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

McClinton, 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 McClinton surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of McClinton in America

McClinton is the 5925th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The McClinton surname appeared 5,816 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname McClinton.

We can also compare 2010 data for McClinton 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 McClinton

The surname McClinton has its origins in Scotland, emerging in the late 12th century. It is derived from the Gaelic words "mac," meaning "son of," and "Gille Crìosd," meaning "servant of Christ." The name likely originated from an ancestor who was a devoted servant of the Christian faith.

During the Middle Ages, the name McClinton appeared in various records and manuscripts, including the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which documented Scottish landowners and nobility who swore fealty to King Edward I of England. One of the earliest recorded individuals with this surname was John McClinton, a landowner in Ayrshire, Scotland, who lived in the late 14th century.

The surname McClinton has been associated with several notable figures throughout history. In the 16th century, Sir William McClinton (1495-1560) was a Scottish nobleman and military commander who fought in the Anglo-Scottish Wars. He was knighted for his bravery and loyalty to the Scottish crown.

In the 18th century, James McClinton (1720-1795) was a prominent Scottish merchant and philanthropist who made significant contributions to the city of Glasgow. He established the McClinton Charity School, which provided education to underprivileged children.

During the American Civil War, Robert McClinton (1835-1913) was a Union Army officer who served with distinction in several major battles, including Gettysburg and Antietam. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for his bravery and leadership.

In the literary world, William McClinton (1867-1932) was a Scottish poet and author known for his works celebrating the beauty of the Scottish Highlands and its people. His most famous collection, "Songs of the Heather," was widely acclaimed and helped preserve Scotland's rich cultural heritage.

Another notable figure was Elizabeth McClinton (1892-1978), a pioneering American woman who became one of the first female pilots in the United States. She was a skilled aviator and barnstormer, performing daring aerial stunts and promoting the advancement of women in aviation.

The surname McClinton has also been associated with various place names and locations throughout Scotland, such as McClinton Castle in Ayrshire, which dates back to the 15th century and was once the seat of the McClinton clan.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name McClinton

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

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

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

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