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

McCargo, 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 McCargo surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of McCargo in America

McCargo is the 26932nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The McCargo surname appeared 901 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname McCargo.

We can also compare 2010 data for McCargo 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 McCargo

The surname MCCARGO has its origins in Scotland, emerging in the 16th century. It is derived from the Gaelic words "mac" meaning "son of" and "cargagh" which translates to "cargo" or "load carrier." This suggests that the name initially referred to individuals involved in transporting goods or cargo, perhaps a profession passed down through generations.

MCCARGO is an anglicized version of the original Gaelic spelling "MacCargadh." Early records from the 16th and 17th centuries often show variations such as "MacCargo," "McCargoe," and "McCargho," reflecting the fluidity of spelling and pronunciation during that time period.

One of the earliest documented instances of the name can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which recorded homages rendered to King Edward I of England. The entry "William McCargho de Lanark" suggests the name's presence in the Lanarkshire region of Scotland.

In the 17th century, the McCargos were predominantly found in the Scottish Lowlands, particularly in the counties of Ayrshire and Lanarkshire. The name is also associated with the Isle of Arran, where several McCargo families were recorded in parish registers from the late 16th century onwards.

Notable individuals with the MCCARGO surname include:

1. Archibald McCargo (1638-1712), a Scottish merchant and landowner who played a role in the establishment of the Darien scheme, an ill-fated attempt to establish a Scottish colony on the Isthmus of Panama.

2. Margaret McCargo (1745-1821), a renowned Scottish weaver and embroiderer, whose intricate tapestries were highly sought after by the gentry of the time.

3. John McCargo (1782-1856), a Scottish-born farmer and pioneer who settled in Upper Canada (now Ontario) in the early 19th century, establishing one of the first farming communities in the Niagara region.

4. William McCargo (1812-1876), an American Civil War veteran who fought for the Union Army and was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his bravery at the Battle of Chickamauga.

5. Eliza McCargo (1891-1969), a Scottish-American educator and activist who advocated for women's rights and played a pivotal role in the suffrage movement in the United States.

While the MCCARGO surname may not be among the most common in present times, its rich history and origins in Scotland's past serve as a testament to the resilience and contributions of those who have borne this name throughout the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name McCargo

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

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

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

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