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

McKelvey, 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 McKelvey surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of McKelvey in America

McKelvey is the 4985th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The McKelvey surname appeared 7,043 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname McKelvey.

We can also compare 2010 data for McKelvey 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 McKelvey

The surname McKelvey is of Scottish origin, tracing its roots back to the 13th century. It is derived from the Gaelic personal name "Gille Chalum," meaning "servant of St. Colum" or "Columba." This name was commonly Anglicized as "Malcolm" and later evolved into various spellings, including McKelvey.

The earliest recorded instance of the name McKelvey can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a collection of Scottish nobles' pledges of allegiance to King Edward I of England. In this document, the name appears as "M'Colvil." Over time, the spelling evolved to reflect the phonetic pronunciation, resulting in variations like McKelvie, McKelvy, and McKelvey.

One notable historical figure bearing this surname was Sir John McKelvie (1492-1558), a Scottish nobleman and landowner who played a significant role in the Wars of Scottish Independence. He fought alongside Robert the Bruce and was rewarded with lands in Galloway for his loyalty and bravery.

Another prominent individual was James McKelvey (1630-1695), a Presbyterian minister and prolific writer who authored several theological works, including "A Treatise on the Sacraments" and "A Defense of Presbyterianism." His writings were influential in shaping the religious discourse of his time.

In the 18th century, William McKelvey (1720-1798) was a Scottish merchant and philanthropist who made significant contributions to the city of Glasgow. He funded the construction of several schools and hospitals, leaving a lasting legacy in the community.

The McKelvey name also appeared in the United States, with one of the earliest recorded instances being Robert McKelvey (1755-1832), a Scottish immigrant who settled in Pennsylvania and became a prominent farmer and landowner.

Another notable American figure was John McKelvey (1822-1908), a Union Army officer during the American Civil War. He served with distinction and rose to the rank of Brevet Brigadier General, earning recognition for his leadership and valor on the battlefield.

Throughout history, the McKelvey surname has been associated with individuals from various walks of life, including clergy, military officers, merchants, and landowners. While the name may have evolved in its spelling over the centuries, its Scottish roots and connection to the revered St. Columba have remained a consistent thread.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name McKelvey

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

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

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

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