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

McCallister, 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 McCallister surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of McCallister in America

McCallister is the 4146th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The McCallister surname appeared 8,545 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 3 people would have the surname McCallister.

We can also compare 2010 data for McCallister 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 McCallister

The surname McCallister is of Scottish origin, with roots tracing back to the Gaelic language and the medieval period. It is believed to have originated from the Gaelic personal name "Callistair," derived from the Greek name "Kallistos," meaning "most beautiful."

The McCallister name was primarily concentrated in the regions of Ayrshire and Galloway, located in the southwestern part of Scotland. Historical records from the 13th and 14th centuries show various spellings, including McCalister, McCallester, and MacCalaster, reflecting the fluidity of surname spellings during that era.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which documented individuals who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England. The entry "John McCalister" is listed among those from the county of Ayr.

In the 16th century, the McCallisters were prominent landowners and played a role in the clan conflicts and feuds that were common in Scottish history. Sir Duncan McCallister of Ardwell, born around 1520, was a notable figure who actively participated in these clan disputes.

During the 17th century, the McCallister name appeared in various historical records, such as the Hearth Tax Rolls of 1691, which listed households and their occupants for taxation purposes. John McCallister of Ayrshire was recorded as a landowner during this period.

One of the most famous individuals with the McCallister surname was Sir Brewster McCallister, born in 1767. He was a Scottish naval officer who served in the Royal Navy and was celebrated for his bravery during the Napoleonic Wars. He was knighted for his distinguished service in 1805.

Another notable McCallister was Robert McCallister, born in 1812, a Scottish politician and Member of Parliament for the County of Ayr from 1857 to 1868. He played a significant role in advocating for agricultural reforms and the rights of Scottish tenants.

In the literary world, the surname is associated with Archibald McCallister, a Scottish poet and author born in 1830. He gained recognition for his works depicting rural life and the natural beauty of Scotland.

The McCallister name has also been linked to place names, such as McCallister's Loch in Ayrshire, a body of water named after a prominent local family in the area.

Throughout its history, the McCallister surname has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including landowners, military officers, politicians, and literary figures, reflecting the diversity and rich heritage of this Scottish name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name McCallister

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

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

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

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