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

McKinstry, 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 McKinstry surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of McKinstry in America

McKinstry is the 10620th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The McKinstry surname appeared 3,015 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname McKinstry.

We can also compare 2010 data for McKinstry 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 McKinstry

The surname McKinstry has its origins in Scotland, dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Gaelic mac an t-saoiridh, meaning "son of the carpenter" or "son of the joiner." The name likely originated in the areas of Renfrewshire and Ayrshire, where families with this occupation were prevalent.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a historical document that recorded the names of Scottish landowners who swore fealty to King Edward I of England. The name appears as "M'Kynstrer," indicating its Scottish origins and the evolution of its spelling over time.

In the 16th century, the McKinstry family was prominent in the Ayrshire region, with several members holding positions of authority and influence. John McKinstry, born in 1520, was a respected landowner and community leader in the town of Kilwinning.

The name also appears in historical records from Ireland, particularly in the counties of Antrim and Down, where Scottish settlers had established themselves. One notable figure was Robert McKinstry, born in 1642 in Ballymoney, County Antrim. He was a prominent merchant and landowner, and his descendants continued to play an essential role in the economic and social fabric of the region.

In the 18th century, the McKinstry name gained recognition in the literary world with the birth of James McKinstry (1718-1788), a Scottish poet and playwright. His works, although not widely known today, were celebrated in his time for their wit and satirical commentary on society.

Another notable figure was William McKinstry (1793-1867), a Scottish-American businessman and politician. Born in Paisley, Scotland, he immigrated to the United States and became a successful merchant in New York City. He later served as a member of the New York State Assembly and was actively involved in various philanthropic causes.

Throughout history, the McKinstry surname has been associated with a variety of professions and achievements, from carpentry and joinery to literature, business, and politics. While the spelling may have evolved over time, the name's Scottish heritage and connection to the skilled trades have remained a defining characteristic.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name McKinstry

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

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

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

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