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

Mair, 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 Mair surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Mair in America

Mair is the 12357th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Mair surname appeared 2,516 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 Mair.

We can also compare 2010 data for Mair 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 Mair

The surname Mair originated in Scotland, with roots tracing back to the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Gaelic word "mair," which means "mayor" or "chief official." This suggests that the name may have been initially bestowed upon someone who held a position of authority within their community or clan.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Mair surname can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which documented individuals who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England after the Scottish Wars of Independence. Among the names listed is Thome Mair, a resident of Berwickshire.

During the 16th century, the Mair name gained prominence in the Scottish Borders region, particularly in the town of Kelso. Historical records from this era mention notable individuals such as John Mair (1469-1550), a Scottish philosopher and historian who studied and taught at the University of Paris, and Alexander Mair (c. 1510-1585), a Scottish clergyman and writer.

In the 17th century, the spelling of the name evolved to include variations like Mayer and Mayor, possibly due to its association with the term "mayor." One prominent figure from this time was John Mair (1597-1668), a Scottish Presbyterian minister who served as a chaplain in the Scottish Army during the English Civil War.

As the Mair family spread across Scotland and beyond, the name appeared in various regions and historical accounts. In the 18th century, William Mair (1718-1783), a Scottish painter and engraver, gained recognition for his works depicting landscapes and scenes from Scottish life.

Throughout the 19th century, the Mair surname was well-established in Scottish communities, and several individuals made notable contributions. Robert Mair (1803-1886) was a Scottish lawyer and judge who served as the Lord President of the Court of Session, the highest civil court in Scotland. Another prominent figure was John Mair (1824-1904), a Scottish mathematician and physicist who made significant contributions to the study of optics and dynamics.

It is worth noting that the Mair surname has also been associated with place names in Scotland, such as Mairfield and Mairholme, which may have influenced the evolution and distribution of the name over time.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Mair

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

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

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

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