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

McCusker, 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 McCusker surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of McCusker in America

McCusker is the 9135th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The McCusker surname appeared 3,574 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 McCusker.

We can also compare 2010 data for McCusker 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 McCusker

The surname McCusker has its origins in Ireland, with the earliest records dating back to the late 16th century. It is derived from the Gaelic Mac Oisdeir, which means "son of the hospitable one." This suggests that the name may have originated from an ancestor who was known for their hospitality and generosity.

The McCusker name was prominent in counties such as Antrim, Armagh, and Down in Ulster, Ireland. It is believed that the name may have originated in the area around Cusher, a townland in County Armagh. The earliest known spelling variation of the name was "MacCusker," which was recorded in the Fiants of the Reign of Queen Elizabeth I in the late 1500s.

One of the earliest recorded references to the McCusker name can be found in the Hearth Money Rolls of 1663-1665, which were tax records compiled during the reign of King Charles II. These rolls list several McCusker families living in various parts of Ulster.

In the 18th century, a notable figure with the McCusker surname was Patrick McCusker (1702-1783), a Catholic priest and scholar from County Armagh. He was renowned for his knowledge of Greek and Latin and served as a tutor to several prominent families in Ireland.

Another significant individual was John McCusker (1766-1836), a successful merchant and ship owner from Belfast. He played a crucial role in the city's maritime trade and was involved in the establishment of the Belfast Chamber of Commerce.

During the 19th century, James McCusker (1837-1914) was a prominent figure in the Irish nationalist movement. He was a member of the Irish Republican Brotherhood and participated in the Fenian Rising of 1867, which aimed to establish an independent Irish republic.

In the literary realm, the McCusker name is associated with Mary McCusker (1890-1963), an Irish novelist and short story writer. Her works often explored the lives of ordinary people in rural Ireland and were praised for their realism and attention to detail.

John McCusker (1940-2005) was a notable figure in the field of education. He served as the Principal of St. Mary's University College in Belfast and was instrumental in establishing the college as a leading institution for teacher training in Northern Ireland.

These are just a few examples of individuals who have carried the McCusker surname throughout history, highlighting the name's Irish roots and its presence across various fields and eras.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name McCusker

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

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

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

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