Mccotter
A surname derived from Scottish Gaelic "Mac Ò(gh)taire" meaning "son of the devotee or pilgrim".
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 823 Americans carry the last name Mccotter. That puts it at #32,203 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.24 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 416,469 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Mccotter surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
823
1 in 416,469
Census rank
#32,203
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.2
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
716
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 716 bearers of the surname Mccotter in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.24 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 32203rd position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Mccotter, the largest self-reported group is White at 74.9%. The next largest groups are Black (21.1%) and Hispanic (1.7%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Mccotter
The surname McCotter is of Scottish origin, derived from the Gaelic personal name "Otter" or "Ottar." This name likely originated in the 12th or 13th century and was initially found in the regions of Argyll and the Western Isles of Scotland.
The name McCotter can be traced back to the ancient manuscript known as the Ragman Rolls, a record of Scottish nobles who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England in the late 13th century. One notable early bearer of the name was Donald McCotter, who was mentioned in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland in 1502.
In the 16th century, the McCotter name appeared in various records, including the Presbytery Records of Lanark in 1593, which mentioned John McCotter. Another early reference can be found in the Register of the Privy Council of Scotland from 1608, where a certain Robert McCotter was mentioned.
One of the earliest known McCotters was Alexander McCotter, who was born in Argyll, Scotland, around 1620. He was a prominent figure in the Scottish Highlands and is recorded as having participated in the Jacobite uprisings of the late 17th century.
Another notable McCotter was Sir James McCotter (1678-1743), a Scottish lawyer and judge who served as Lord Advocate of Scotland from 1725 to 1737. He played a significant role in the prosecution of Jacobite rebels after the failed uprising of 1715.
In the 18th century, the McCotter name can be found in various records from the Isle of Islay, one of the Inner Hebrides islands of Scotland. The Reverend Archibald McCotter (1736-1804) was a well-known Presbyterian minister who served as the minister of Kilchoman Parish on the island of Islay from 1766 until his death.
The McCotter surname has also been associated with place names in Scotland, such as McCotter's Glen in Argyll and McCotter's Hill in Lanarkshire. These place names suggest that the McCotter family may have held lands or had a significant presence in these areas during earlier times.
While the surname McCotter is primarily Scottish in origin, it has also been found in other parts of the United Kingdom and beyond, likely due to migration and the spread of the Scottish diaspora over the centuries.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Mccotter
Among Census respondents with the surname Mccotter, the largest self-reported group is White at 74.9%. The next largest groups are Black (21.1%) and Hispanic (1.7%).
The bar chart below shows how Mccotter bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Mccotter surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White74.9%
- Black or African American21.1%
- Hispanic or Latino1.7%
- Unknown or suppressed1.2%
- American Indian and Alaska Native1.1%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Mccotter surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #31,271 | #32,203 | -3.0% |
| Count | 701 | 716 | 2.1% |
| Per 100K | 0.26 | 0.24 | -7.7% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Mccotter bearers went from 701 to 716 (+2.1% change). The surname moved down 932 positions in the national ranking, going from #31,271 to #32,203.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Mccotter
FAQ
Mccotter surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Mccotter?
The surname Mccotter holds position #32,203 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 823 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.24 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Mccotter surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Mccotter, the largest self-reported group is White at 74.9%. The next largest groups are Black (21.1%) and Hispanic (1.7%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.