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

McHale, 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 McHale surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of McHale in America

McHale is the 5444th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The McHale surname appeared 6,391 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname McHale.

We can also compare 2010 data for McHale 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 McHale

The surname McHale has its origins in Ireland, with the earliest records dating back to the 12th century. It is an Anglicized version of the Gaelic name "Mac Céile," which means "son of the servant." The name is derived from the Old Irish word "céile," meaning "companion" or "servant."

In ancient Irish tradition, the prefix "Mac" was used to denote the son of someone, while "Ó" was used to indicate the grandson or a descendant. The McHale surname was commonly found in County Sligo, County Mayo, and other parts of Connacht in the west of Ireland.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Annals of Ulster, a chronicle of medieval Irish history. In the year 1272, a man named "Mac Céile" is mentioned as a witness to a land grant in County Sligo.

Another notable historical reference is the inclusion of the name in the Annals of the Four Masters, a 17th-century chronicle compiled by Franciscan monks. It mentions a family of McHales who were prominent landowners in County Sligo during the 14th and 15th centuries.

The earliest recorded spelling variations of the name include "MacCeile," "MacKyle," and "MacKaile," reflecting the different ways the name was transcribed by scribes and record-keepers of the time.

One of the most famous bearers of the McHale surname was Patrick McHale (1857-1926), an Irish politician and Member of Parliament for North Leitrim. He was a prominent figure in the Irish Parliamentary Party and played a significant role in the struggle for Irish Home Rule.

Another notable McHale was Michael McHale (1899-1982), an Irish-American writer and journalist who worked for several newspapers in New York City. He was known for his coverage of World War II and his novels set in Ireland.

In the 18th century, James McHale (1732-1809) was a prominent merchant and landowner in County Mayo. He was involved in the Irish linen trade and played an essential role in the economic development of the region.

John McHale (1767-1838) was an Irish Catholic prelate who served as the Archbishop of Tuam from 1830 until his death. He was a staunch advocate for Catholic rights and played a significant role in the campaign for Catholic Emancipation in Ireland.

Another notable figure was Mary McHale (1858-1940), an Irish nun and educator who founded the Sisters of the Holy Faith, a religious order dedicated to education and social work in Ireland and other parts of the world.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name McHale

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

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

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

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