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

McClendon, 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 McClendon surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of McClendon in America

McClendon is the 1907th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The McClendon surname appeared 18,857 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 6 people would have the surname McClendon.

We can also compare 2010 data for McClendon 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 McClendon

The surname McClendon originates from Scotland, with its roots tracing back to the 13th century. It is derived from the Gaelic words "mac" meaning "son of" and "Gille Fhionndain," which translates to "servant of St. Finnan." This suggests that the name may have been initially bestowed upon someone who worked or lived near a church dedicated to St. Finnan.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a historic document containing the names of Scottish nobles who swore fealty to King Edward I of England. The name appears as "Maclendonyn," indicating its evolution over time.

In the 16th century, the McClendon family held lands in Argyllshire, a region in western Scotland. During this period, the name was also spelled as "McClendan" and "McClendon," variations that eventually became more prevalent.

Historical records from the 17th century reveal several notable individuals bearing the McClendon name. One such figure was John McClendon (1610-1675), a Scottish Presbyterian minister who was highly regarded for his sermons and writings.

In the 18th century, the name gained prominence in Ireland, particularly in County Antrim, where many Scottish families had settled. Robert McClendon (1745-1819), an Irish merchant and landowner, played a significant role in the development of Belfast during this era.

As the McClendon family spread across the British Isles and beyond, the name continued to evolve. In the 19th century, William McClendon (1810-1892), an American politician and lawyer from Mississippi, became a prominent figure in the United States.

Other notable individuals with the surname McClendon include:

1. John McClendon (1915-1999), an American basketball coach and pioneer who led teams to numerous championships.
2. Maurice McClendon (1914-2005), an American scientist and researcher who made significant contributions to the field of biology.
3. Connie McClendon (1927-2010), an American actress known for her roles in television and film.
4. James McClendon (1924-2012), an American theologian and philosopher who wrote extensively on ethics and religious thought.
5. Clarence McClendon (1926-2008), an American jazz musician and trumpet player who performed with notable artists such as Duke Ellington.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name McClendon

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

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

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

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