2000
#143,847
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 106
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Mckeighen
A Scottish surname derived from the Gaelic Mac Aoidh meaning "son of fire" or "son of Hugh".
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 123 Americans carry the last name Mckeighen. That puts it at #151,639 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,786,621 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Mckeighen 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.
Bearers in the US
123
1 in 2,786,621
Census rank
#151,639
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
107
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 107 bearers of the surname Mckeighen in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 151639th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Mckeighen, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.4%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (1.9%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (1.9%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Mckeighen
The surname McKeighen is of Scottish origin, with roots dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to have originated from the Gaelic phrase "Mac Adhagain," which translates to "son of the young warrior" or "son of the young man." This name was likely given to someone who exhibited youthful vigor and bravery in battle or other pursuits.
The McKeighen name has strong ties to the Scottish Highlands, particularly the regions of Argyll and Perthshire. Early records show variations in spelling, including McKeighen, McKeegan, McKeigan, and McKeachen, reflecting the fluid nature of surnames during that era.
One of the earliest known references to the name can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a collection of documents containing the names of Scottish nobles who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England. The name "Gillecrist McAthyn" appears in these rolls, likely an ancestor of the McKeighen clan.
In the 14th century, a notable figure named Donald McKeighen was recorded as a prominent landowner in the parish of Killin, Perthshire. He played a role in the local community and was involved in disputes over land rights with neighboring clans.
During the Scottish Wars of Independence in the late 13th and early 14th centuries, several McKeighens were documented as fighting alongside William Wallace and Robert the Bruce against the English forces. One such individual was John McKeighen, who was said to have participated in the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314.
In the 16th century, the McKeighens were associated with the powerful Campbell clan, serving as vassals and allies. Records from this period mention a John McKeighen, born around 1525, who was a respected warrior and leader within the clan.
Another notable figure was Archibald McKeighen, born in 1645 in Argyll. He was a prominent scholar and writer, known for his works on Scottish history and literature. His writings provided valuable insights into the cultural traditions of the Highlands during that era.
Over the centuries, the McKeighen name has been linked to various locations in Scotland, including the villages of Drumadoon and Glenorchy in Argyll, as well as the town of Crieff in Perthshire. These place names reflect the historical presence and influence of the McKeighen clan in these areas.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Mckeighen
Among Census respondents with the surname Mckeighen, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.4%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (1.9%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (1.9%).
The bar chart below shows how Mckeighen 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 Mckeighen surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White94.4% · 101
- Hispanic or Latino1.9% · 2
- Asian and Pacific Islander1.9% · 2
- Black or African American0.9% · 1
- Two or more races0.9% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Mckeighen
Mckeighen 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
#157,234
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 103
-3 bearers (-2.8%)
Per 100,000 0.03
Rank movement Down 13,387 places
2020
#151,639
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 107
+4 bearers (+3.9%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Up 5,595 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #143,847 | 106 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #157,234 | 103 | 0.03 | -3 bearers (-2.8%) | Down 13,387 places |
| 2020 | #151,639 | 107 | 0.04 | +4 bearers (+3.9%) | Up 5,595 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 Mckeighen 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 | #157,234 | #151,639 | 3.6% |
| Count | 103 | 107 | 3.9% |
| Per 100K | 0.03 | 0.04 | 19.3% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Mckeighen bearers went from 103 to 107 (+3.9% change). The surname moved up 5,595 positions in the national ranking, going from #157,234 to #151,639.
FAQ
Mckeighen surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Mckeighen?
Name Census estimates that about 123 living Americans carry the surname Mckeighen. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,786,621 residents.
How common is Mckeighen?
Mckeighen ranks #151,639 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.04 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 107 people with the surname Mckeighen. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (123), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.04 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.04 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 Mckeighen.
Has Mckeighen become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Mckeighen went from 103 recorded bearers to 107. That is an increase of 4 (+3.9%). In the national ranking it rose from #157,234 to #151,639.
What does the Census say about the background of Mckeighen?
Among Census respondents with the surname Mckeighen, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.4%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (1.9%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (1.9%). 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 Mckeighen in the 2020 Census, accounting for 94.4% (101 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Mckeighen appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (94.4%), Hispanic (1.9%), Asian/Pacific Islander (1.9%). 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 Mckeighen (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 Mckeighen mean?
A Scottish surname derived from the Gaelic Mac Aoidh meaning "son of fire" or "son of Hugh". 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 Mckeighen (0.04 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 Mckeighen?
You can see how common the surname Mckeighen is on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — same data roots, lighter UI.