Mclaren
A Scottish toponymic surname derived from a place meaning "the son of Laurence" in Gaelic.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 6,924 Americans carry the last name Mclaren. That puts it at #5,799 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 2.02 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 49,502 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Mclaren 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
6.9K
1 in 49,502
Census rank
#5,799
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
2.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
6.0K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 5,968 bearers of the surname Mclaren in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 2.02 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 5799th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Mclaren, the largest self-reported group is White at 85.5%. The next largest groups are Black (9.5%) and Hispanic (2.6%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Mclaren
The surname McLaren is of Scottish origin, derived from the Gaelic "mac Labhruinn" meaning "son of the freckled/bright one." It originated in the region of Argyll and the Western Isles of Scotland.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which lists individuals who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England. The name appears as "MacLaren" with reference to a person from the Argyll region.
In the 15th century, the McLaren clan was prominent in the area around Loch Lomond and the Trossachs. The clan's seat was at Ardveck Castle on the banks of Loch Lomond. A notable figure from this period was Lachlan McLaren, a chief of the clan who lived in the late 1400s.
The surname McLaren can also be traced back to the Isle of Mull, where a branch of the clan settled. In the 16th century, Hector McLaren, a descendant of this branch, was a renowned poet and bard who composed works in Gaelic.
During the Scottish Reformation in the 16th century, the McLarens were supporters of the Protestant cause. Sir John McLaren, a clergyman born around 1570, was a prominent figure in the Church of Scotland and played a role in the establishment of Presbyterianism.
In the 17th century, the surname spread beyond Scotland as some McLarens emigrated to other parts of the British Isles and North America. One notable individual from this period was Sir Robert McLaren, a Scottish merchant and politician who was born in 1620 and served as Lord Provost of Edinburgh.
Other notable individuals with the surname McLaren include:
- Archibald McLaren (1812-1890), a Scottish engineer and inventor who contributed to the development of the steam engine.
- Walter McLaren (1819-1904), a Scottish-born Australian politician and businessman.
- Bruce McLaren (1937-1970), a renowned New Zealand racing car designer and driver who founded the McLaren automotive company.
The surname McLaren has also been associated with various place names in Scotland, such as McLaren Vale, a wine region in South Australia named after David McLaren, an early Scottish settler in the area.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Mclaren
Among Census respondents with the surname Mclaren, the largest self-reported group is White at 85.5%. The next largest groups are Black (9.5%) and Hispanic (2.6%).
The bar chart below shows how Mclaren 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 Mclaren surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White85.5%
- Black or African American9.5%
- Hispanic or Latino2.6%
- Two or more races1.5%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.8%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.2%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Mclaren 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 | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #5,670 | #5,799 | -2.3% |
| Count | 5,615 | 5,968 | 6.3% |
| Per 100K | 2.08 | 2.02 | -2.9% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Mclaren bearers went from 5,615 to 5,968 (+6.3% change). The surname moved down 129 positions in the national ranking, going from #5,670 to #5,799.
FAQ
Mclaren surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Mclaren?
The surname Mclaren holds position #5,799 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 6,924 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 2.02 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Mclaren surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Mclaren, the largest self-reported group is White at 85.5%. The next largest groups are Black (9.5%) and Hispanic (2.6%). 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.