2000
#10,557
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 2,788
First available Census row
Per 100,000 1.03
Rare Last name
Mcmasters
A Scottish and Irish occupational surname referring to the son of a master craftsman or cleric.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 3,213 Americans carry the last name Mcmasters. That puts it at #10,859 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.94 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 106,677 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Mcmasters surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, 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
3.2K
1 in 106,677
Census rank
#10,859
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.9
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
2.8K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 2,802 bearers of the surname Mcmasters in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.94 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 10859th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Mcmasters, the largest self-reported group is White at 87.9%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (4.1%) and Black (3.5%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Mcmasters
The surname McMasters is of Scottish origin, tracing its roots back to the Scottish Highlands in the medieval period. It is believed to have originated as a patronymic name, meaning "son of the master" or "son of the teacher." This suggests that the earliest bearers of this name may have been sons of respected educators or learned individuals.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland from the 13th century, where a certain "John McMaster" is mentioned. This record provides evidence of the name's existence and usage during that era, adding historical credibility to its origins.
The name McMasters has also been associated with various place names across Scotland, such as the village of McMaster's Bridge in Lanarkshire. This connection to geographical locations further solidifies the name's deep-rooted Scottish heritage.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have carried the McMasters surname. One prominent figure was Sir James McMaster (1677-1744), a Scottish merchant and landowner who served as Lord Provost of Glasgow from 1718 to 1720. His legacy is preserved in the name of McMaster University, a prestigious institution located in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, which was named in his honor.
Another notable bearer of the name was William McMaster (1811-1887), a Canadian businessman and philanthropist who played a significant role in the establishment of McMaster University. His generous donations and support for education left a lasting impact on the institution and the surrounding community.
In the realm of literature, Guy McMaster (1876-1951), an English novelist and playwright, made significant contributions to the early 20th century literary scene. His works, including the novel "The Winged Victory" and the play "The Passionate Pilgrim," gained critical acclaim and showcased his remarkable storytelling abilities.
The McMasters surname has also been associated with military service and valor. One such example is Major General William McMasters (1924-2018), a highly decorated United States Army officer who served in World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. His distinguished career and leadership earned him numerous accolades, including the Distinguished Service Cross and the Silver Star.
These examples illustrate the rich history and diverse backgrounds of individuals who have carried the McMasters surname throughout the centuries, further solidifying its place in the annals of Scottish and broader Western heritage.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Mcmasters
Among Census respondents with the surname Mcmasters, the largest self-reported group is White at 87.9%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (4.1%) and Black (3.5%).
The bar chart below shows how Mcmasters bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 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.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
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 Mcmasters surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White87.9% · 2,462
- Hispanic or Latino4.1% · 116
- Black or African American3.5% · 98
- Two or more races3.2% · 90
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.7% · 21
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.5% · 15
Timeline
Historical Census data for Mcmasters
Mcmasters appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#10,931
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 2,912
+124 bearers (+4.4%)
Per 100,000 0.99
Rank movement Down 374 places
2020
#10,859
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 2,802
-110 bearers (-3.8%)
Per 100,000 0.94
Rank movement Up 72 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #10,557 | 2,788 | 1.03 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #10,931 | 2,912 | 0.99 | +124 bearers (+4.4%) | Down 374 places |
| 2020 | #10,859 | 2,802 | 0.94 | -110 bearers (-3.8%) | Up 72 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Mcmasters surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #10,931 | #10,859 | 0.7% |
| Count | 2,912 | 2,802 | -3.8% |
| Per 100K | 0.99 | 0.94 | -5.3% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Mcmasters bearers went from 2,912 to 2,802 (-3.8% change). The surname moved up 72 positions in the national ranking, going from #10,931 to #10,859.
FAQ
Mcmasters surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Mcmasters?
Name Census estimates that about 3,213 living Americans carry the surname Mcmasters. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 106,677 residents.
How common is Mcmasters?
Mcmasters ranks #10,859 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.94 per 100,000 residents, which is about 1 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 2,802 people with the surname Mcmasters. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (3,213), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.94 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.94 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 1 of them to have the surname Mcmasters.
Has Mcmasters become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Mcmasters went from 2,912 recorded bearers to 2,802. That is a decrease of 110 (-3.8%). In the national ranking it rose from #10,931 to #10,859.
What does the Census say about the background of Mcmasters?
Among Census respondents with the surname Mcmasters, the largest self-reported group is White at 87.9%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (4.1%) and Black (3.5%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Mcmasters in the 2020 Census, accounting for 87.9% (2,462 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Mcmasters appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (87.9%), Hispanic (4.1%), Black (3.5%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Mcmasters (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Mcmasters mean?
A Scottish and Irish occupational surname referring to the son of a master craftsman or cleric. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Mcmasters (0.94 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people have the last name Mcmasters?
Find out how many Americans have the surname Mcmasters on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — a quick modern estimate with the living-bearer count front and centre.