Mckern
An Irish surname transferred from the Gaelic "Mac Cearnaigh" meaning son of Cearnaigh (the small freckled man).
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 514 Americans carry the last name Mckern. That puts it at #47,521 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.15 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 666,837 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Mckern surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, 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.
Bearers in the US
514
1 in 666,837
Census rank
#47,521
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
446
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 446 bearers of the surname Mckern in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.15 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 47521st position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Mckern, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.4%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (2.2%) and Hispanic (1.8%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Mckern
The surname MCKERN is of Scottish origin, originating in the Highlands region of Scotland during the Middle Ages. It is a variant of the name MacKerran or Makaran, derived from the Gaelic personal name "Aran" or "Arran," meaning "high" or "elevated."
The earliest recorded instances of the name can be traced back to the 13th century, where it appeared in various Scottish records and historical documents. One notable reference is in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which recorded the names of Scottish nobles and landowners who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England.
In the 16th century, the MCKERN surname was particularly prevalent in the areas of Argyll, Inverness-shire, and the Hebrides islands. It was often associated with clans and families who held lands in these regions, such as the Clan MacKerran or the MacKerran family of Bute.
One of the earliest known bearers of the MCKERN name was Dougal MacKerran, a 14th-century Scottish chieftain who was recorded as a witness to a charter granted by Robert II, King of Scots, in 1385.
In the 17th century, the spelling variations of the name began to emerge, with variations such as McKern, McKeirn, and McKirn appearing in various records and documents.
Several notable individuals have borne the MCKERN surname throughout history. One example is Sir Andrew McKern (1720-1792), a Scottish merchant and politician who served as Lord Provost of Edinburgh from 1778 to 1780.
Another prominent figure was John McKern (1803-1876), a Scottish-born Canadian politician and businessman who served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada in the 19th century.
In the realm of literature, the poet and author Robbie McKern (1909-1988) was a notable figure. Born in Glasgow, he was renowned for his works capturing the Scottish working-class experience and was a recipient of the prestigious Saltire Society Book of the Year award.
The MCKERN surname has also been carried by notable figures in the arts and entertainment industry, such as actor Brian McKern (1944-2021), known for his roles in films like "The Sum of All Fears" and "Patriot Games."
Another individual of note was James McKern (1856-1926), a Scottish-born American architect who designed several prominent buildings in Chicago, including the Auditorium Building and the Chicago Public Library.
While the MCKERN surname may have evolved over time, it remains deeply rooted in its Scottish heritage, with a rich history spanning centuries and a legacy carried on by individuals from various walks of life.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Mckern
Among Census respondents with the surname Mckern, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.4%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (2.2%) and Hispanic (1.8%).
The bar chart below shows how Mckern bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 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.
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 Mckern surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White94.4%
- Two or more races2.2%
- Hispanic or Latino1.8%
- Asian and Pacific Islander1.4%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Mckern surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #47,521 | #47,521 | 0.0% |
| Count | 446 | 446 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.15 | 0.15 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Mckern bearers went from 446 to 446 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #47,521 to #47,521.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Mckern
FAQ
Mckern surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Mckern?
The surname Mckern holds position #47,521 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 514 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.15 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Mckern surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Mckern, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.4%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (2.2%) and Hispanic (1.8%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.