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

McClease, 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 McClease surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of McClease in America

McClease is the 51512th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The McClease surname appeared 404 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 McClease.

We can also compare 2010 data for McClease 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 McClease

The surname MCCLEASE has its origins in Scotland, with roots tracing back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Gaelic term "Mac Leis," which translates to "son of the lazy one." This moniker likely referred to an ancestor's perceived indolent nature or perhaps a physical disability that limited their mobility.

Early records indicate that the MCCLEASE name was concentrated in the Scottish Highlands, particularly in the regions of Inverness-shire and Perthshire. Variations in spelling, such as "McCleish" and "McClish," were common during the Middle Ages due to the lack of standardized orthography.

One of the earliest documented references to the MCCLEASE surname can be found in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland from 1264, which mentions a "Gillecrist McCleish" residing in the village of Dunkeld.

The MCCLEASE name has been associated with several notable figures throughout history. In the 16th century, Ewan MCCLEASE (1525-1598) was a prominent Highland chieftain who played a role in the Scottish Reformation. His descendant, Angus MCCLEASE (1672-1738), was a respected scholar and author of the treatise "On the Ancient Clans of Scotland."

During the 17th century, the MCCLEASE surname gained recognition through the exploits of Mary MCCLEASE (1615-1679), a renowned herbalist and midwife who practiced in the Scottish Borders region. Her extensive knowledge of medicinal plants and traditional remedies was widely sought after by the local populace.

In the 18th century, the name was further established with the birth of James MCCLEASE (1742-1812), a celebrated Scottish poet and playwright whose works, such as "The Highlander's Lament," captured the essence of Highland culture and traditions.

Another notable figure was William MCCLEASE (1832-1901), a pioneering Scottish explorer who led expeditions to the Arctic regions in search of the Northwest Passage. His detailed accounts and cartographic contributions significantly advanced the understanding of these uncharted territories.

The MCCLEASE surname has also been associated with various place names in Scotland, such as McClease Glen in Inverness-shire and McClease Hill in Perthshire, further solidifying its historical roots in these regions.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name McClease

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

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

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

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