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

Muir, 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 Muir surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Muir in America

Muir is the 3245th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Muir surname appeared 11,130 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 4 people would have the surname Muir.

We can also compare 2010 data for Muir 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 Muir

The surname Muir is of Scottish origin, derived from the Old English word "mor" or the Old Norse word "mur," both meaning "moor" or "heath." It was initially used as a topographic name for someone who lived near a moorland or heathland area.

The name can be traced back to the 12th century in Scotland, with early records showing variations such as Mure, Muir, and Moor. One of the earliest references to the name is found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which lists several individuals with the surname Muir swearing fealty to King Edward I of England.

In the 14th century, the Muirs were a prominent family in the counties of Ayrshire and Renfrewshire, with several members holding positions of authority and power. Sir Reginald Muir, born around 1350, was a noted Scottish knight who fought alongside King Robert the Bruce during the Wars of Scottish Independence.

The surname Muir is also associated with several place names in Scotland, such as Muirkirk in East Ayrshire and Muiravonside in Stirlingshire. These place names likely originated from the same root word as the surname, indicating areas of moorland or heathland.

Notable individuals with the surname Muir throughout history include:

1. John Muir (1838-1914), a Scottish-American naturalist, author, and environmental philosopher, known as the "Father of the National Parks." He played a crucial role in the establishment of Yosemite National Park and the creation of the Sierra Club.

2. Sir William Muir (1819-1905), a Scottish scholar and civil servant in British India. He was a prominent orientalist and authored several works on Islamic history and literature.

3. Edwin Muir (1887-1959), a Scottish poet, novelist, and translator, known for his contributions to modern English literature. He was awarded the Founders’ Medal of the Royal Society of Literature in 1955.

4. Ramsay Muir (1872-1941), a British historian and political scientist, best known for his work on the history of British government and politics.

5. Matthew Muir (1807-1888), a Scottish-born American pioneer and rancher, who co-founded the city of Los Angeles, California, and was instrumental in establishing the region's cattle industry.

The surname Muir has a long and distinguished history, with roots dating back to the medieval period in Scotland. Its origins are closely tied to the landscape and geography of the country, reflecting the lives and occupations of those who bore the name in earlier times.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Muir

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

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

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

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