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

McEwen, 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 McEwen surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of McEwen in America

McEwen is the 4659th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The McEwen surname appeared 7,610 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 3 people would have the surname McEwen.

We can also compare 2010 data for McEwen 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 McEwen

The surname McEwen has its origins in Scotland, specifically in the southwestern region of Galloway. It is believed to have emerged in the 12th or 13th century as a variant of the name MacEwen or MacEwan, which derived from the Gaelic personal name Eóghan or Ewen, meaning "born of the yew tree."

The earliest recorded reference to the McEwen surname can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which documented a pledge of allegiance to King Edward I of England. One of the signatories was Gillemor McEwyn, a landowner from Wigtown, Scotland.

In the 16th century, the McEwens were prominent landowners and lairds in the parishes of Penninghame and Kirkcowan in Wigtownshire. Several members of the family were noted for their involvement in local disputes and feuds during this turbulent period in Scottish history.

One notable McEwen was Sir Patrick McEwen, who was knighted by King James VI of Scotland in 1590 for his services to the Crown. He played a significant role in suppressing the rebellion led by the Earl of Bothwell.

Another prominent figure was Reverend William McEwen, a minister in the Church of Scotland who lived from 1636 to 1713. He was a staunch Presbyterian and an influential figure in the Scottish Reformation.

In the 18th century, the McEwen surname spread beyond its traditional stronghold in Galloway as members of the clan migrated to other parts of Scotland and further afield to Ireland, England, and even North America.

A notable McEwen from this period was Archibald McEwen, a Scottish merchant and plantation owner who settled in Jamaica in the late 1700s. He amassed a considerable fortune through his involvement in the Caribbean sugar trade.

Towards the end of the 18th century, a branch of the McEwen family established itself in Argyllshire, on the west coast of Scotland. One of their descendants, John McEwen, born in 1833, became a prominent figure in the Scottish shipping industry, founding the McEwen Shipping Company in Glasgow.

While the McEwen surname has its roots in Scotland, it has since spread worldwide, with notable bearers from various countries and backgrounds. However, the historical records and references mentioned above provide a glimpse into the origins and early development of this Scottish surname.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name McEwen

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

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

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

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