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

McWright, 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 McWright surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of McWright in America

McWright is the 49461st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The McWright surname appeared 425 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 McWright.

We can also compare 2010 data for McWright 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 McWright

The surname McWright is of Scottish origin, with records dating back to the late 15th century. It is derived from the Scots Gaelic words "mac" meaning "son of" and "wright," which refers to a skilled carpenter or woodworker. The name is believed to have originated in the Scottish Highlands and Lowlands, where woodworking and carpentry were essential trades.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the McWright surname can be found in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland from 1488, which mention a John McWright from the county of Ayr. This suggests that the name was already well-established in Scotland by the late medieval period.

In the 16th century, the McWright surname appears in various records, including the Register of the Privy Seal of Scotland from 1568, which lists a William McWright from Lanarkshire. This region, known for its rich woodlands and timber resources, was likely a hub for skilled carpenters and wrights.

As Scotland's cities and towns grew during the 17th and 18th centuries, the McWright surname became more widespread. Notable individuals from this period include James McWright (1642-1718), a renowned architect from Edinburgh who designed several notable buildings, including the iconic St. Giles' Cathedral.

In the 19th century, the McWright surname traversed the Atlantic, carried by Scottish immigrants seeking new opportunities in America. One such individual was John McWright (1820-1895), a carpenter and builder from Glasgow who settled in New York City and contributed to the construction of many iconic buildings during the city's rapid expansion.

Other notable individuals with the McWright surname include:

1. Robert McWright (1755-1834), a Scottish inventor credited with developing an early version of the threshing machine, revolutionizing agricultural practices.

2. Elizabeth McWright (1879-1956), a Scottish suffragette and activist who campaigned tirelessly for women's rights and social reform.

3. Andrew McWright (1912-1996), a Scottish artist known for his vibrant landscape paintings depicting the rugged beauty of the Highlands.

4. Margaret McWright (1924-2008), a pioneering Scottish scientist whose research in genetics and plant biology contributed to advancements in agricultural sustainability.

5. Duncan McWright (1952-present), a Scottish author and playwright whose works explore themes of identity, cultural heritage, and the complexities of modern life.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name McWright

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

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

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

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