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

McCreary, 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 McCreary surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of McCreary in America

McCreary is the 4285th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The McCreary surname appeared 8,298 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 3 people would have the surname McCreary.

We can also compare 2010 data for McCreary 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 McCreary

The surname McCreary is of Scottish origin, originating from the region of Argyll in the western Highlands. It derives from the Gaelic "Mac Rìghreamhair," meaning "son of the grey-browed man" or "son of the fortunate one." This name likely originated as a descriptive surname, referring to an ancestor's physical attributes or personality.

The McCreary name can be traced back to the 13th century, with records showing the family's presence in the Argyll region during this time. One of the earliest documented references to the name is found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which recorded those who swore fealty to King Edward I of England. The name appeared as "McRyrewar."

In the 16th century, various spellings of the name emerged, including McCreary, McCreray, and McCreerie. These variations reflect the fluidity of surname spellings during this period, as they were often recorded phonetically by scribes.

The McCreary family played a significant role in the Clan Campbell, one of the most powerful clans in the Highlands. In the 17th century, John McCreary, born in 1620, was a notable member of the clan and served as a trusted advisor to the chief.

Another notable bearer of the name was Robert McCreary, born in 1675, who was a respected minister in the Church of Scotland. He was known for his powerful sermons and influential writings on religious matters.

In the 18th century, the McCreary name spread beyond Scotland as some family members immigrated to North America. One such individual was James McCreary, born in 1745, who settled in Virginia and became a prosperous farmer.

During the 19th century, the McCreary name gained prominence in both Scotland and North America. William McCreary, born in 1820 in Argyll, was a successful merchant and philanthropist who played a significant role in the development of Glasgow.

In the United States, John McCreary, born in 1835 in Pennsylvania, was a prominent politician who served as the 26th governor of Kentucky from 1875 to 1879.

McCreary has remained a respected surname throughout history, with bearers of the name contributing to various fields, including politics, religion, business, and the arts. Its Scottish roots and rich heritage continue to be a source of pride for those who carry the McCreary name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name McCreary

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

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

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

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