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

McClure, 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 McClure surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of McClure in America

McClure is the 731st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The McClure surname appeared 47,742 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 16 people would have the surname McClure.

We can also compare 2010 data for McClure 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 McClure

The surname McClure is of Scottish origin, originating from the Lowlands region of Scotland during the Middle Ages. It is believed to derive from the Gaelic words "mac" meaning "son" and "lùrach" meaning "mushy ground" or "marsh." This suggests that the earliest bearers of the name may have resided near or been associated with a marshy area.

The McClure name can be traced back to the 13th century, with early recorded instances found in charters and legal documents from that era. One of the earliest known references appears in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a collection of instruments recording the submission of Scottish noblemen and landholders to Edward I of England.

In the 14th century, the McClure name was associated with the lands of Clure in Ayrshire, Scotland. Records from this period mention individuals such as John de Clure and Robert de Clure, who were likely descendants of the original McClure family.

The McClure surname has undergone various spelling variations throughout its history, including MacClure, MacClour, and McClour. These variations reflect the evolution of language and regional dialects over time.

Notable individuals bearing the McClure surname include:

1. Sir Robert McClure (1807-1873), a British naval officer and explorer who led the HMS Investigator expedition in search of the Northwest Passage.

2. Archibald McClure (1865-1949), an American architect known for his work in designing Carnegie libraries and other public buildings in the early 20th century.

3. Michael McClure (born 1932), an American poet, playwright, and essayist, associated with the Beat Generation and the San Francisco Renaissance.

4. Sir Robert John Le Mesurier McClure (1853-1936), a British lawyer and politician who served as Lord Chancellor of Ireland from 1917 to 1921.

5. Samuel McClure (1857-1949), an American publisher and founder of McClure's Magazine, which played a significant role in the muckraking movement of the early 20th century.

The McClure surname has a rich history deeply rooted in Scottish heritage, with its origins dating back to the Middle Ages. Over the centuries, the name has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including explorers, architects, writers, politicians, and publishers, leaving an indelible mark on history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name McClure

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

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

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

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