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

McIlhany, 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 McIlhany surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of McIlhany in America

McIlhany is the 160975th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The McIlhany surname appeared 100 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 McIlhany.

The history of the last name McIlhany

The surname MCILHANY has its origins in Scotland, where it can be traced back to the late 16th century. The name is believed to be derived from the Gaelic words "mac" meaning "son" and "Gille Fhionnáin," which translates to "servant of St. Finnan." This suggests that the name may have originated from a family or individual who served at a church or monastery dedicated to St. Finnan.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name MCILHANY appears in the parish records of Kilrenny, a small village in Fife, Scotland, in the year 1598. The name is listed as "McIlhinny" in these records, indicating a slight variation in spelling from the modern form.

In the 17th century, the MCILHANY name can be found in various Scottish records, including the Hearth Tax Rolls of 1691, where a John McIlhany is listed as a resident of Kilmarnock, a town in East Ayrshire. This suggests that the family may have had a presence in this region during that time period.

As the name spread across Scotland and beyond, it underwent various spelling variations, such as McIlhenney, McIlhinnie, and McIlhaney. These variations were likely due to the influence of regional dialects and the inconsistencies in record-keeping at the time.

One notable figure with the surname MCILHANY was James McIlhenny (1825-1886), an American entrepreneur and founder of the McIlhenny Company, which produced the famous Tabasco brand of hot sauce. Born in Avery Island, Louisiana, he was of Scottish descent and played a significant role in the development of the hot sauce industry.

Another individual of historical significance was Robert McIlhenny (1872-1949), the son of James McIlhenny. He served as the president of the McIlhenny Company and oversaw the expansion of Tabasco sauce into international markets, solidifying its reputation as a globally recognized brand.

In the field of literature, there was William McIlhany (1893-1958), an American author and journalist. He was known for his works on politics and international affairs, including his book "When the Bunkers Awoke," which chronicled the rise of fascism in Europe during the 1930s.

The MCILHANY name has also been associated with notable figures in academia, such as Donald McIlhenny (1927-2009), who served as the president of Lafayette College in Pennsylvania from 1975 to 1983.

Lastly, John McIlhenny (1814-1868) was a Scottish-born American businessman and plantation owner in Louisiana. He played a significant role in the development of the sugar industry in the region during the 19th century.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name McIlhany

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

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 McIlhany 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.

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

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

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