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

McPhail, 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 McPhail surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of McPhail in America

McPhail is the 6381st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The McPhail surname appeared 5,333 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname McPhail.

We can also compare 2010 data for McPhail 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 McPhail

The surname McPhail originated in Scotland, with the earliest recorded instances dating back to the 16th century. It is derived from the Gaelic words "mac" meaning "son" and "pail" or "phaill," which can refer to a place name or a personal name.

One theory suggests that the name is linked to the Isle of Islay, where the place name "Ardfhuill" or "Ardphuill" is found. This could indicate that the McPhail surname originated from a family or individual who resided in that area.

Another possibility is that the name is connected to the personal name "Paul" or its Gaelic equivalent "Pàl." In this case, McPhail would signify "son of Paul" or "son of Pàl."

Historical records show variations in the spelling of the name, including McPhaill, McPhayill, and McFail. One of the earliest documented instances is the mention of John McPhaill in the Register of the Privy Seal of Scotland in 1551.

Prominent figures bearing the McPhail surname include:

1. Archibald McPhail (1833-1897), a Scottish-Canadian businessman and politician who served as a member of the Canadian House of Commons.
2. Angus McPhail (1870-1958), a Scottish poet and author known for his works in the Gaelic language.
3. James McPhail (1756-1816), a Scottish-American Presbyterian minister and educator who founded the University of North Carolina.
4. Donald McPhail (1851-1926), a Canadian politician and lawyer who served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.
5. Ewan McPhail (1890-1970), a Scottish artist and painter known for his landscapes and portraits.

While the McPhail surname has its roots in Scotland, it has since spread to various parts of the world, particularly through Scottish immigration to North America and other regions. The name continues to be a part of historical records and has been carried on by numerous individuals throughout the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name McPhail

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

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

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

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