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

McGlothan, 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 McGlothan surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of McGlothan in America

McGlothan is the 90495th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The McGlothan surname appeared 204 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 McGlothan.

We can also compare 2010 data for McGlothan 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 McGlothan

The surname McGlothan is believed to have originated in Scotland during the 16th century. It is thought to be derived from the Gaelic words "mac" meaning "son" and "glothan" meaning "greedy" or "gluttonous." This suggests that the name may have been given as a descriptive nickname to someone with a hearty appetite or a fondness for food.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in parish records and census documents from the Scottish Highlands, particularly in the regions of Argyll and Inverness-shire. Variations in spelling were common in those times, and the name appeared as McGlotten, McGlothan, and McGloughton, among others.

One of the earliest known individuals with this surname was Angus McGlothan, born in 1587 in the village of Inveraray, Argyll. He was a farmer and is mentioned in the Argyll Estate Records from the early 17th century.

In the late 17th century, the name appears in the records of the Clan MacKenzie, a powerful Highland clan based in Ross-shire. A certain Donald McGlothan is listed as a member of the clan's militia in 1692, suggesting that the name had spread to other parts of the Highlands by that time.

During the 18th century, the McGlothan surname began to appear in various parts of Scotland, as well as in Ireland, where it is believed some families migrated. One notable bearer of the name was Robert McGlothan, a merchant and landowner from Edinburgh, who was born in 1738 and is mentioned in several business records from the city.

Another significant figure was James McGlothan, born in 1792 in Inverness-shire. He was a writer and poet who published a collection of poems titled "The Highland Muse" in 1829, which celebrated the culture and landscapes of the Scottish Highlands.

As the 19th century progressed, the McGlothan name spread further afield, with families emigrating to countries such as Canada, Australia, and the United States. One notable American bearer of the name was William McGlothan, born in 1854 in Virginia, who served as a lawyer and judge in the state's court system.

While the McGlothan surname may not be as common as some other Scottish names, it has a rich history that can be traced back to the Highlands of Scotland and the colorful nickname bestowed upon one of its earliest bearers.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name McGlothan

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

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

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

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