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

McDonald, 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 McDonald surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of McDonald in America

McDonald is the 143rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The McDonald surname appeared 180,497 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 61 people would have the surname McDonald.

We can also compare 2010 data for McDonald 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 McDonald

The surname McDonald originated in Scotland, deriving from the Gaelic 'Mac Dhomhnaill' meaning 'son of Donald'. It is a patronymic name, with 'mac' meaning 'son of'. The earliest recorded instance of the surname dates back to the 12th century in the Western Isles of Scotland.

The McDonald name has strong historical ties to the Scottish Highlands and the Clan Donald, one of the largest and most powerful Scottish clans. The clan's origins can be traced back to Somerled, a 12th-century Norse-Gael who became King of the Isles. Somerled's descendants adopted the surname McDonald, and the clan played a significant role in Scottish history, particularly during the Wars of Scottish Independence.

One of the earliest recorded bearers of the McDonald surname was Reginald McDonald, who fought alongside Robert the Bruce at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314. The name also appears in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland in the 14th century, indicating its prevalence among Scottish families at that time.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals bearing the McDonald surname. Somhairle Mor MacDonald, born around 1520, was a Scottish clan chief and Lord of the Isles. He played a pivotal role in the struggle for power in the Western Isles during the 16th century.

Flora McDonald, born in 1722, is perhaps one of the most famous bearers of the surname. She aided Bonnie Prince Charlie's escape from Scotland after the Battle of Culloden in 1746, cementing her place in Scottish history.

John McDonald, born in 1765, was a Scottish explorer and fur trader who played a significant role in the exploration of the Canadian Northwest. He is credited with mapping much of the region and establishing trade routes.

Another notable figure was Sir John McDonald, born in 1815, who served as the first Prime Minister of Canada from 1867 to 1873 and again from 1878 to 1891. He played a crucial role in the formation of the Canadian Confederation.

In the United States, Colonel Angus McDonald, born in 1770, was a prominent figure in the American Revolutionary War. He served under General George Washington and was instrumental in the Battle of King's Mountain, a pivotal victory for the American forces.

While the McDonald surname has its roots in Scotland, it has since spread across the globe, carried by Scottish emigrants and their descendants. It remains a testament to the rich cultural heritage of the Scottish Highlands and the enduring legacy of the Clan Donald.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name McDonald

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

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

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

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