Find out how popular the last name McGaugh is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named McGaugh.
A Scottish surname derived from the Gaelic name "McGough" meaning "son of the descendant of Hugh."
McGaugh, 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 McGaugh surname is from the 2010 census data.
McGaugh is the 22144th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.
The McGaugh surname appeared 1,167 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname McGaugh.
We can also compare 2010 data for McGaugh 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.
| 2010 | 2000 | Change (%) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | 22144 | 20923 | 5.67% |
| Count | 1,167 | 1,172 | -0.43% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.40 | 0.43 | -7.23% |
The surname MCGAUGH has its origins in Ireland, with the earliest references dating back to the 12th century. The name is derived from the Gaelic "Mac Gamhna," which translates to "son of the calf." This suggests that the original bearer of the name may have had some association with cattle farming or was perhaps known for their affinity towards calves.
During the medieval period, the MCGAUGH surname was primarily concentrated in the counties of Donegal and Fermanagh in Ulster, Northern Ireland. The name can be found in various historical records from that era, including land deeds and parish registers. One notable early mention of the surname appears in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history compiled in the 17th century.
As the surname spread across Ireland, it underwent several spelling variations, such as McGaugh, McGough, McGaw, and McGee. These variations were often due to differences in pronunciation and regional dialects. The MCGAUGH spelling is believed to have originated from the Ulster region.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname MCGAUGH was Terence McGaugh, born in County Donegal in the late 15th century. He was a renowned bard and poet, known for his skillful use of the Irish language. Another notable figure was Seamus McGaugh (1590-1650), a soldier who fought in the Irish Confederate Wars during the 17th century.
In the 18th century, the MCGAUGH name gained prominence with the birth of Hugh McGaugh (1720-1792), a wealthy landowner and merchant from County Fermanagh. His son, Patrick McGaugh (1760-1830), was a respected member of the Irish Parliament and played a significant role in advocating for Catholic rights during the turbulent period of the Irish Rebellion.
As the Irish diaspora spread across the world, the MCGAUGH surname traveled with them. One prominent figure was Michael McGaugh (1845-1925), an Irish-American entrepreneur who made his fortune in the shipping industry in New York City. In the literary world, the novelist and playwright Kathleen McGaugh (1890-1968) gained recognition for her works exploring Irish culture and identity.
Despite its relatively small numbers compared to other Irish surnames, the MCGAUGH name has left its mark across various fields, from politics and business to the arts and literature. Its rich history and connection to the Irish heritage have contributed to the enduring legacy of this surname.
We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname McGaugh.
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:
For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for McGaugh was:
| Race/Ethnicity | Percentage | Total Occurrences |
|---|---|---|
| Non-Hispanic White Only | 86.29% | 1,007 |
| Non-Hispanic Black Only | 6.86% | 80 |
| Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only | 0.00% | 0 |
| Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.86% | 10 |
| Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races | 2.06% | 24 |
| Hispanic Origin | 3.94% | 46 |
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 McGaugh has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.
| 2010 | 2000 | Change (%) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 86.29% | 86.26% | 0.03% |
| Black | 6.86% | 8.02% | -15.59% |
| Asian and Pacific Islander | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.86% | 0.77% | 11.04% |
| Two or More Races | 2.06% | 2.73% | -27.97% |
| Hispanic | 3.94% | 2.22% | 55.84% |
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 McGaugh was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.
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