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

McKelvin, 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 McKelvin surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of McKelvin in America

McKelvin is the 36477th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The McKelvin surname appeared 613 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 McKelvin.

We can also compare 2010 data for McKelvin 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 McKelvin

The surname McKelvin is of Scottish origin, with roots dating back to the 13th century in the region of Argyll and Bute. It is believed to have derived from the Gaelic words "mac" meaning "son" and "Caolann" or "Calumn," which were early forms of the personal name Colin.

The earliest known record of the McKelvin name appears in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which documented individuals who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England during the Wars of Scottish Independence. Among those listed was a "Gillemor MacCaolain" from the Isle of Islay.

In the 16th century, variations of the spelling included McKalvyn, McKelvyn, and McKellvyn, reflecting the phonetic pronunciation of the name in different regions. The name was particularly prominent in the areas of Kintyre and the Inner Hebrides.

One notable bearer of the McKelvin name was Sir Duncan McKelvin, a 17th-century Scottish landowner and chieftain of the Clan McKelvin. He was known for his involvement in the Covenanter movement, a Presbyterian-led uprising against the religious reforms imposed by King Charles I.

Another prominent figure was Captain John McKelvin, who served in the British Royal Navy during the 18th century. He gained recognition for his role in the Battle of Quiberon Bay during the Seven Years' War.

In the literary world, James McKelvin, a 19th-century Scottish poet and journalist, gained acclaim for his works celebrating the Scottish Highlands and its people. He was born in 1822 in the village of Inveraray.

The McKelvin surname also found its way to Ireland, where it was anglicized as McQuillan or Quillan. One notable Irish bearer was Patrick McQuillan, a renowned Gaelic scholar and scribe who lived in the late 17th century.

In the United States, one of the earliest recorded instances of the McKelvin name was in 1776, when James McKelvin, a Scottish immigrant, fought in the American Revolutionary War as part of the South Carolina militia.

While the surname McKelvin is not as widespread as some other Scottish names, it has a rich history and has been carried by individuals who have made significant contributions in various fields throughout the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name McKelvin

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

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

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

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