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

McRoberts, 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 McRoberts surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of McRoberts in America

McRoberts is the 8793rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The McRoberts surname appeared 3,726 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname McRoberts.

We can also compare 2010 data for McRoberts 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 McRoberts

The surname McRoberts originated in Scotland in the late 12th century. It is a variant of the name Robertson, which is derived from the Old English words "Rod" and "Bert," meaning "bright" and "fame," respectively. The prefix "Mc" or "Mac" in Scottish surnames signifies "son of."

McRoberts is believed to have been initially adopted by individuals who were descendants or followers of Robert the Bruce, the famous Scottish king who led the country's struggle for independence from England in the early 14th century. The name may have been given to those who pledged allegiance or provided support to the king during this tumultuous period.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name McRoberts can be found in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland from 1264, where a person named William McRobertson is mentioned. This spelling variation highlights the fluidity and evolution of surnames during that era.

In the 16th century, the McRoberts clan was predominantly concentrated in the southwestern regions of Scotland, particularly in Ayrshire and Lanarkshire. They were known as a prominent family among the Scottish nobility, with several members holding influential positions in the government and military.

Notable individuals with the surname McRoberts throughout history include:

1. Sir John McRoberts (c. 1480 - 1560), a Scottish nobleman and military leader who fought alongside King James V in the Anglo-Scottish Wars.

2. Margaret McRoberts (1610 - 1688), a Scottish woman accused of witchcraft during the infamous Salem Witch Trials in colonial Massachusetts.

3. Robert McRoberts (1725 - 1802), a Scottish merchant and philanthropist who established several charitable foundations in Edinburgh.

4. James McRoberts (1829 - 1891), a Scottish-born explorer and surveyor who played a significant role in mapping the Canadian Rocky Mountains.

5. Archibald McRoberts (1875 - 1942), a Scottish-American inventor credited with developing the first practical self-winding wristwatch mechanism.

The McRoberts surname has also been associated with various place names in Scotland, such as McRoberts Glen in Ayrshire and McRoberts Loch in Renfrewshire. These locations may have been named after prominent members of the clan or derived from the name itself.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name McRoberts

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

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

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

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