Macleish
A Scottish surname derived from a Gaelic personal name meaning "son of the poet" or "son of the gray one".
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 240 Americans carry the last name Macleish. That puts it at #94,311 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.07 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 1,428,143 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Macleish surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
240
1 in 1,428,143
Census rank
#94,311
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
194
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 194 bearers of the surname Macleish in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.07 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 94311th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Macleish, the largest self-reported group is White at 87.6%. The next largest groups are Black (10.8%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Macleish
The surname MACLEISH has its origins in Scotland, emerging in the late medieval period. It is derived from the Gaelic "Mac Gille Iosa," meaning "son of the servant of Jesus." This name likely originated in the western Highlands and Islands of Scotland, where Gaelic culture and naming traditions were prevalent.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the 16th century, with a reference to a Donald McLeish in the records of the Lord Lyon King of Arms, the Scottish heraldic authority, in 1542. In this document, the spelling was rendered as "McLeisch."
The MACLEISH surname has also been associated with various place names in Scotland, particularly in the regions of Argyll and Bute. For instance, the island of Islay was once known as "Ileish" or "Ileaish," which may have influenced the surname's development.
During the 17th century, several notable individuals bearing the MACLEISH surname emerged. One such figure was Archibald Macleish (1592-1668), a prominent Scottish minister who served as the moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 1647.
In the 18th century, the name gained further recognition with the birth of William Macleish (1738-1818), a Scottish poet and writer who was celebrated for his works exploring Scottish culture and traditions.
Another notable figure was Sir Archibald Macleish (1795-1879), a Scottish businessman and philanthropist who made significant contributions to the development of Glasgow's infrastructure and educational institutions.
Moving into the 19th century, the name MACLEISH continued to be associated with prominent individuals, such as Archibald Macleish (1836-1912), a Scottish politician and advocate for workers' rights, who served as a Member of Parliament for Glasgow.
Lastly, one of the most renowned individuals with this surname was Archibald Macleish (1892-1982), an American poet, playwright, and public servant who served as the Librarian of Congress from 1939 to 1944 and won several prestigious literary awards, including the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1959.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Macleish
Among Census respondents with the surname Macleish, the largest self-reported group is White at 87.6%. The next largest groups are Black (10.8%).
The bar chart below shows how Macleish bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Macleish surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White87.6%
- Black or African American10.8%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Macleish surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #94,311 | #94,311 | 0.0% |
| Count | 194 | 194 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.07 | 0.07 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Macleish bearers went from 194 to 194 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #94,311 to #94,311.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Macleish
FAQ
Macleish surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Macleish?
The surname Macleish holds position #94,311 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 240 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.07 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Macleish surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Macleish, the largest self-reported group is White at 87.6%. The next largest groups are Black (10.8%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.