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

McIsaac, 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 McIsaac surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of McIsaac in America

McIsaac is the 21307th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The McIsaac surname appeared 1,230 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 McIsaac.

We can also compare 2010 data for McIsaac 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 McIsaac

The surname McIsaac originated in Scotland and dates back to the early medieval period. It is a patronymic name derived from the Gaelic personal name "Isaac," which itself comes from the Hebrew name "Yitzchak," meaning "he will laugh" or "he will rejoice." The prefix "Mc" or "Mac" means "son of" in Scottish Gaelic.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Scottish Highlands, particularly in the regions of Argyll and the Isles. It is believed that the name first appeared in written records around the 13th or 14th century, although the exact date is uncertain due to the scarcity of early documentation.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Donald McIsaac, who was documented in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland in 1492. Another early reference can be found in the Register of the Privy Seal of Scotland, which mentions a John McIsaac in 1548.

The McIsaac name has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One of the most prominent was Rev. Angus McIsaac (1835-1912), a respected Presbyterian minister and author from Nova Scotia, Canada. He wrote extensively on Scottish Gaelic language and literature.

Another noteworthy figure was Archibald McIsaac (1824-1903), a Scottish-born businessman and politician who served as a member of the Canadian House of Commons from 1887 to 1896, representing the electoral district of Antigonish, Nova Scotia.

In the literary realm, the name is associated with Canadian author and playwright Alistair MacIsaac (1936-2019), who wrote several novels and plays exploring themes of identity and cultural heritage.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name in North America can be found in the records of the Scots Charitable Society of Boston, Massachusetts, which lists a John McIsaac as a member in 1729.

Over time, various spelling variations of the name have emerged, such as MacIsaac, McIsaack, and McEssick, reflecting the regional dialects and linguistic influences of different areas where the name was established.

Despite its Scottish origins, the McIsaac surname has since spread to various parts of the world, particularly through migration and diaspora communities. However, its roots and historical significance remain firmly embedded in the Scottish Highlands and the Gaelic cultural heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name McIsaac

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

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

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

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