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

McCree, 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 McCree surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of McCree in America

McCree is the 10871st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The McCree surname appeared 2,931 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname McCree.

We can also compare 2010 data for McCree 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 McCree

The surname McCree originated in Scotland, with the earliest known records dating back to the 16th century. It is believed to have derived from the Gaelic "Mac Rìgh" or "Son of the King", suggesting a connection to Scottish royalty or nobility. Variations in spelling include MacCree, MacCrie, and McCrie.

One of the earliest documented references to the name can be found in the Scottish Exchequer Rolls of 1539, which mention a John McCree from the county of Ayr. This record suggests that the name was present in the southwestern regions of Scotland during that time period.

Another notable early reference is the appearance of a Robert McCree in the Register of the Privy Council of Scotland in 1621. This document details his involvement in a legal dispute over land ownership, providing insight into the social status and activities of those bearing the surname during the 17th century.

In the late 18th century, the name appears in the Old Parish Registers of Lanarkshire, with the birth of John McCree recorded in 1787 in the town of Bothwell. This region, located in central Scotland, seems to have been a stronghold for the McCree family during that era.

Historically notable individuals with the surname McCree include:

1. John McCree (1811-1885), a Scottish-born American Presbyterian minister who played a significant role in the establishment of the Presbyterian Church in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States.

2. Robert McCree (1837-1912), a Scottish-born businessman and philanthropist who made his fortune in the iron and steel industry in the United States. He was a notable benefactor of educational institutions in his later years.

3. Samuel McCree (1860-1928), a Scottish-American lawyer and judge who served on the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit from 1922 until his death.

4. Thomas McCree (1808-1879), a Scottish-born Canadian farmer and politician who served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario in the 1860s.

5. William McCree (1763-1835), a Scottish-born American pioneer and military officer who fought in the American Revolutionary War and later helped establish settlements in the Ohio River Valley region.

The surname McCree has a rich history rooted in Scotland, with its earliest known bearers hailing from regions such as Ayr, Lanarkshire, and beyond. While the name has spread across the globe over the centuries, its origins can be traced back to the 16th century and the Scottish Gaelic language.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name McCree

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

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

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

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