2000
#4,722
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 6,870
First available Census row
Per 100,000 2.55
Rare Last name
Mckelvey
A Scottish and Irish surname derived from the Gaelic "Mac Duinnshléibhe," meaning "son of Donnsléibhe" (brown mountain).
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 7,848 Americans carry the last name Mckelvey. That puts it at #4,973 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 2.29 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 43,674 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Mckelvey 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.
For British records, Name Census UK has a British surname profile for Mckelvey with 1881 census detail, origin facts and modern UK distribution where available.
Bearers in the US
7.8K
1 in 43,674
Census rank
#4,973
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
2.3
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
6.8K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 6,844 bearers of the surname Mckelvey in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 2.29 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 4973rd position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Mckelvey, the largest self-reported group is White at 81.1%. The next largest groups are Black (11.7%) and Two or More Races (3.5%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of 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.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Mckelvey
Among Census respondents with the surname Mckelvey, the largest self-reported group is White at 81.1%. The next largest groups are Black (11.7%) and Two or More Races (3.5%).
The bar chart below shows how Mckelvey 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 Mckelvey surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White81.1% · 5,549
- Black or African American11.7% · 803
- Two or more races3.5% · 240
- Hispanic or Latino2.9% · 199
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.5% · 31
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.3% · 22
Timeline
Historical Census data for Mckelvey
Mckelvey 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
#4,985
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 7,043
+173 bearers (+2.5%)
Per 100,000 2.39
Rank movement Down 263 places
2020
#4,973
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 6,844
-199 bearers (-2.8%)
Per 100,000 2.29
Rank movement Up 12 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #4,722 | 6,870 | 2.55 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #4,985 | 7,043 | 2.39 | +173 bearers (+2.5%) | Down 263 places |
| 2020 | #4,973 | 6,844 | 2.29 | -199 bearers (-2.8%) | Up 12 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 Mckelvey 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 | #4,985 | #4,973 | 0.2% |
| Count | 7,043 | 6,844 | -2.8% |
| Per 100K | 2.39 | 2.29 | -4.2% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Mckelvey bearers went from 7,043 to 6,844 (-2.8% change). The surname moved up 12 positions in the national ranking, going from #4,985 to #4,973.
FAQ
Mckelvey surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Mckelvey?
Name Census estimates that about 7,848 living Americans carry the surname Mckelvey. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 43,674 residents.
How common is Mckelvey?
Mckelvey ranks #4,973 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 2.29 per 100,000 residents, which is about 2 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 6,844 people with the surname Mckelvey. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (7,848), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 2.29 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 2.29 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 2 of them to have the surname Mckelvey.
Has Mckelvey become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Mckelvey went from 7,043 recorded bearers to 6,844. That is a decrease of 199 (-2.8%). In the national ranking it rose from #4,985 to #4,973.
What does the Census say about the background of Mckelvey?
Among Census respondents with the surname Mckelvey, the largest self-reported group is White at 81.1%. The next largest groups are Black (11.7%) and Two or More Races (3.5%). 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 Mckelvey in the 2020 Census, accounting for 81.1% (5,549 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Mckelvey appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (81.1%), Black (11.7%), Two or More Races (3.5%). 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 Mckelvey (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 Mckelvey mean?
A Scottish and Irish surname derived from the Gaelic "Mac Duinnshléibhe," meaning "son of Donnsléibhe" (brown mountain). 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 Mckelvey (2.29 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 share the surname Mckelvey?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.