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

Maclin, 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 Maclin surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Maclin in America

Maclin is the 11722nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Maclin surname appeared 2,673 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 Maclin.

We can also compare 2010 data for Maclin 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 Maclin

The surname MACLIN has its origins in Scotland, emerging around the 13th century. It is derived from the Gaelic form "Mac Gille Fhionndain," which translates to "son of the fair-haired lad." This suggests that the name may have initially been a descriptive nickname for someone with light-colored hair.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the MACLIN name can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, where it appears as "Makillewynyn." This medieval document recorded the names of Scottish nobles and landowners who swore fealty to King Edward I of England during the Wars of Scottish Independence.

The MACLIN name has been associated with various regions in Scotland, including Ayrshire, Lanarkshire, and the Hebrides Islands. It is believed that the name originated in the Western Isles, where the Clan MacLean held significant influence and territory.

In the 16th century, a notable bearer of the MACLIN name was Sir Robert Maclin (c. 1520 - 1590), a Scottish courtier and diplomat who served under Mary, Queen of Scots. He was instrumental in negotiating the Treaty of Edinburgh in 1560, which aimed to resolve the ongoing conflicts between Scotland and England.

Another prominent figure associated with the MACLIN surname was John Maclin (1690 - 1765), a Scottish Presbyterian minister who emigrated to colonial America in the early 18th century. He established several churches in Pennsylvania and played a significant role in the religious and cultural life of the region.

In the literary realm, Robert Maclin (1803 - 1878) was a Scottish poet and writer whose works celebrated the traditions and landscapes of his native land. His most famous collection, "Songs of the Highlands," published in 1845, gained widespread acclaim for its vivid portrayal of Scottish life and culture.

The MACLIN name has also been linked to various place names in Scotland, such as Machlin in Argyll and Bute, and Maclinburgh in the Scottish Borders. These locations may have served as historical residences or strongholds for families bearing the MACLIN surname.

Throughout history, the MACLIN name has undergone various spellings, including MacLin, McLin, and Maklin, reflecting the diverse dialects and regional variations of Scotland. Nonetheless, the name has maintained its distinct Scottish heritage and continues to be a recognizable surname in modern times.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Maclin

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

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

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

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