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

McShane, 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 McShane surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of McShane in America

McShane is the 6737th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The McShane surname appeared 5,006 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 McShane.

We can also compare 2010 data for McShane 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 McShane

The surname McShane originates from Ireland and is derived from the Gaelic name "Mac Seáin," which translates to "son of Seán" or "son of John." It is a prominent Irish surname found predominantly in the counties of Antrim, Armagh, and Down in the northern part of Ireland.

During the Middle Ages, the McShane clan played a significant role in Irish history, particularly in the region of Glenarm, County Antrim. Records indicate that the McShanes were among the principal septs (family branches) of the powerful O'Neill dynasty, who ruled a large part of Ulster for several centuries.

The earliest recorded mention of the surname McShane can be traced back to the 16th century in the "Annals of the Four Masters," a historical chronicle compiled by Irish Franciscan monks. This document mentions a notable figure named Turlough McShane, who was a prominent leader in the late 16th century.

In the 17th century, the McShane surname appeared in various legal documents and records, such as the "Hearth Money Rolls" and the "Census of Ireland" conducted in 1659. These records provide valuable insights into the distribution and prominence of the McShane family during that period.

One notable figure bearing the McShane surname was John McShane (1711-1786), an Irish Catholic patriot and member of the United Irishmen movement. He played a crucial role in advocating for Catholic rights and Irish independence during the late 18th century.

Another prominent individual was Bernard McShane (1809-1888), an Irish-born Roman Catholic priest who served as the Bishop of Dubuque, Iowa, in the United States. He was instrumental in establishing several educational institutions and promoting the growth of the Catholic Church in the Midwestern United States.

In the literary realm, James McShane (1844-1908), an Irish writer and journalist, gained recognition for his contributions to Irish literature and his advocacy for Irish nationalism through his writings and editorials.

The McShane surname has also been associated with various place names in Ireland, such as McShane's Fort in County Antrim and McShane's Glebe in County Down, reflecting the historical presence and influence of the McShane clan in these regions.

Throughout history, the McShane surname has undergone various spelling variations, including MacShane, McShain, and McSheyne, reflecting the phonetic adaptations and regional dialects in different parts of Ireland.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name McShane

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

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

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

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