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

McClennon, 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 McClennon surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of McClennon in America

McClennon is the 76533rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The McClennon surname appeared 251 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 McClennon.

We can also compare 2010 data for McClennon 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 McClennon

The surname McClennon has its roots in Scotland, dating back to the 16th century. It is believed to have originated from the Scottish Gaelic words "mac" meaning "son of" and "Gille Fhionndain," which translates to "servant or follower of St. Finnan." This suggests that the name's origins may be connected to a historical figure or saint revered in Scotland during that time period.

The earliest recorded instances of the McClennon name appear in parish records and legal documents from the Scottish Highlands, particularly in the regions of Argyll and Bute. Some of the earliest known bearers of this surname include John McClennon, who was born in Inveraray, Argyll, in 1602, and Duncan McClennon, a landowner from the Isle of Islay, whose name appears in a charter from 1637.

One of the earliest notable McClennons in history was Sir Robert McClennon (1636-1714), a Scottish nobleman and military officer who served as a colonel in the Covenanter army during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. He was later knighted for his loyalty to the Protestant cause and his role in the Glorious Revolution of 1688.

In the 18th century, the McClennon name appears in various historical records related to the Jacobite risings. James McClennon (1712-1796) was a prominent supporter of the Jacobite cause and fought alongside Bonnie Prince Charlie at the Battle of Culloden in 1746. After the defeat of the Jacobites, he fled to France and later settled in North America.

Another notable figure was Margaret McClennon (1788-1865), a Scottish author and poet who wrote extensively about the culture and traditions of the Scottish Highlands. Her works, such as "The Heather Garland" and "Songs of the Gael," helped preserve and promote the rich heritage of Scottish literature and folklore.

In the 19th century, the McClennon name began to spread beyond Scotland as members of the clan emigrated to other parts of the British Empire and the United States. One such individual was William McClennon (1832-1912), a Scottish-born engineer who played a crucial role in the construction of the Panama Canal, overseeing the design and implementation of several key infrastructure projects.

While the McClennon surname may have evolved in spelling and pronunciation over the centuries, its historical roots remain firmly grounded in the Scottish Highlands, reflecting a rich cultural heritage and a connection to the land and legends of that region.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name McClennon

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

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

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

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