Mcgahee
Of Irish origin, meaning son of the servant or follower.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 1,885 Americans carry the last name Mcgahee. That puts it at #17,472 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.55 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 181,833 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Mcgahee surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, 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
1.9K
1 in 181,833
Census rank
#17,472
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.6
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
1.6K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 1,613 bearers of the surname Mcgahee in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.55 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 17472nd position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Mcgahee, the largest self-reported group is White at 61.6%. The next largest groups are Black (34.7%) and Hispanic (1.5%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Mcgahee
The surname McGahee is of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic "Mac Gadhaidhe" meaning "son of the shaggy-haired one". It emerged in the 16th century in County Mayo, a region in the west of Ireland. The name is believed to be an Anglicized form of the Irish Gaelic name "Mac Gaoithe", which means "son of the wind".
Historical records show variations of the name, such as MacGaghee, McGaghy, and McGaughey, appearing in various Irish documents and manuscripts from the 17th century onwards. One notable example is the Annals of Ulster, a chronicle of medieval Irish history, which mentions a "Maghnus Mac Gadhaidhe" in the year 1468.
The earliest known bearer of the name was Terence McGahee, born around 1580 in County Mayo. He was a farmer and landowner, and his descendants can be traced through parish records and land deeds in the area.
In the 19th century, the McGahee name gained prominence with the birth of John McGahee (1815-1890), a prominent Irish politician and Member of Parliament for County Mayo. He was a staunch advocate for Irish Home Rule and played a significant role in the Irish nationalist movement.
Another notable figure was William McGahee (1845-1921), an Irish-American businessman and philanthropist. He immigrated to the United States in the late 19th century and amassed a considerable fortune through his successful business ventures in the steel industry. He later funded the construction of several schools and hospitals in his hometown of County Mayo.
Other historical figures bearing the McGahee surname include:
1. Mary McGahee (1820-1896), an Irish novelist and poet, known for her works depicting life in rural Ireland.
2. Patrick McGahee (1875-1956), an Irish-American soldier who served in the Spanish-American War and World War I, earning several military honors.
3. Elizabeth McGahee (1890-1965), an Irish-American educator and women's rights activist, advocating for equal opportunities in education and the workplace.
4. Thomas McGahee (1905-1982), an Irish-American artist renowned for his landscape paintings of the American West.
5. Michael McGahee (1920-2003), an Irish-American lawyer and judge who served on the New York Supreme Court and was known for his fair and impartial rulings.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Mcgahee
Among Census respondents with the surname Mcgahee, the largest self-reported group is White at 61.6%. The next largest groups are Black (34.7%) and Hispanic (1.5%).
The bar chart below shows how Mcgahee bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 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.
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 Mcgahee surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White61.6%
- Black or African American34.7%
- Hispanic or Latino1.5%
- Two or more races1.4%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Mcgahee surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #17,472 | #17,472 | 0.0% |
| Count | 1,613 | 1,613 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.55 | 0.55 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Mcgahee bearers went from 1,613 to 1,613 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #17,472 to #17,472.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Mcgahee
FAQ
Mcgahee surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Mcgahee?
The surname Mcgahee holds position #17,472 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 1,885 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.55 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Mcgahee surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Mcgahee, the largest self-reported group is White at 61.6%. The next largest groups are Black (34.7%) and Hispanic (1.5%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.