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

McClenic, 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 McClenic surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of McClenic in America

McClenic is the 150452nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The McClenic surname appeared 109 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 McClenic.

The history of the last name McClenic

The surname MCCLENIC is believed to have originated in Scotland during the late medieval period, likely in the 13th or 14th century. It is a variant spelling of the more common Scottish surname "McClennon" or "McLennan," which is derived from the Gaelic personal name "Gilleannan." This name translates to "servant or follower of Annan," with Annan being a place name referring to a town in Dumfriesshire, Scotland.

The earliest recorded instances of the MCCLENIC surname can be traced back to the late 15th century in the Scottish Highlands, particularly in the regions of Argyll and the Isles. One notable historical reference is found in the "Exchequer Rolls of Scotland" from 1494, which mentions a "Donald McClennok" from the Isle of Islay.

In the 16th century, various spellings of the name appeared in Scottish records, including "McClenyk," "McClenick," and "McClennick." These variations likely arose due to the inconsistent spelling practices of the time and regional dialects.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the MCCLENIC surname was Duncan McClenyk, who was a prominent landowner in the parish of Kilninian, Islay, during the late 16th century. Another notable figure was John McClenick, a Scottish soldier who fought in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms (1639-1651) and was mentioned in contemporary accounts for his bravery.

In the 17th century, the MCCLENIC surname gained recognition through the exploits of Alasdair McClenick, a renowned Highland warrior who fought alongside the Marquess of Montrose during the Scottish Civil War (1644-1647). He was celebrated for his heroic deeds at the Battle of Inverlochy in 1645.

As the centuries progressed, members of the MCCLENIC family migrated to various parts of Scotland and beyond, with some settling in the Scottish Lowlands and others venturing to England, Ireland, and the Americas. One noteworthy individual was Robert McClenic (1761-1834), a Scottish-born merchant who established a successful trading company in Philadelphia, USA, during the late 18th century.

While the MCCLENIC surname may not be as widespread as some other Scottish names, it has a rich historical legacy deeply rooted in the Highlands and the Gaelic language, with connections to notable figures and events throughout Scottish history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name McClenic

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

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 McClenic 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.

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

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

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