2000
#75,219
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 239
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.09
Very Rare Last name
Mcinally
A Scottish surname originating as a patronymic meaning "son of the servant of the wealthy one."
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 312 Americans carry the last name Mcinally. That puts it at #76,236 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.09 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 1,098,572 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Mcinally surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, 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.
For British records, Name Census UK has a British surname profile for Mcinally with 1881 census detail, origin facts and modern UK distribution where available.
Bearers in the US
312
1 in 1,098,572
Census rank
#76,236
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
272
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 272 bearers of the surname Mcinally in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.09 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 76236th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Mcinally, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.3%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (4.8%) and Hispanic (2.2%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Mcinally
The surname McInally has its origins in Scotland and dates back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Gaelic 'Mac an Fhaillighe' which translates to 'son of the modest one'. The name is thought to have originated in the regions of Argyll and Bute in the Scottish Highlands.
One of the earliest recorded references to the name is found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a document containing the names of Scottish landowners who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England. The name appears as 'M'Ynally', an early spelling variation.
In the 15th century, the name is mentioned in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland, which were records of royal revenue and expenditure. An entry from 1456 refers to a 'John McInally' from the town of Inveraray in Argyll.
The McInallys were a prominent clan in the Scottish Highlands, with their stronghold located in the village of Kilmichael Glassary in Argyll. The name is associated with several place names in the region, such as Inallys Farm and McInally's Hill.
One of the earliest known individuals with the surname was Duncan McInally, a Scottish chieftain who lived in the late 14th century. He was renowned for his leadership in battles against the English during the Wars of Scottish Independence.
Another notable figure was Sir John McInally (1610-1679), a Scottish soldier who fought for the Royalist cause during the English Civil War. He was knighted for his bravery in the Battle of Worcester in 1651.
In the 18th century, Robert McInally (1732-1802) was a Scottish minister and author who published several works on theology and philosophy. He served as the minister of the parish of Kilbarchan in Renfrewshire.
In the literary world, Archibald McInally (1825-1892) was a Scottish poet and journalist who wrote extensively about the culture and heritage of the Scottish Highlands. His most famous work was the collection of poems titled "The Heather Bells of Scotland".
Lastly, James McInally (1880-1956) was a Scottish footballer who played for several clubs in the early 20th century, including Rangers and Manchester United. He is considered one of the pioneering players in the history of Scottish football.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Mcinally
Among Census respondents with the surname Mcinally, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.3%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (4.8%) and Hispanic (2.2%).
The bar chart below shows how Mcinally bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 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.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
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 Mcinally surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White92.3% · 251
- Two or more races4.8% · 13
- Hispanic or Latino2.2% · 6
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.7% · 2
Timeline
Historical Census data for Mcinally
Mcinally appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#105,079
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 170
-69 bearers (-28.9%)
Per 100,000 0.06
Rank movement Down 29,860 places
2020
#76,236
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 272
+102 bearers (+60.0%)
Per 100,000 0.09
Rank movement Up 28,843 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #75,219 | 239 | 0.09 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #105,079 | 170 | 0.06 | -69 bearers (-28.9%) | Down 29,860 places |
| 2020 | #76,236 | 272 | 0.09 | +102 bearers (+60.0%) | Up 28,843 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Mcinally surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #105,079 | #76,236 | 27.4% |
| Count | 170 | 272 | 60.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.06 | 0.09 | 51.7% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Mcinally bearers went from 170 to 272 (+60.0% change). The surname moved up 28,843 positions in the national ranking, going from #105,079 to #76,236.
FAQ
Mcinally surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Mcinally?
Name Census estimates that about 312 living Americans carry the surname Mcinally. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 1,098,572 residents.
How common is Mcinally?
Mcinally ranks #76,236 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.09 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 272 people with the surname Mcinally. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (312), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.09 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.09 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Mcinally.
Has Mcinally become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Mcinally went from 170 recorded bearers to 272. That is an increase of 102 (+60.0%). In the national ranking it rose from #105,079 to #76,236.
What does the Census say about the background of Mcinally?
Among Census respondents with the surname Mcinally, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.3%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (4.8%) and Hispanic (2.2%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Mcinally in the 2020 Census, accounting for 92.3% (251 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Mcinally appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (92.3%), Two or More Races (4.8%), Hispanic (2.2%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Mcinally (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Mcinally mean?
A Scottish surname originating as a patronymic meaning "son of the servant of the wealthy one." The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Mcinally (0.09 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people are called Mcinally?
Find out how many people have the surname Mcinally on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — a quick modern estimate with the living-bearer count front and centre.