2000
#119,644
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 134
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.05
Very Rare Last name
Mcelhanon
A surname likely of Scottish origin meaning "servant of the renowned one".
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 138 Americans carry the last name Mcelhanon. That puts it at #142,049 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,483,727 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Mcelhanon surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
138
1 in 2,483,727
Census rank
#142,049
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
120
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 120 bearers of the surname Mcelhanon in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 142049th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Mcelhanon, the largest self-reported group is White at 80.8%. The next largest groups are Black (15.0%) and Hispanic (2.5%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Mcelhanon
The surname MCELHANON originated in Scotland, specifically the Highland region, during the late 16th century. It is believed to be a variant of the Gaelic name "Mac Illannain," which means "son of the servant of St. John." The name was likely derived from an ancestor who served as a servant or devotee of St. John the Baptist or St. John the Evangelist.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name MCELHANON can be found in the Scottish clan records of the late 1500s, where it appears as "McElhanon." This spelling variation was common during that time period due to the lack of standardized spelling conventions and the phonetic nature of Gaelic names.
In the 17th century, the MCELHANON family was known to reside in the Highlands, particularly in the areas around Inverness and Lochaber. During this time, the name was also associated with the Clan Cameron, one of the most prominent clans in the region.
Historical records from the late 17th century mention a Dugald MCELHANON, who was a renowned swordsman and served as a personal guard to the Chief of the Clan Cameron. His bravery and loyalty were celebrated in local folklore and oral traditions of the time.
In the 18th century, the name MCELHANON gained prominence with the birth of Alasdair MCELHANON (1720-1795), a renowned poet and bard from the Isle of Skye. His works, which celebrated the Highland culture and traditions, were widely celebrated and contributed to the preservation of Gaelic literature.
Another notable figure was Iain MCELHANON (1775-1840), a skilled navigator and sailor who served in the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars. He was recognized for his bravery and leadership during several naval battles, including the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805.
During the 19th century, the MCELHANON family continued to be associated with the Scottish Highlands, with many members working as farmers, shepherds, and tradesmen. One notable figure from this era was Catriona MCELHANON (1820-1892), a skilled weaver and textile artist whose works were highly sought after for their intricate designs and exceptional craftsmanship.
As the centuries passed, the MCELHANON name spread to other parts of Scotland and beyond, with descendants of the original Highland families settling in various parts of the world, carrying the rich history and cultural traditions of their Scottish heritage.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Mcelhanon
Among Census respondents with the surname Mcelhanon, the largest self-reported group is White at 80.8%. The next largest groups are Black (15.0%) and Hispanic (2.5%).
The bar chart below shows how Mcelhanon bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Mcelhanon surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White80.8% · 97
- Black or African American15.0% · 18
- Hispanic or Latino2.5% · 3
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.8% · 1
- Two or more races0.8% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Mcelhanon
Mcelhanon appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#134,712
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 125
-9 bearers (-6.7%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 15,068 places
2020
#142,049
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 120
-5 bearers (-4.0%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 7,337 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #119,644 | 134 | 0.05 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #134,712 | 125 | 0.04 | -9 bearers (-6.7%) | Down 15,068 places |
| 2020 | #142,049 | 120 | 0.04 | -5 bearers (-4.0%) | Down 7,337 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Mcelhanon surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #134,712 | #142,049 | -5.4% |
| Count | 125 | 120 | -4.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | 0.4% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Mcelhanon bearers went from 125 to 120 (-4.0% change). The surname moved down 7,337 positions in the national ranking, going from #134,712 to #142,049.
FAQ
Mcelhanon surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Mcelhanon?
Name Census estimates that about 138 living Americans carry the surname Mcelhanon. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,483,727 residents.
How common is Mcelhanon?
Mcelhanon ranks #142,049 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 120 people with the surname Mcelhanon. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (138), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.04 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.04 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Mcelhanon.
Has Mcelhanon become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Mcelhanon went from 125 recorded bearers to 120. That is a decrease of 5 (-4.0%). In the national ranking it fell from #134,712 to #142,049.
What does the Census say about the background of Mcelhanon?
Among Census respondents with the surname Mcelhanon, the largest self-reported group is White at 80.8%. The next largest groups are Black (15.0%) and Hispanic (2.5%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Mcelhanon in the 2020 Census, accounting for 80.8% (97 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Mcelhanon appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (80.8%), Black (15.0%), Hispanic (2.5%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Mcelhanon (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Mcelhanon mean?
A surname likely of Scottish origin meaning "servant of the renowned one". The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Mcelhanon (0.04 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people have the last name Mcelhanon?
Want to know how many people are called Mcelhanon? HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, puts the living-bearer count front and centre.