Mcnown
A Scottish surname derived from the Gaelic Mac Naomhóg meaning "son of the devotee" or "son of the holy one".
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 206 Americans carry the last name Mcnown. That puts it at #98,982 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.06 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 1,663,856 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Mcnown 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
206
1 in 1,663,856
Census rank
#98,982
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
183
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 183 bearers of the surname Mcnown in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.06 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 98982nd position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Mcnown, the largest self-reported group is White at 91.8%. The next largest groups are American Indian/Alaska Native (3.3%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Mcnown
The surname MCNOWN originated from the Scottish Highlands in the 16th century. It is derived from the Gaelic words "mac" meaning "son of" and "naomh" meaning "saint" or "holy person". The name likely referred to an ancestor who was a religious figure or had some connection to the church.
In its earliest recorded forms, the name appeared as McNaun, McNaughen, and McNaughton before evolving into the modern spelling of MCNOWN. It is believed to have originated in the area around Argyll and the Isles, where Gaelic was the predominant language.
One of the earliest known references to the name can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a collection of homage recordings made during the Scottish Wars of Independence. The name appears as "Gillecrist McNaun" from the county of Dunbarton.
In the 17th century, the MCNOWN family established themselves in the parish of Kilmun, Argyllshire. Notable members from this era include John MCNOWN (1635-1712), a prominent landowner and local magistrate, and his son, Robert MCNOWN (1670-1745), who served as the parish minister.
As the MCNOWN clan spread across Scotland and beyond, the name appeared in various records and documents. In the 18th century, James MCNOWN (1720-1795) was a successful merchant in Glasgow, while William MCNOWN (1775-1842) was a respected academic and author of several works on Scottish history and culture.
During the 19th century, the MCNOWN name gained prominence in North America as many Scottish immigrants settled in Canada and the United States. One notable figure was Alexander MCNOWN (1810-1892), a pioneer and entrepreneur who established one of the first successful cattle ranches in Montana.
Throughout its history, the MCNOWN surname has been associated with a strong Scottish heritage and a connection to the Highland clans. While not a particularly common name, it has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, from clergymen and landowners to merchants and pioneers.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Mcnown
Among Census respondents with the surname Mcnown, the largest self-reported group is White at 91.8%. The next largest groups are American Indian/Alaska Native (3.3%).
The bar chart below shows how Mcnown 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 Mcnown surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White91.8%
- Unknown or suppressed4.9%
- American Indian and Alaska Native3.3%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Mcnown 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 | #85,996 | #98,982 | -15.1% |
| Count | 202 | 183 | -9.4% |
| Per 100K | 0.07 | 0.06 | -14.3% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Mcnown bearers went from 202 to 183 (-9.4% change). The surname moved down 12,986 positions in the national ranking, going from #85,996 to #98,982.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Mcnown
FAQ
Mcnown surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Mcnown?
The surname Mcnown holds position #98,982 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 206 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.06 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Mcnown surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Mcnown, the largest self-reported group is White at 91.8%. The next largest groups are American Indian/Alaska Native (3.3%). 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.