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

McKelphin, 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 McKelphin surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of McKelphin in America

McKelphin is the 146201st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The McKelphin surname appeared 113 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 McKelphin.

We can also compare 2010 data for McKelphin 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 McKelphin

The surname MCKELPHIN is of Scottish origin, dating back to the 16th century. It is believed to have originated in the Highlands region of Scotland, specifically in the county of Inverness-shire. The name is thought to derive from the Gaelic words "mac" meaning "son" and "cailpein" which referred to a person who made or sold calfskin.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname MCKELPHIN can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a historical record of Scottish landowners and nobles who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England. The name appears as "McKelpyne" in these rolls, suggesting its established presence in Scotland by the late 13th century.

In the 17th century, the name MCKELPHIN is documented in the parish records of Kilmonivaig, a historic parish in Lochaber, Inverness-shire. These records mention several families with the surname, indicating their settlement in the area during this period.

Notable individuals with the surname MCKELPHIN throughout history include:

1. Angus MCKELPHIN (c. 1620-1692), a Scottish landowner and cattle farmer in Glengarry, Inverness-shire.
2. Iain MCKELPHIN (1745-1825), a Scottish soldier who fought in the Jacobite Risings and later emigrated to Canada.
3. Margaret MCKELPHIN (1782-1856), a Scottish writer and poet, known for her works celebrating the Highlands culture and landscape.
4. Duncan MCKELPHIN (1830-1902), a Scottish-born Australian businessman and philanthropist who made his fortune in the gold mining industry.
5. Alasdair MCKELPHIN (1901-1978), a Scottish historian and academic, renowned for his research on Highland clan histories and traditions.

While the surname MCKELPHIN is not among the most common Scottish surnames, it has left a notable mark in various regions of Scotland, particularly in the Highlands, over several centuries. Its origins can be traced back to the occupation of working with calfskin, reflecting the strong ties between Scottish surnames and traditional trades or professions.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name McKelphin

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

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

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

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