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

McKennie, 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 McKennie surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of McKennie in America

McKennie is the 65782nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The McKennie surname appeared 301 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 McKennie.

We can also compare 2010 data for McKennie 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 McKennie

The surname McKennie has its origins in Scotland, where it first emerged in the 12th century. It is derived from the Gaelic personal name "MacCoinneach", which means "son of Coinneach". The name Coinneach itself is believed to be derived from the Latin word "canonicus", meaning "canon" or "clerk".

The McKennie name is closely associated with the Scottish Highlands, particularly the areas around Inverness and the Isle of Skye. Early records show variations in spelling, such as MacKenzie, MacKenny, and MacKenney, which were common before standardized spelling became widespread.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which lists several individuals with the surname MacKenye swearing allegiance to King Edward I of England. This document provides valuable insight into the prevalence of the name during that period.

In the 14th century, the McKennie clan played a significant role in the Wars of Scottish Independence against England. Notable figures from this era include Sir Kenneth McKennie, a valiant warrior who fought alongside William Wallace and Robert the Bruce.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the McKennies were involved in various feuds and conflicts, particularly with the neighboring Clan Munro. One of the most famous figures from this time was Roderick McKennie (1550-1620), known as the "Black Baron" for his fierce leadership and military prowess.

The name has also been associated with several notable individuals throughout history, such as:

1. Sir Alexander McKennie (1678-1756), a Scottish politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament for Ross-shire.
2. John McKennie (1795-1879), a Scottish-American immigrant and businessman who co-founded the city of Muncie, Indiana.
3. Beatrice McKennie (1892-1976), a Canadian actress and playwright known for her contributions to the development of Canadian theater.
4. Kenneth McKennie (1918-2002), a British philosopher and academic who taught at the University of Oxford.
5. Weston McKennie (born 1998), an American professional soccer player who currently plays for Juventus in Italy.

While the name has evolved over time, with various spellings and pronunciations, its Scottish roots and connections to the Highlands remain a central part of its historical significance.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name McKennie

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

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

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

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