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

McWard, 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 McWard surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of McWard in America

McWard is the 136449th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The McWard surname appeared 123 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname McWard.

We can also compare 2010 data for McWard 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 McWard

The surname MCWARD has its origins in Scotland, dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from two Gaelic words, "mac" meaning "son of" and "ward," which referred to a watchman or guardian. This suggests that the earliest bearers of the name were sons of someone who served as a watchman or protector, likely in a castle or fortified settlement.

The name is thought to have first appeared in the Scottish Highlands, particularly in the regions of Argyll and Perthshire. Some early variations of the spelling include MacWard, McWard, and M'Ward, reflecting the different ways in which the prefix "mac" was written or abbreviated.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a collection of documents containing the names of Scottish nobles who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England. The name appears as "William Makward," indicating its presence in Scotland during that time.

In the 14th century, a prominent bearer of the name was Sir Andrew McWard, a Scottish knight who fought alongside King Robert the Bruce during the Scottish Wars of Independence against England. Sir Andrew was instrumental in several key battles and was rewarded with lands in Argyll for his service.

Another notable figure was John McWard, born in 1567, who was a renowned scholar and theologian. He served as the Principal of the University of Glasgow from 1614 until his death in 1622, and was known for his contributions to the field of divinity and his extensive writings on religious topics.

During the 17th century, the name appeared in various records, including the Hearth Tax Rolls of 1691, which recorded households and their occupants for tax purposes. The name "McWard" was found in several entries, indicating its continued presence in Scotland at that time.

In the 18th century, a notable bearer of the name was James McWard, born in 1712, who was a successful merchant and landowner in Edinburgh. He played a significant role in the city's economic and social affairs and was instrumental in the establishment of several charitable institutions.

Another prominent figure was Alexander McWard, born in 1789, who was a renowned Scottish architect. He designed several notable buildings, including churches and estates, and his work greatly influenced the architectural landscape of Scotland during the early 19th century.

Throughout history, the surname MCWARD has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including noblemen, scholars, merchants, and professionals, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and contributions of those who bore this name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name McWard

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

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

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

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