Macaulay Surname

23,010th
Most Common
surname in the World

Approximately 23,560 people bear this surname

Most prevalent in:
Nigeria
Highest density in:
Scotland

Macaulay Surname Definition:

(1) Gaelic. MacAmhalghaidh, 'son of Amalghaidh,' an old Irish personal name, pronounced almost as Macaulay or Macowley. From this comes the name of the Dumbartonshire Macaulays. (2) Gaelic MacAmKlaibh or MacAmhlaidh, 'son of Amlaib,' the old Gaelic form of N.

Read More About This Surname

Macaulay Surname Distribution Map

PlaceIncidenceFrequencyRank in Area
Nigeria8,9711:19,7461,808
Canada3,6921:9,9801,493
United States3,3621:107,81111,797
Scotland2,3321:2,296425
England2,0071:27,7623,763
Australia1,5371:17,5642,461
New Zealand4241:10,6801,864
Ghana2771:97,5489,187
South Africa2211:245,14825,005
Northern Ireland1031:17,9132,284
Thailand1001:706,383117,076
Hong Kong841:87,3271,583
Liberia761:58,0075,112
Ireland531:88,8485,029
Wales471:65,8415,810
Jamaica231:124,7804,616
Israel201:427,88233,464
France151:4,428,181244,602
United Arab Emirates151:610,81823,687
Isle of Man141:6,1301,329
Malaysia131:2,268,78789,138
Qatar121:196,50026,891
Denmark121:470,39330,183
Brazil111:19,461,303329,560
Spain101:4,675,20478,608
Sierra Leone91:787,737678
Cameroon91:2,307,674112,590
Philippines81:12,654,778228,986
Germany81:10,063,182283,807
Norway81:642,78647,258
Sweden51:1,969,351134,077
Trinidad and Tobago51:272,79511,064
Guyana41:190,5559,777
Saudi Arabia41:7,713,95437,548
Switzerland41:2,053,22997,179
Kuwait41:950,17418,811
Greece41:2,769,948101,568
Kenya31:15,393,30077,493
India31:255,688,4611,306,352
Chile31:5,872,15852,204
Japan21:63,922,14662,827
Zimbabwe21:7,719,120118,432
Mexico21:62,063,10283,384
Peru21:15,892,06251,966
China21:683,660,78330,601
Netherlands21:8,443,588136,641
Iceland21:190,0456,825
Namibia11:2,409,40119,676
Romania11:20,077,87089,414
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines11:112,6591,704
Bahamas11:391,7512,737
Singapore11:5,507,70347,049
Zambia11:15,849,92253,989
Benin11:10,335,602103,742
Uganda11:39,039,279258,887
Austria11:8,515,435118,036
Turks and Caicos Islands11:34,329862
Taiwan11:23,444,74693,622
Belgium11:11,496,644167,539
Kazakhstan11:17,682,496204,010
Cyprus11:884,87613,055
Czechia11:10,633,469206,023
Dominican Republic11:10,432,93236,508
East Timor11:1,215,928507
Egypt11:91,935,754132,737
Cayman Islands11:63,8932,384
Haiti11:10,683,90724,607
Italy11:61,156,688199,583
Ivory Coast11:23,071,23276,679
Jersey11:99,2026,620
Puerto Rico11:3,550,1399,109
Lithuania11:3,034,58847,401
Macau11:601,6301,582
Malawi11:17,119,10934,144
Mauritius11:1,293,41716,552
Monaco11:37,0664,748
Bulgaria11:6,978,90586,260
Pakistan11:178,643,885213,220
Panama11:3,912,25817,195
Poland11:38,008,749231,653
Portugal11:10,418,24125,048
PlaceIncidenceFrequencyRank in Area
Ireland3201:13,8431,811
PlaceIncidenceFrequencyRank in Area
United States881:570,66738,849

Macaulay (3,792) may also be a first name.

Macaulay Surname Meaning

From Where Does The Surname Originate? meaning and history

(1) Gaelic. MacAmhalghaidh, 'son of Amalghaidh,' an old Irish personal name, pronounced almost as Macaulay or Macowley. From this comes the name of the Dumbartonshire Macaulays. (2) Gaelic MacAmKlaibh or MacAmhlaidh, 'son of Amlaib,' the old Gaelic form of N. Olafr. From this comes the Hebridean name Macaulay. Duncan filius Auleth witnessed a charter by Malcolm, earl of Levenax, c. 1285 (Levenax, p. 87). As Duncan Macameleth he witnessed a grant to his cousin Murechauch filius Kork by Thomas de Cremennane c. 1290 (ibid., p. 80). In 1326 there is entry of a payment of cheese to two men of Iwar McAulay in Lennox (ER., I, p. 57). Awla McAwla of Ardencapill appears in 1536 (RSS., II, 2152), and we have McCalla of Ardincapill in 1592. Another Awla McAwla was clerk of the watch of Queen Mary's guard, 1566 (MCM., I, p. 35). Duncan M'Auihlay was minister of Fortirgall, 1581 (BBT., p. 226). John Makalley was indweller in Inverness, 1602 (Rec. Inv., II, p. 3), and John Dow McAwla and Awla McAwla, his son, in Gairlochhead, were fined for reset of clan Gregor, 1613 (RPC., XIV, p. 643). John M'Kauley, merchant burgess of Edinburgh was heir of Thomas M'Cauley there, 1623 (Inquis., 1100), and Thomas Makcaulay, writer to the signet in Edinburgh, 1638, appears in 1647 as M'Callow and in 1648 as M'Calley (ibid., 829,988, 1000). John Dow M'Aule appears in Clenfalloch in 1638 (BBT., p. 401), John Mackalla was armourer and sword-sliper in Edinburgh, 1684 (BOEC., IX p. 133), and George Makallay was retoured heir of Patrick M'Kalla, apothecary in Cupar, 1688 (Retours, Fife, 1298). Hume of Crossrig (Diary, p. 127) mentions a controverted election in Haddington, 1703, between Provost McCalla and Edgar the late provost. M'Ala 1582, M'Alay 1546, M'Aula 1717, M'AuIla 1740, McAullay 1721, Macawlay 1591, M'Cala 1582, McCalius (in Latin doc.) 1622, M'Calla and Makcalla 1606, McCallay 1528, McCalley 1598, M'Callie and Mackaula 1663, McCally 1707, McCaula 1589, McCaulaw 1541, McCaulay 1603, McKaula 1686, Makkalay 1454, M'Kallay 1604.

The Surnames of Scotland (1946) by George Fraser Black (1866-1948)

(Celtic+Scand.) Son of Olaf = Ancestral Relic [Gaelic Mac Amhlaidh or Amhlaoibh-mac, son; Old Norse Olaf-ái, great grandfather + leif, relic] (Celtic) Son of Aulay or Auley [Gaelic and Irish Mac Amhalghadha]

Surnames of the United Kingdom (1912) by Henry Harrison

(Celtic+Scand.) Son of Olaf = Ancestral Relic (Celtic) Son of Aulay or Auley

Surnames of the United Kingdom (1912) by Henry Harrison

(Scottish, Irish) The son of Amlaib, a Scotch form of Olaf (ancestor’s relic); the son of Amhalghaidh, an ancient Irish personal name.

Dictionary of American Family Names (1956) by Elsdon Coles Smith

(Scottish, Irish) The son of Amlaib, a Scotch form of Olaf (ancestor’s relic); the son of Amhalghaidh, an ancient Irish personal name.

Dictionary of American Family Names (1956) by Elsdon Coles Smith

(Clan Aula). Long considered to have been derived from the old Earls of Lennox, and to have got their name from Aulay son of Aulay, who appears in Bagman Roll; but Skene asserts that they were of the family of De Fasselane, who at a later period succeeded to that earldom. Dr. Hume suggests quite a different origin, from Olav, the Scandinavian name, thus-Mac Olav, Mac Aulif, Macauley. Ulster Journ, of Archaeology, No. 21.

Patronymica Britannica (1860) by Mark Antony Lower

The son of Aulay. The family claim to be descended from Aulay, grandson of Aulay, brother of Maldowan, Earl of Lennox.

The Origin and Signification of Scottish Surnames (1862) by Clifford Stanley Sims (1839-1896)

(Celtic.) The son of the rock.

An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names (1857) by William Arthur

From the Irish MacAmhailgaidh; a family name Also MacAuley, MacAwley, MacAuliffe, Macgawley.

British Family Names: Their Origin and Meaning (1903) by Henry Barber

User-submitted Reference

Derived from clan Aulay in modern-day Dumbartonshire. The original spelling comes from the old Irish first name Amalghaidh. However, there are some variants from the Outer Hebrides derived from Aula, the Norse king otherwise known as Olaf the Black.

- mcaulayd2

Macaulay Last Name Facts

Where Does The Last Name Macaulay Come From? nationality or country of origin

The surname Macaulay is more commonly found in Nigeria than any other country/territory. It may also be found as:. For other possible spellings of this last name click here.

How Common Is The Last Name Macaulay? popularity and diffusion

The last name Macaulay is the 23,010th most frequently held last name internationally. It is borne by approximately 1 in 309,319 people. The last name is mostly found in Africa, where 41 percent of Macaulay are found; 40 percent are found in West Africa and 39 percent are found in Atlantic-Niger Africa. It is also the 114,220th most widespread first name globally, borne by 3,792 people.

The surname Macaulay is most numerous in Nigeria, where it is carried by 8,971 people, or 1 in 19,746. In Nigeria Macaulay is mostly found in: Lagos, where 38 percent reside, Delta, where 17 percent reside and Akwa Ibom, where 6 percent reside. Other than Nigeria Macaulay exists in 80 countries. It is also found in Canada, where 16 percent reside and The United States, where 14 percent reside.

Macaulay Family Population Trend historical fluctuation

The frequency of Macaulay has changed over time. In The United States the number of people carrying the Macaulay surname grew 3,820 percent between 1880 and 2014 and in Ireland it fell 83 percent between 1901 and 2014.

Macaulay Last Name Statistics demography

The religious devotion of those holding the surname is principally Presbyterian (92%) in Ireland and Christian (99%) in Nigeria.

In The United States those holding the Macaulay last name are 1.19% more likely to be registered Democrats than the national average, with 52.04% being registered with the political party.

The amount Macaulay earn in different countries varies greatly. In Norway they earn 19.66% more than the national average, earning 414,104 kr per year; in Peru they earn 35.66% more than the national average, earning S/. 26,298 per year; in South Africa they earn 86.27% more than the national average, earning R 442,656 per year; in United States they earn 15.3% more than the national average, earning $49,750 USD per year and in Canada they earn 0.22% more than the national average, earning $49,791 CAD per year.

Phonetically Similar Names

SurnameSimilarityWorldwide IncidencePrevalency
MacCaulay9438/
MacAullay9417/
MacHaulay943/
Maucaulay943/
Macaulays943/
Maacaulay943/
MacAulayy941/
Mascaulay941/
McAulay933,727/
Macalay93455/
MacAuly93449/
Maculay93271/
Macaula93138/
Macauley8839,504/
Macaalay881,501/
McCaulay88224/
Macalayo8887/
Machalay8837/
MacAully8823/
Machulay8815/
MacCauly8814/
Macculay8811/
Maucauly8811/
Macauely887/
Macullay887/
Machaula884/
Macoulay884/
Mackauly884/
Maaculay883/
Macaulau883/
Macaulah883/
Macauluy882/
Machauly882/
Maucalay882/
Makaulay882/
Macallay882/
MacKalay881/
MacAelay881/
Macaulhy881/
Maculauy881/
Macauloy881/
Macalaya881/
Mackaula881/
Matcaula881/
Maccalay881/
Macaliay881/
Macuilay881/
Macuolay881/
MacEauly880/
Masculay880/
Macala864,540/
Macula861,734/
Maculy8647/
Macaly8619/
McAlay866/
Magcalayo82831/
MacCauley82360/
Macaulley8252/
MacGauley8210/
Maccauely827/
MacCaully823/
Maacauley821/
Maicauley821/
Macalayas821/
Macalayos821/
Macaulyjo821/
Machauley821/
Machullay821/
Mauccauly820/
McAuley8012,233/
Makaula807,773/
Machala803,570/
Machula803,009/
Macalla801,781/
Makalay801,155/
Maculey80333/
Machaly80235/
Macalau80208/
Macalai80118/
Maculas8089/
Maakula8073/
MacIula8069/
Macalia8056/
Maculia8040/
MacZala8033/
Macaley8032/
Mazaula8030/
Macaloa8022/
Mascala8021/
MacZula8020/
Macouly8018/
Macuila8018/
Macaela8017/
Macalad8015/
Maculla8015/
Mackula8013/
MacKaly8012/
Maciala8012/
Macalas8011/
Macaule8011/
Macaila8010/
Macculy8010/
Macutla8010/
Maecala8010/
MacKala809/
Macuely808/
Makauly807/
Macaluy807/
Macoula807/
Macaloy807/
Masculy806/
Macsala806/
Magcala806/
Macully805/
Maculuy805/
Macalya805/
Matcala805/
Maculiy804/
Makulay804/
MacAlly803/
MacCala803/
Mascula803/
Maucaly803/
MacAyla802/
Mecauly802/
Mecalay802/
Macalha802/
Madcala802/
Maicula802/
Mascaly801/
Maycala801/
MacUlya801/
Macaliy801/
Macauli801/
Machuly801/
Macuhly801/
Macalah801/
Macolay801/
Macuela801/
Maqaula801/
Mecaula801/
Macuoly801/
Macaely801/
Mocauly800/
Macgaulley787/
MacCaulley784/
Meacallays781/
McAla7710/
McUla771/
McCauley7538,011/
Magcalas754,606/
Machaliy751,261/
Matchala75706/
Makhaula75506/
Macaylas75300/
Mocallay75262/
Makayula75229/
Matchula75197/
Macajola75192/
MacCalla75145/
Macheula75138/
Makalaya75132/
Machoula75129/
Makaalay75123/
Machulla75121/
Machalla75113/
Machaule75107/
Machhala7587/
Makajula7560/
Maazoula7558/
Maculley7553/
Magculia7553/
Maccully7541/
MacIulla7538/
Macculey7533/
Mahakula7530/
Maczulat7527/
Mackouly7521/
Machalia7520/
Madsulay7519/
Matsaula7516/
Makalayi7512/
Machaila7511/
Macallia7511/
Macaliya759/
Matsalay759/
Machalya758/
Macouley758/
Maachala756/
Machaala755/
MacAlley755/
Machuley755/
Macaiola755/
Mecauley754/
Mahazula754/
Macalooy753/
Macaluja753/
Machhula752/
Mascalas752/
Macallas752/
MacHaela752/
Macaulet752/
Maccaley752/
Machally752/
Machulah752/
Macalawe752/
MacGaley752/
Macaueli752/
Makalaye752/
Machuela752/
Macoully752/
Makkauly751/
Mahchala751/
Mascully751/
MacSally751/
MacZuela751/
Maaskula751/
MacAlloy751/
MacAului751/
MacCalah751/
MacGulla751/
MacHalaa751/
Meccauly751/
Mmachala751/
Machaley751/
Maccolay751/
Maceuley751/
Mackaley751/
Maculeey751/
Maichala751/
Mauculey751/
Macaelly751/
Macailas751/
Macalait751/
Macalats751/
Macaloya751/
Macaaila751/
Madsalay751/
Machaíla751/
Maaicala751/
Magculla751/
Makauley751/
Makulayi751/
Makalayo751/
Maizalay751/
Mazalaye751/
Matcaila751/
Macolauy751/
Mackalla751/
Maicaely751/
Macaulle751/
Macaulli751/
Machouly751/
Macallys751/
MacCally750/
McKauley750/
MacKully750/
MacCulla750/
MacHealy750/
Makala7135,393/
Makula7112,895/
Mazula719,859/
Mazala718,710/
Macale713,505/
McCaulley711,924/
Macali711,727/
Maccaglia71723/
Macola71694/
Maqala71627/
Macała71327/
Maazullah71218/
Maculi71138/
Makajuola71129/
Macaloyos71127/
Macule71116/
Maucaylla71108/
McKula7172/
Macoly7160/
Matchulat7159/
MacCulley7144/
Maucailla7142/
McAlla7140/
Macaluyos7138/
Machaliya7123/
Maichaila7121/
Mocala7116/
Mačala7116/
Matchhala7114/
Matchalat7114/
Machzulah7112/
Makaly7112/
Matschula7112/
Macalé717/
Matchalla716/
Mecala716/
Maçala716/
Magkalayo715/
Machaella715/
Machalaji714/
Mackhalla714/
McCala713/
Machaulle713/
Madkullay713/
Magcallas713/
Maitchala713/
Maucaulli713/
Makaullah712/
Makajoula712/
Mácula712/
Maculé712/
Matchoula712/
Mahakulad711/
Mahakulla711/
Maichaela711/
MacSallah711/
MacCallyh711/
Machhalla711/
Mmachalla711/
Maccouley711/
Maucalley711/
Maccalley711/
Mackkully711/
Maqaly711/
Maciyalla711/
Matchalai711/
Matchaley711/
Maucaella711/
Maccaluha711/
Macuilatt711/
Maecalaju711/
Machouela711/
Maciulytė711/
Maazouley711/
Makhoulay711/
Maichalla711/
Mocaly711/
Machaalah711/
Maachaule711/
Machhalia711/
Mackallah711/
Makuly711/
Makhajula711/
Macauslis711/
Macaillat711/
McAloy710/
MacHaelia710/
MacCullah710/
Macalou6722,837/
McCalla675,421/
MacHale673,779/
Makaila673,603/
Makkala672,604/
Machała672,058/
Makuela671,920/
Mascali671,824/
Makhala671,797/
Makaïla671,735/
Machali671,216/
Makgala671,035/
Mascola67821/
Makalla67761/
McCulla67673/
Makhula67618/
Makeula67598/
Matsala67532/
Mazhula67512/
Matschulat67470/
Magcale67467/
Macalli67457/
Maqhula67325/
Macculi67303/
Makalai67303/
Makaluy67297/
Macalit67270/
Makkula67250/
Maskaly67223/
Makauli67217/
Macales67213/
Maikula67208/
Maccali67202/
Matsula67167/
Maczali67145/
Macolas67135/
Maculit67126/
Makhaly67124/
Maikala67121/
Machule67118/
Mochula67117/
Matschulla67115/
Makuila67111/
Makulla67108/
Maculet6794/
Makuloa6789/
Makhauliya6785/
Mahazullah6784/
Mazalla6780/
Makoula6778/
Macsali6769/
Macayle6768/
Maykala6766/
MacOlly6766/
Makalia6764/
Mazaule6762/
Meakala6758/
Machuli6756/
Maizula6754/
Maczała6754/
Makayla6751/
Makaela6750/
Mazauli6750/
Masculi6747/
Magqala6745/
Macalis6742/
Maekala6742/
Maakala6739/
Macolla6737/
Makahla6736/
Mokalay6736/
Moscala6735/
Makulau6733/
Makaule6733/
Macalet6731/
McCuley6730/
Moczula6730/
Mmakula6730/
Macalle6728/
Madzula6728/
Mazaila6728/
Makaliy6728/
Mazalai6726/
Makaala6724/
Mozulay6723/
Makuley6723/
Macoley6723/
Mazalia6723/
MacKale6722/
Mazulla6721/
Makaily6721/
Makalah6720/
Machhaliya6720/
McUlley6718/
Makaujuola6717/
Makulia6716/
Maculhi6716/
Macaile6716/
Maqhala6716/
Madsala6714/
Makalea6714/
Macaloi6713/
Maukola6712/
Makulap6712/
Makuluy6712/
Maccale6712/
Macuile6712/
Maculis6712/
Makulas6711/
Macalei6711/
Mecaila6711/
Mackała6711/
Mekaala6710/
Mascale6710/
Makulye6710/
Mazaala6710/
Mgakula6710/
Mokaala679/
MacOule679/
Mazuila678/
Makalyo677/
Mahakuliya677/
Makalya677/
Makulah677/
Mazaley677/
Makaloy677/
Macaili677/
Matzala677/
Makolay676/
Mazoula676/
Maqalea676/
Macałap676/
Macotla676/
Mackola676/
Makalys676/
Mashkalaay675/
Madsula674/
Mmakala674/
Mazsuly674/
Maacali674/
Magcali674/
Makaîla674/
Madzala674/
Mazalah674/
Maqalah674/
Mahkala673/
Maskuly673/
Makouly673/
Makulai673/
Macaele673/
Maazala673/
Makgula673/
Mhacale673/
Macalão672/
Makalaa672/
Mazalea672/
Mazulia672/
Mackoly672/
Macsule672/
Makaajuola672/
Maçalai672/
Mocally672/
Mazalya672/
Macaali672/
Makaley672/
MacGale672/
Maciale672/
Mohcala672/
Magkala672/
Mackali671/
Mahakulash671/
Makulea671/
Mazahla671/
Mazkula671/
Matchullat671/
MacAlip671/
MacCullach671/
Meakula671/
Mecalai671/
McCaila671/
Makuula671/
Maicola671/
Macouli671/
Maakule671/
Macsale671/
Maccule671/
Mekulay671/
Mazhala671/
Maculio671/
Macallé671/
Matchallat671/
Macatle671/
Macayli671/
Macałuj671/
MacAlee671/
Macalie671/
Macallè671/
Macaale671/
Maculei671/
Maecali671/
Machulí671/
Macuele671/
Machalí671/
Maciule671/
Maaculi671/
Mahachkala671/
Mahakalayo671/
Maqalad671/
Makaaly671/
Makalha671/
Mazayla671/
Mocalla671/
Mecahly671/
Matxala671/
Mauzala671/
Maqgula671/
Macahle671/
Makuhla671/
Makaloa671/
Mokaula671/
Mekalay671/
Mazaullaha671/
Makalad671/
Makalae671/
Makalyi671/
Maizala671/
Maicale671/
Maculee671/
Mahachalai671/
Macalio671/

Search for Another Surname

Macaulay Reference & Research

MacAulay FamilyTree DNA Group - A group collating DNA test results for those who bear the surname, includes results of DNA tests and discussions.

MacAulay FamilyTree DNA Project - A description of a group researching the paternal lines of men who bear the surname with the help of DNA analysis.

MacAulay-North Uist FamilyTree DNA Project - A description of a group researching the paternal lines of men who bear the surname with the help of DNA analysis.

The name statistics are still in development, sign up for information on more maps and data

By signing up to the mailing list you will only receive emails specifically about name reference on Forebears and your information will not be distributed to 3rd parties.

Footnotes

  • Surnames are taken as the first part of an person's inherited family name, caste, clan name or in some cases patronymic
  • Descriptions may contain details on the name's etymology, origin, ethnicity and history. They are largely reproduced from 3rd party sources; diligence is advised on accepting their validity - more information
  • Name distribution statistics are generated from a global database of over 4 billion people - more information
  • Heatmap: Dark red means there is a higher occurrence of the name, transitioning to light yellow signifies a progressively lower occurrence. Clicking on selected countries will show mapping at a regional level
  • Rank: Name are ranked by incidence using the ordinal ranking method; the name that occurs the most is assigned a rank of 1; name that occur less frequently receive an incremented rank; if two or more name occur the same number of times they are assigned the same rank and successive rank is incremented by the total preceeding names
  • Ethnic group cannot necessarily be determined by geographic occurrence
  • Similar: Names listed in the "Similar" section are phonetically similar and may not have any relation to Macaulay
  • To find out more about this surname's family history, lookup records on Family​Search, My​Heritage, FindMyPast and Ancestry. Further information may be obtained by DNA analysis