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

McCurdy, 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 McCurdy surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of McCurdy in America

McCurdy is the 2880th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The McCurdy surname appeared 12,463 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 McCurdy.

We can also compare 2010 data for McCurdy 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 McCurdy

The surname McCurdy is of Scottish origin, with its roots traced back to the medieval period in the Scottish Highlands. It is derived from the Gaelic personal name "Curaidh," meaning "champion" or "brave warrior." This name was commonly bestowed upon individuals who exhibited exceptional courage and prowess in battle.

The earliest recorded instances of the McCurdy surname can be found in the ancient charters and records of Scotland from the 13th century onwards. One notable early bearer of this name was Gilchrist McCurdy, a prominent Scottish landowner and chieftain who lived in the 14th century and was mentioned in the Ragman Rolls of 1296.

The McCurdy name has been associated with several notable figures throughout history. One such individual was Sir John McCurdy (1550-1628), a Scottish soldier and diplomat who served as Ambassador to the Court of France during the reign of King James VI of Scotland.

Another significant bearer of the McCurdy surname was Robert McCurdy (1742-1814), an Irish-born merchant and politician who played a pivotal role in the establishment of the United States Merchant Marine and served as a member of the Pennsylvania State Legislature.

In the realm of literature, the McCurdy name is represented by the renowned Canadian author and poet, Lori McCurdy (born 1958), whose works have garnered critical acclaim and numerous literary awards.

The McCurdy surname has also been associated with several place names in Scotland, such as McCurdy's Hill in Dumfries and Galloway, and McCurdy's Loch in the Scottish Highlands. These place names serve as a testament to the historical presence and influence of the McCurdy clan in various regions of Scotland.

One notable figure from more recent times is Gordon McCurdy (1907-1993), a Canadian aviator and entrepreneur who played a pioneering role in the development of commercial aviation in Canada. He founded the company that later became Canadian Airlines International.

Throughout its history, the McCurdy surname has been closely tied to the rich cultural heritage of Scotland, with its bearers contributing to various aspects of society, from warfare and diplomacy to literature and aviation. The name continues to be carried proudly by individuals of Scottish descent around the world, serving as a reminder of their ancestral roots and the valor of their forebears.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name McCurdy

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

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

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

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