McClea Surname
Approximately 77 people bear this surname
McClea Surname Definition:
MACCLEE: Ewen M'Clee witnessed an instrument of sasine of the lands of Tollard begg, 1478 (Lamont, p. 24). Perhaps from Irish Mac Laotdhigh, 'son of Laoidheacn ' the name of an old family in Leix (Woulfe).
McClea Surname Distribution Map
| Place | Incidence | Frequency | Rank in Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Zealand | 32 | 1:141,510 | 16,640 |
| United States | 25 | 1:14,498,357 | 517,445 |
| Australia | 13 | 1:2,076,592 | 93,242 |
| Northern Ireland | 8 | 1:230,630 | 10,839 |
| England | 7 | 1:7,959,723 | 202,100 |
| Place | Incidence | Frequency | Rank in Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ireland | 18 | 1:246,104 | 10,726 |
| Place | Incidence | Frequency | Rank in Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 10 | 1:5,021,868 | 210,693 |
McClea Surname Meaning
From Where Does The Surname Originate? meaning and history
MACCLEE: Ewen M'Clee witnessed an instrument of sasine of the lands of Tollard begg, 1478 (Lamont, p. 24). Perhaps from Irish Mac Laotdhigh, 'son of Laoidheacn ' the name of an old family in Leix (Woulfe).
MACLAE, Maclay, Macclay, Maclea, Macleay: These names ere commonly but incorrectly explained as from Gaelic Mac an leigh. This is merely popular etymology due to t le belief that the name means 'son of the physician,' and that the Macleays of western Sutherland ere descended from Ferchard Leche, who had a grant of lands in Assynt, 1386. The full form of the name is MacDhunnshleibhe, 'son of Donnshleibhe,' as explained under Dunsleve, which see. In a royal commission of 1498 King James m directed certain persons to distrain the lands and goods of Kenyoch M'Conleif and Donald M'Conleif, co-raiders with Chisholm of Comer of the lands of Huchone Ros of Kilrawok (OPS., II, p. 527). Kenzoch or Kennitus M'Coleif held the king's lands of Cumree (Comrie) in Strathconon in 1504 (ER., XII, p. 663), behind Tor Achilty, where tradition placed the seat of the clan. John M'Ewin V'Dunslef appears at Sonnachan, Argyllshire, in 1502 (Notes and queries, 11 July, 1931, p. 21), and Firda Makgillecallum Makcolluf and John Roy M'Culloiff were tenants under Stewart of Appin in 1509 (Stewarts of Appin, p. 193). In 1518 the "clane McDowleanis" (an error for M'Dowleavis) gave their bond of manrent to Sir John Campbell of Caldor (Cawdor, p. 129). The names given in the bond ere: Duncan Brec McDunlane, and Jhone Mcdoulane 'his broder.' Dunslane McNeill is one of the parties to the bond, and in all three instances -laue has been misread -lane. John McYndayn McCollef is mentioned in 1519 (ibid., p. 131). Odoni Makdouill Makdunlane had a remission in 1524, and a son of Duncan M'Dunlewe was appointed minister of the two perishes of Kiflespic-Kerrill and Kilmeronock in 1541 (HMC., 2 Rep., p. 193), The northern Macleays were known to Sir Robert Gordon as the clan Leajwe; while thereafter they are known in record as Makley (in Alness 1651), M'Ley (in Coutin 1677). Macleays were numerous in early times in Easter and Wester Ross and in Argyll. Of the southern Macleays was Jo. M'Ey V'Dunlaif in North Argyll, 1570 (Cawdor, p. 177). A cautioner was found for John McClay in Ayrshire, 1584 (RPC., III, p. 714), and Donald M'Collea was one of Dunolly's men in 1588 (RPC., IV, p. 265), and Duncan M'Collea appears in same year (ibid., p. 333). Patrik M'Conlea in Finran was fined for reset of members of Clan Gregor in 1613 (ibid., XIV, p. 631), and Donald M'Onleif was servitor to Allan Cameron of Locheil in same year (RMS., VII, 871). Donald M'Clae was burgess of Glasgow by purchase, 1617 (Burgesses), and Duncan Dow McDonochie Brec alias McDonnslae and John McEane Dow VcDonochie Brecalias McDonnske were charged with assault and cattle-stealing, 1623 (RPC., XIII, p. 270271). Mc onlea is a common record spelling of the name, and its derivation is clearly shown by the name of Dounslea Mconlea, tenant of Schewnay, 1669 (HP., IV, p. 222). Donald roy M'Onlay appears in Lunga, 1633 (Notes and queries, 18 July, 1931, p. 44). Findlay McClay and Malcolm McClay appear in Drakies in 1646 (More Culloden Papers, p. 50), and Dunsla M'ein Vc onlea and Iain M'onlea, his brother, were among those massacred at Dunaveity, 1649 (HP., II, p. 257). Duncan Mc onlea was bailie of Rothesay, 1662 (ibid., III, p. 12), and another Duncan M'Onlea was burgess of Paisley, 1667 (Isles). Iain Mc onlew was tenant of Torisay, Mull, 1669 (HP., IV, p. 223), and Duncan M'Onlea, Duncan M'Dunslea, and Neill M'Dimslea (an error for Dunslea) appear in Islay, 1688 (Bk. Islay, p. 508,511). William Livingston, the Islay bard, always wrote his name in Gaelic M'Dhunleibhe, and Dr. David Livingstone, the African traveller, was a Macdonleavy of Ulva. Allan Dall gives another popular etymology of the name, which he makes to mean 'son of John the grey-haired,'
"Thagrainn cairdeas Mhic-Iain-Leithe
'S gur dlleas do m' chinneadh fein e,Stolen from Fore bears
Sheasadh air gach cnoc le cheile,
Nuair a dh' eireadh iad gu stri."
McClea Demographics
Average McClea Salary in
United States
$42,519 USD
Per year
Average Salary in
United States
$43,149 USD
Per year
View the highest/lowest earning families in The United States
McClea Last Name Facts
Where Does The Last Name McClea Come From? nationality or country of origin
The surname McClea is more frequently found in New Zealand than any other country/territory. It can be rendered as:. Click here to see other potential spellings of this name.
How Common Is The Last Name McClea? popularity and diffusion
The last name McClea is the 2,152,526th most widely held last name in the world It is held by approximately 1 in 94,643,453 people. This last name is mostly found in Oceania, where 58 percent of McClea live; 58 percent live in Australasia and 58 percent live in Australia and New Zealand.
The last name is most widespread in New Zealand, where it is carried by 32 people, or 1 in 141,510. In New Zealand McClea is primarily found in: Otago Region, where 59 percent reside and Canterbury Region, where 31 percent reside. Barring New Zealand McClea occurs in 4 countries. It also occurs in The United States, where 32 percent reside and Australia, where 17 percent reside.
McClea Family Population Trend historical fluctuation
The occurrence of McClea has changed over time. In The United States the number of people bearing the McClea last name rose 250 percent between 1880 and 2014.
McClea Last Name Statistics demography
The religious adherence of those bearing the McClea surname is primarily Catholic (50%) in Ireland.
In The United States those bearing the McClea surname are 53.23% more likely to be registered Republicans than the national average, with 100% registered with the political party.
McClea earn marginally less than the average income. In United States they earn 1.46% less than the national average, earning $42,519 USD per year.
Phonetically Similar Names
| Surname | Similarity | Worldwide Incidence | Prevalency |
|---|---|---|---|
| McLea | 91 | 147 | / |
| McCle | 91 | 2 | / |
| McCla | 91 | 2 | / |
| McClay | 83 | 3,517 | / |
| Moclea | 83 | 103 | / |
| McClee | 83 | 91 | / |
| MacLea | 83 | 76 | / |
| McCley | 83 | 11 | / |
| McClai | 83 | 5 | / |
| Moccla | 83 | 1 | / |
| McLe | 80 | 14 | / |
| McLa | 80 | 3 | / |
| McCalla | 77 | 5,421 | / |
| MacClay | 77 | 77 | / |
| MacLead | 77 | 24 | / |
| McCalle | 77 | 7 | / |
| Macleah | 77 | 1 | / |
| Maiclea | 77 | 1 | / |
| Moccley | 77 | 0 | / |
| MacKlea | 77 | 0 | / |
| McLay | 73 | 3,749 | / |
| Macle | 73 | 436 | / |
| Macla | 73 | 378 | / |
| McLee | 73 | 315 | / |
| McLey | 73 | 166 | / |
| Mocle | 73 | 12 | / |
| Mocla | 73 | 1 | / |
| Mchle | 73 | 1 | / |
| McKle | 73 | 1 | / |
| McCallie | 71 | 1,334 | / |
| McCalley | 71 | 932 | / |
| MacClesh | 71 | 8 | / |
| MacLeash | 71 | 3 | / |
| MacKclay | 71 | 2 | / |
| McCloy | 67 | 3,720 | / |
| MacKle | 67 | 2,017 | / |
| Maclay | 67 | 1,121 | / |
| Mocles | 67 | 458 | / |
| Mascle | 67 | 322 | / |
| Maclet | 67 | 268 | / |
| Macler | 67 | 162 | / |
| Moucle | 67 | 119 | / |
| Maicle | 67 | 93 | / |
| Meacle | 67 | 90 | / |
| Macles | 67 | 44 | / |
| McAlla | 67 | 40 | / |
| MacLee | 67 | 38 | / |
| Mockle | 67 | 25 | / |
| Macley | 67 | 13 | / |
| Macleh | 67 | 8 | / |
| Mcella | 67 | 8 | / |
| MacCleesh | 67 | 5 | / |
| McKley | 67 | 5 | / |
| Mockla | 67 | 4 | / |
| Maclai | 67 | 4 | / |
| Mocley | 67 | 3 | / |
| Maycle | 67 | 3 | / |
| Macled | 67 | 2 | / |
| Meicle | 67 | 2 | / |
| Makcle | 67 | 1 | / |
| Mahcla | 67 | 1 | / |
| McElle | 67 | 1 | / |
| Moclay | 67 | 1 | / |
| Mocler | 67 | 1 | / |
| Mackla | 67 | 1 | / |
| Maccly | 67 | 1 | / |
| Maclez | 67 | 1 | / |
| Maclie | 67 | 1 | / |
| Maccli | 67 | 1 | / |
| McLuie | 67 | 0 | / |
| McKlay | 67 | 0 | / |
Search for Another Surname
The name statistics are still in development, sign up for information on more maps and data
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 McClea
- To find out more about this surname's family history, lookup records on FamilySearch, MyHeritage, FindMyPast and Ancestry. Further information may be obtained by DNA analysis