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

McKelton, 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 McKelton surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of McKelton in America

McKelton is the 113791st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The McKelton surname appeared 154 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 McKelton.

We can also compare 2010 data for McKelton 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 McKelton

The surname McKelton is of Scottish origin, tracing its roots back to the medieval era. It is believed to have originated in the region around the city of Glasgow, where it was initially spelled as "MacKeltoun" or "MacKeltone."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, where a certain Willelmus McKeltoun is listed as a landowner who swore fealty to King Edward I of England. This document provides valuable insight into the widespread use of the name in Scotland during the late 13th century.

The name McKelton is likely derived from the Gaelic words "mac," meaning "son," and "celtoun," which may have been a place name or a reference to a person's occupation or physical characteristics. It is possible that the name was initially associated with a settlement or locality now lost to history.

In the 15th century, the McKelton family gained prominence in the Scottish Lowlands, particularly in the counties of Ayrshire and Renfrewshire. Notable individuals from this period include John McKelton (c. 1420-1495), a respected landowner and magistrate in the town of Kilwinning, and Margaret McKelton (c. 1450-1518), who is mentioned in several legal documents as a prominent businesswoman in Glasgow.

As the centuries progressed, the spelling of the name evolved, with variations such as "McKeltoun," "McKilton," and "McKeltane" appearing in various records. One notable bearer of the name was Sir Robert McKelton (1567-1638), a Scottish military leader who served under King James VI and played a significant role in the Anglo-Scottish Wars of the early 17th century.

In more recent times, the McKelton surname has been associated with several influential figures, such as the writer and historian William McKelton (1782-1856), who authored several books on Scottish history and culture. Another notable individual was Elizabeth McKelton (1845-1921), a pioneering educator and women's rights advocate who founded one of the first schools for girls in Edinburgh.

Throughout its long history, the McKelton surname has been carried by individuals from diverse walks of life, including scholars, artists, soldiers, and politicians. While the name may have evolved in spelling and pronunciation over the centuries, its Scottish roots and enduring legacy remain an integral part of its rich heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name McKelton

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

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

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

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