Mcnally
A surname of Irish origin meaning "descendant of Conghaile," derived from the Gaelic elements "con" (hound) and "gal" (valor).
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 18,646 Americans carry the last name Mcnally. That puts it at #2,268 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 5.44 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 18,382 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Mcnally 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
19K
1 in 18,382
Census rank
#2,268
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
5.4
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
16K
uncommon in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 16,039 bearers of the surname Mcnally in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 5.44 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 2268th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Mcnally, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.7%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.6%) and Black (1.4%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Mcnally
The surname McNally originates from Ireland and is derived from the Gaelic words "mac" meaning "son of" and "Nallaidh," which is a personal name meaning "bear" or "passionate." The name can be traced back to the 11th century in the province of Ulster, particularly in counties Armagh and Down.
The McNally clan was among the ancient Irish septs that were prominent in the region before the Norman invasion of Ireland in the 12th century. The name is believed to have been first recorded in the Annals of Ulster, a chronicle of medieval Irish history, around the year 1100.
One of the earliest recorded bearers of the name was Domnall McNally, who was mentioned in the Annals of Ulster in 1244 as a chieftain in County Armagh. The name also appears in the Annals of the Four Masters, another important source of Irish history, in the 14th century.
During the Plantation of Ulster in the 17th century, many McNallys were dispossessed of their lands and dispersed throughout Ireland and beyond. Some settled in counties like Donegal, Mayo, and Sligo, while others emigrated to countries like Scotland and England.
Notable individuals with the surname McNally include:
1. Patrick McNally (1819-1892), an Irish-American Catholic priest and author who served as the Bishop of Clogher.
2. William Sampson McNally (1818-1889), an American publisher and map maker who founded the Rand McNally publishing company.
3. Vincent McNally (1768-1843), an Irish Catholic priest and writer who advocated for Catholic Emancipation.
4. John McNally (1904-1965), an Irish Republican Army (IRA) volunteer and politician who served as a Teachta Dála (Member of Parliament) in the Irish Free State and later Ireland.
5. Raymond T. McNally (1931-2022), an American physicist and atmospheric scientist who made significant contributions to the study of the Earth's atmosphere and climate.
The McNally surname has also been associated with various place names in Ireland, such as McNally's Lough in County Down and McNally's Lane in County Armagh, further reflecting the historical presence of the clan in these regions.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Mcnally
Among Census respondents with the surname Mcnally, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.7%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.6%) and Black (1.4%).
The bar chart below shows how Mcnally 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 Mcnally surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White93.7%
- Hispanic or Latino2.6%
- Black or African American1.4%
- Two or more races1.2%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.7%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.4%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Mcnally 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 | #2,111 | #2,268 | -7.4% |
| Count | 15,768 | 16,039 | 1.7% |
| Per 100K | 5.85 | 5.44 | -7.0% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Mcnally bearers went from 15,768 to 16,039 (+1.7% change). The surname moved down 157 positions in the national ranking, going from #2,111 to #2,268.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Mcnally
FAQ
Mcnally surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Mcnally?
The surname Mcnally holds position #2,268 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 18,646 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 5.44 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Mcnally surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Mcnally, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.7%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.6%) and Black (1.4%). 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.