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

McWhorter, 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 McWhorter surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of McWhorter in America

McWhorter is the 3801st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The McWhorter surname appeared 9,312 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 3 people would have the surname McWhorter.

We can also compare 2010 data for McWhorter 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 McWhorter

The surname McWhorter is of Scottish origin, derived from the Gaelic personal name Watters or Waters. It emerged in the 12th century in the regions of Ayrshire and Lanarkshire, where it was initially spelled as McWatters or McWattirs.

One of the earliest recorded references to the name can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which document the swearing of allegiance to King Edward I of England by Scottish nobles and landowners. An entry for a "Walter McWatyr" from Ayrshire is listed among those who pledged their fealty.

The surname McWhorter likely emerged as a phonetic variation of the original McWatters spelling, reflecting the local dialect and pronunciation in certain areas of Scotland. Over time, different spellings such as McWhorter, McWhortur, and McQuharter became more common.

In the 16th century, the McWhorters were prominent landowners in the Barony of Renfrew, near Glasgow. A notable figure from this period was John McWhorter (1505-1572), who served as the Baillie of Renfrew and played a significant role in local affairs.

During the Scottish Reformation, the McWhorters were divided in their religious loyalties, with some remaining Catholic and others embracing Protestantism. This division led to conflicts and disputes over land and inheritance within the family.

In the 17th century, several members of the McWhorter clan emigrated to Ireland, settling in the Ulster Plantation. One notable individual from this period was William McWhorter (1620-1689), who became a successful merchant and landowner in County Down.

As the McWhorters spread across Scotland, Ireland, and eventually to the British colonies in North America, the name continued to evolve with various spellings. Notable individuals with the surname include:

1. Alexander McWhorter (1734-1807), an American Presbyterian minister and educator who founded the Newark Academy in New Jersey.
2. Mary McWhorter (1770-1853), an American poet and essayist known for her works exploring themes of nature and morality.
3. George McWhorter (1787-1853), a Scottish-born American businessman and politician who served as the Mayor of Newark, New Jersey.
4. Edward McWhorter (1842-1914), a Union Army officer during the American Civil War, awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions at the Battle of Gettysburg.
5. Lucile McWhorter (1893-1944), an American aviator and one of the first female pilots in the United States.

The surname McWhorter has a rich history, tracing its roots back to the Scottish Highlands and reflecting the diverse experiences of those who bore the name throughout the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name McWhorter

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

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

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

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