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

McLauren, 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 McLauren surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of McLauren in America

McLauren is the 122314th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The McLauren surname appeared 141 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 McLauren.

We can also compare 2010 data for McLauren 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 McLauren

The surname McLauren is of Scottish origin, derived from the Gaelic personal name "Labhran" or "Lairbnan," which means "wanderer" or "traveler." The name is believed to have emerged in the 12th or 13th century in the Scottish Highlands, particularly in the areas of Argyllshire and Perthshire.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a historical document containing the names of Scottish noblemen and landowners who swore fealty to King Edward I of England. The name is spelled as "Maclourane" in this record.

In the 15th century, the McLaurens were a prominent family in the Cowal peninsula of Argyllshire. They held significant lands and influence in the region. One notable member was Duncan McLauren, who was recorded as the laird (landowner) of Ardlamont in 1451.

The name has also been spelled in various ways throughout history, including McLaurin, McLaurine, McLoren, and McLawren. These variations were often due to regional dialects and the whims of scribes who recorded the name.

One of the most famous individuals with the McLauren surname was John McLauren (1734-1796), a Scottish mathematician and philosopher who made significant contributions to the field of calculus. He was born in Kilmichael, Argyllshire, and later served as a professor at the University of Edinburgh.

Another notable McLauren was Robert McLauren (1718-1805), a Scottish philosopher and minister who was a prominent figure in the Scottish Enlightenment. He was born in Monteith, Perthshire, and served as the minister of the parish of Culross.

In the late 18th century, John McLauren (1770-1858) was a Scottish surgeon and author who wrote several medical treatises. He was born in Argyllshire and practiced in Glasgow.

The name also has a connection to the United States. James McLauren (1768-1824) was a Scottish-born American politician who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from South Carolina.

Another American with the McLauren surname was John Francis McLauren (1878-1935), a famous architect who designed several notable buildings in Los Angeles, including the Griffith Observatory and the Los Angeles City Hall.

While the surname has its roots in Scotland, it has since spread to various parts of the world, carried by Scottish emigrants and their descendants. However, its origins can be traced back to the Scottish Highlands, where it emerged as a distinct surname several centuries ago.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name McLauren

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

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

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

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