has undergone various spelling variations over time, including MACLAINE, MACCLEAN, and MACLAIN. These variations are often associated with different branches of the clan or geographical locations.

Notable historical figures with the surname MACLEAN include:

1. Alasdair MACLEAN (1568-1647), a Scottish poet and clan chief known for his contributions to Gaelic literature.
2. Sir John MACLEAN (1759-1840), a British military officer who served in the American Revolutionary War and the Napoleonic Wars.
3. Norman MACLEAN (1902-1990), an American author and scholar best known for his semi-autobiographical novella "A River Runs Through It."
4. Fitzroy MACLEAN (1911-1996), a British diplomat, adventurer, and soldier who played a significant role in World War II.
5. Alistair MACLEAN (1922-1987), a renowned British novelist who wrote popular adventure and war fiction, including "The Guns of Navarone" and "Where Eagles Dare."

The MACLEAN surname has a rich history deeply rooted in Scottish Highland culture and has been carried by numerous influential figures throughout the centuries, from clan chiefs and warriors to poets, authors, and military leaders.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name MacLean

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

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

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

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