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

McClair, 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 McClair surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of McClair in America

McClair is the 85659th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The McClair surname appeared 218 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 McClair.

We can also compare 2010 data for McClair 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 McClair

The surname McClair is of Scottish origin, emerging during the Middle Ages in the region of Ayrshire, Scotland. It is believed to be a variant of the more common McClure or MacClure surname, which itself derives from the Gaelic Mac Lùraich, meaning "son of the battered or tattered one."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the McClair name can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a historical document containing the names of Scottish nobles who swore fealty to King Edward I of England. Here, the name appears as "Maclur," an early spelling variant.

By the 16th century, the McClair surname had spread to various parts of Scotland, with records indicating families bearing the name in Dumfriesshire, Lanarkshire, and the Scottish Borders region. The name's association with specific locations is evident in the use of place names like "McClair of Sundaywell" or "McClair of Craigends."

One notable early bearer of the McClair name was John McClair, a Scottish clergyman born in 1604 in Ayrshire. He served as the minister of the parish of Irvine and was known for his staunch Presbyterian beliefs during the tumultuous religious conflicts of the 17th century.

During the 18th century, the McClair surname gained prominence through the exploits of Captain James McClair, a Scottish naval officer who distinguished himself in several battles against the French during the Seven Years' War (1756-1763). His bravery and leadership earned him recognition and admiration among his contemporaries.

In the realm of literature, the McClair name is associated with the Scottish poet and playwright, Alexander McClair (1788-1856). Born in Ayrshire, he is remembered for his works celebrating Scottish culture and traditions, particularly his popular collection of poems titled "The Rustic Wreath."

Another notable figure bearing the McClair surname was Sir Robert McClair (1839-1904), a Scottish businessman and philanthropist. He amassed considerable wealth through his successful textile manufacturing operations and devoted much of his fortune to supporting educational institutions and charitable causes in his native Ayrshire.

While the McClair surname may not be among the most widespread in Scotland or beyond, its historical roots and the accomplishments of its bearers have left an indelible mark on Scottish history and culture.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name McClair

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

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

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

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