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

McCrary, 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 McCrary surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of McCrary in America

McCrary is the 2937th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The McCrary surname appeared 12,204 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 4 people would have the surname McCrary.

We can also compare 2010 data for McCrary 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 McCrary

The surname McCrary originated in Scotland during the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Gaelic personal name "MacRath," which means "son of Grace" or "son of good fortune." This name was popular among the clans of the Scottish Highlands, particularly in the regions of Argyll and the Western Isles.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the McCrary name can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which documented Scottish landowners who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England. Among the names listed is "Gillecrist MacRath," a variant spelling of the surname.

In the 16th century, the McCrary name appeared in various Scottish records and charters. A notable figure from this era was John McCrary, a prominent merchant and landowner born in Inveraray, Argyll, around 1530. He played a significant role in the economic development of the region and was known for his philanthropic efforts.

During the 17th century, many McCrarys were involved in the Scottish Covenanter movement, which sought to preserve the Presbyterian faith in Scotland. One such individual was Robert McCrary, born in Kilmarnock in 1620, who was a minister and active participant in the Covenanter rebellions against the English crown.

In the late 18th century, the McCrary name began to spread beyond Scotland as a result of the Scottish diaspora. One notable figure from this period was James McCrary, born in Ayr in 1765, who emigrated to North America and became a successful businessman and landowner in Virginia.

Another notable McCrary was Elizabeth McCrary, born in Edinburgh in 1820. She was a pioneering educator and writer who advocated for women's rights and educational opportunities. Her works, including "Essays on the Education of Women," were influential in shaping the discourse on women's issues in the 19th century.

As the McCrary name spread throughout the English-speaking world, it underwent various spelling variations, including McCrarey, McCrairie, and McCraren. However, the original Scottish spelling of McCrary remains the most widespread and recognized form.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name McCrary

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

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

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

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