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

Mak, 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 Mak surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Mak in America

Mak is the 6555th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Mak surname appeared 5,170 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 Mak.

We can also compare 2010 data for Mak 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 Mak

The surname "MAK" is believed to have originated in Scotland during the medieval period. It is derived from the Scottish Gaelic word "mac," which means "son of." This prefix was commonly used to denote a person's paternal lineage, indicating that the surname "Mak" likely referred to the son of someone with a particular name or occupation.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname "Mak" can be traced back to the 13th century in Scotland. In the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a document recording the names of Scottish nobles who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England, several individuals bearing the surname "Mak" are listed, including Adam Mak and Gillemor Mak.

In the 14th century, the name appears in various Scottish records and manuscripts, such as the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland from 1359, which mention a John Mak. The Mak surname was particularly prevalent in the regions of Angus, Fife, and Lothian during this time period.

One notable historical figure bearing the surname "Mak" was Sir John Mak, a Scottish knight who fought alongside Robert the Bruce during the Wars of Scottish Independence in the early 14th century. He played a significant role in the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314, where the Scottish forces decisively defeated the English army.

Another prominent individual with the surname "Mak" was Robert Mak, a 15th-century Scottish poet and courtier. He served as a clerk to King James II of Scotland and is best known for his work "The Lament for the Makaris," a poetic tribute to his fellow Scottish poets who had passed away.

In the 16th century, the surname "Mak" appeared in various legal and ecclesiastical records across Scotland. For example, in the Register of the Privy Seal of Scotland from 1541, a Thomas Mak is mentioned as a resident of Edinburgh.

During the 17th century, the spelling variations of the surname became more diverse, with forms such as "Mack," "Mack," and "Mack" emerging. One notable figure from this era was John Mack, a Scottish minister and theologian born in 1624, who served as the principal of the University of Glasgow.

The surname "Mak" has also been associated with several place names in Scotland, such as Makerstoun in the Scottish Borders, which may have derived its name from the presence of individuals bearing the surname "Mak" in the area.

Throughout history, the surname "Mak" has been carried by numerous individuals from various walks of life, including scholars, soldiers, poets, and clergymen, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and contributions of those bearing this ancient Scottish name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Mak

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

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

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

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