McLay Surname
Approximately 3,749 people bear this surname
McLay Surname Definition:
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.
Read More About This SurnameMcLay Surname Distribution Map
| Place | Incidence | Frequency | Rank in Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 1,010 | 1:358,870 | 32,025 |
| Scotland | 913 | 1:5,864 | 950 |
| Australia | 828 | 1:32,604 | 4,312 |
| Canada | 796 | 1:46,288 | 5,680 |
| New Zealand | 562 | 1:8,058 | 1,374 |
| England | 426 | 1:130,794 | 12,949 |
| Wales | 10 | 1:309,453 | 16,869 |
| South Africa | 8 | 1:6,772,213 | 167,054 |
| United Arab Emirates | 8 | 1:1,145,284 | 40,289 |
| Germany | 5 | 1:16,101,092 | 397,699 |
| Northern Ireland | 5 | 1:369,007 | 15,220 |
| Netherlands | 5 | 1:3,377,435 | 111,911 |
| Dominican Republic | 4 | 1:2,608,233 | 20,941 |
| Russia | 3 | 1:48,041,019 | 639,186 |
| Azerbaijan | 3 | 1:3,216,374 | 32,290 |
| Norway | 3 | 1:1,714,095 | 79,528 |
| Thailand | 2 | 1:35,319,172 | 966,191 |
| Papua New Guinea | 2 | 1:4,076,858 | 165,791 |
| Brazil | 2 | 1:107,037,166 | 1,031,150 |
| Switzerland | 1 | 1:8,212,915 | 156,297 |
| Philippines | 1 | 1:101,238,223 | 404,861 |
| Turkey | 1 | 1:77,821,422 | 191,047 |
| Sweden | 1 | 1:9,846,757 | 347,448 |
| Spain | 1 | 1:46,752,036 | 156,870 |
| Ireland | 1 | 1:4,708,939 | 29,543 |
| Belgium | 1 | 1:11,496,644 | 167,539 |
| Qatar | 1 | 1:2,357,999 | 76,403 |
| Pakistan | 1 | 1:178,643,885 | 213,220 |
| Monaco | 1 | 1:37,066 | 4,748 |
| Malaysia | 1 | 1:29,494,225 | 409,885 |
| Kuwait | 1 | 1:3,800,694 | 27,187 |
| Jersey | 1 | 1:99,202 | 6,620 |
| Isle of Man | 1 | 1:85,822 | 4,091 |
| India | 1 | 1:767,065,382 | 1,851,717 |
| Greece | 1 | 1:11,079,790 | 145,225 |
| France | 1 | 1:66,422,722 | 504,397 |
| Fiji | 1 | 1:894,391 | 4,568 |
| Cambodia | 1 | 1:15,487,146 | 14,824 |
| Place | Incidence | Frequency | Rank in Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ireland | 25 | 1:177,195 | 8,871 |
| Place | Incidence | Frequency | Rank in Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scotland | 941 | 1:3,978 | 635 |
| England | 77 | 1:316,563 | 20,927 |
| Wales | 1 | 1:1,568,416 | 19,290 |
| Place | Incidence | Frequency | Rank in Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 158 | 1:317,840 | 24,909 |
McLay (159) may also be a first name.
McLay Surname Meaning
From Where Does The Surname Originate? meaning and history
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."
McLay Demographics
McLay Political Affiliation
in United States
United States
Average
McLay Last Name Facts
Where Does The Last Name McLay Come From? nationality or country of origin
The surname McLay is borne by more people in The United States than any other country/territory. It may be found as a variant:. For other potential spellings of this last name click here.
How Common Is The Last Name McLay? popularity and diffusion
The last name is the 122,059th most numerous surname world-wide, held by approximately 1 in 1,943,864 people. McLay is predominantly found in The Americas, where 41 percent of McLay live; 41 percent live in North America and 41 percent live in Anglo-North America. It is also the 727,628th most numerous first name on earth It is held by 159 people.
The surname McLay is most prevalent in The United States, where it is held by 1,010 people, or 1 in 358,870. In The United States McLay is most prevalent in: California, where 13 percent are found, Florida, where 8 percent are found and Indiana, where 5 percent are found. Beside The United States McLay exists in 37 countries. It is also found in Scotland, where 24 percent are found and Australia, where 22 percent are found.
McLay Family Population Trend historical fluctuation
The incidence of McLay has changed over time. In The United States the number of people carrying the McLay surname rose 639 percent between 1880 and 2014; in Scotland it decreased 3 percent between 1881 and 2014; in England it rose 553 percent between 1881 and 2014; in Wales it rose 1,000 percent between 1881 and 2014 and in Ireland it decreased 96 percent between 1901 and 2014.
McLay Last Name Statistics demography
The religious devotion of those bearing the surname is predominantly Presbyterian (72%) in Ireland.
In The United States those bearing the McLay surname are 18.78% more likely to be registered with the Republican Party than The US average, with 65.55% registered to vote for the political party.
The amount McLay earn in different countries varies greatly. In South Africa they earn 317.48% more than the national average, earning R 992,100 per year; in United States they earn 7.11% more than the national average, earning $46,216 USD per year and in Canada they earn 3.5% more than the national average, earning $51,420 CAD per year.
Phonetically Similar Names
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McLay Reference & Research
McLay One-name Study - A profile of the McLay surname with contact details for a researcher who collects any information pertaining to it.
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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 McLay
- 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