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

MacPherson, 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 MacPherson surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of MacPherson in America

MacPherson is the 6140th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The MacPherson surname appeared 5,579 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname MacPherson.

We can also compare 2010 data for MacPherson 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 MacPherson

The surname MACPHERSON originated in Scotland during the medieval era. It is derived from the Gaelic Mac a' Phearsain, meaning "son of the parson" or "son of the clergyman." The name suggests that the first bearer was likely the son of a priest or clergyman in the Scottish Highlands.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be traced back to the 13th century in the regions of Badenoch and Lochaber in the Scottish Highlands. The MACPHERSON clan was one of the most powerful and influential clans in this area, with their ancestral lands centered around the village of Cluny.

In the 16th century, the MACPHERSON clan played a significant role in the Scottish Wars of Independence against the English. One notable figure was Andrew MACPHERSON (c. 1530-1600), a skilled archer and warrior who fought alongside William Wallace and Robert the Bruce.

During the 17th century, the MACPHERSON clan faced several challenges, including the Montrose Wars and the Civil War. James MACPHERSON (1675-1753), known as the "Black Officer," led the clan during these turbulent times and gained a reputation for his bravery and leadership.

The most famous bearer of the MACPHERSON surname is undoubtedly James MACPHERSON (1736-1796), the celebrated Scottish poet and writer. He is best known for his publication of the "Poems of Ossian," which claimed to be translations of ancient Gaelic epic poetry but were later revealed to be largely his own compositions.

Other notable individuals with the MACPHERSON surname include Sir David MACPHERSON (1818-1905), a Scottish-born Australian politician and statesman who served as the Premier of Victoria, and John MACPHERSON (1768-1853), a Scottish-American judge and politician who served as the 13th Governor of Virginia.

Throughout its long history, the MACPHERSON surname has maintained a strong connection to its Scottish Highland roots and has been borne by individuals who have made significant contributions to various fields, including literature, politics, and military service.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name MacPherson

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

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

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

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