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

McClanahan, 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 McClanahan surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of McClanahan in America

McClanahan is the 3429th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The McClanahan surname appeared 10,407 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 4 people would have the surname McClanahan.

We can also compare 2010 data for McClanahan 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 McClanahan

The surname McClanahan is of Scottish origin, with its roots traced back to the 13th century. It is derived from the Gaelic words "Mac Gille Fhinnein," which translates to "son of the servant of St. Finnan." St. Finnan was a Scottish missionary and saint who lived in the 6th century and played a significant role in spreading Christianity throughout the region.

The McClanahan name is believed to have originated in the Argyll region of Scotland, where the clan was prominent in the area around the Isle of Mull and the surrounding islands. Historical records indicate that the McClanahans were a branch of the larger Clan MacLean, which was one of the most powerful and influential clans in the Scottish Highlands.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the McClanahan name can be found in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland from the late 13th century, where a certain "Gillebride McClanahan" is mentioned as a landholder in the region of Argyll. This suggests that the family had established itself as a notable presence in the area by that time.

Over the centuries, the McClanahan name has undergone various spelling variations, including McClenachan, McClenaghan, and McClenahan, reflecting the phonetic differences in the way the name was recorded and pronounced in different regions.

Several notable individuals have borne the McClanahan surname throughout history:

1. Sir Hector McClanahan (c. 1550-1625), a Scottish nobleman and military leader who played a prominent role in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms.
2. Reverend Robert McClanahan (1685-1754), a Presbyterian minister who emigrated from Scotland to Virginia and became a influential figure in the early colonial religious landscape.
3. James McClanahan (1770-1848), an American politician who served as a U.S. Representative from Tennessee in the early 19th century.
4. John McClanahan (1805-1879), a Scottish-born American businessman and philanthropist who made significant contributions to the development of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
5. Wilbur McClanahan (1873-1946), an American artist known for his landscape paintings depicting scenes from the American West.

These examples illustrate the widespread reach of the McClanahan name, which has been carried by individuals from diverse walks of life throughout the centuries, leaving an indelible mark on the history and culture of various regions.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name McClanahan

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

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

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

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