Mcalister
A Scottish surname derived from the Gaelic "Mac Alasdair," meaning "son of Alasdair" (a form of Alexander).
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 13,539 Americans carry the last name Mcalister. That puts it at #3,078 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 3.95 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 25,316 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Mcalister 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
14K
1 in 25,316
Census rank
#3,078
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
4.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
12K
uncommon in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 11,665 bearers of the surname Mcalister in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 3.95 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 3078th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Mcalister, the largest self-reported group is White at 83.1%. The next largest groups are Black (11.6%) and Hispanic (2.3%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Mcalister
The surname McAlister originated in Scotland during the medieval period. It is an Anglicized form of the Gaelic name "Mac Alasdair," meaning "son of Alasdair." Alasdair is the Scottish Gaelic form of the name Alexander, which ultimately derives from the Greek name "Alexandros," meaning "defender of men."
The McAlister surname is associated with the Scottish clan MacAlister, which traces its roots to the Hebrides islands off the western coast of Scotland. The clan's traditional territory was centered on the island of Arran, where they held lands and influenced as early as the 13th century.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the McAlister name appears in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland from 1264, which mentions a "Gillascop MacAleister." The name is also found in various other medieval Scottish records, including the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which includes the names of Scottish landowners who swore fealty to King Edward I of England.
The McAlister surname has a long and storied history in Scotland, with many notable individuals bearing the name. One of the most prominent was Sir Archibald McAlister, who served as Lord High Treasurer of Scotland in the 15th century. Another notable figure was John McAlister (1790-1869), a Scottish-born businessman who became one of the wealthiest landowners in Australia.
Other historical figures with the McAlister surname include:
1. Angus McAlister (1809-1897), a Scottish-born Canadian politician and businessman.
2. William McAlister (1891-1956), a Scottish footballer who played for Rangers and the Scottish national team.
3. Loughlin McAlister (1777-1853), an Irish-born Catholic priest and educator in the United States.
4. Robert McAlister (1675-1743), a Scottish minister and writer who authored several theological works.
5. Sir John McAlister (1837-1913), a British colonial administrator who served as Lieutenant Governor of Punjab in India.
Over time, the McAlister surname has spread beyond Scotland to various parts of the world, including England, Ireland, Canada, Australia, and the United States, as members of the clan and their descendants migrated and settled in new territories.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Mcalister
Among Census respondents with the surname Mcalister, the largest self-reported group is White at 83.1%. The next largest groups are Black (11.6%) and Hispanic (2.3%).
The bar chart below shows how Mcalister 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 Mcalister surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White83.1%
- Black or African American11.6%
- Hispanic or Latino2.3%
- Two or more races1.9%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.7%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.3%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Mcalister 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 | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #2,883 | #3,078 | -6.8% |
| Count | 11,433 | 11,665 | 2.0% |
| Per 100K | 4.24 | 3.95 | -6.8% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Mcalister bearers went from 11,433 to 11,665 (+2.0% change). The surname moved down 195 positions in the national ranking, going from #2,883 to #3,078.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Mcalister
FAQ
Mcalister surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Mcalister?
The surname Mcalister holds position #3,078 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 13,539 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 3.95 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Mcalister surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Mcalister, the largest self-reported group is White at 83.1%. The next largest groups are Black (11.6%) and Hispanic (2.3%). 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.