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Mackay Family History

Mackay Surname Meaning

Scottish: variant of McKay.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: 

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Mackay family from?

You can see how Mackay families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Mackay family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Mackay families were found in and Scotland in 1841. In 1891 there were 582 Mackay families living in London. This was about 24% of all the recorded Mackay's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Mackay families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Mackay surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Mackay ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Mackay. 8% of Mackay men worked as a General Labourer and 62% of Mackay women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Mackay were Incapacitated and Housekeeper.

View Census Data for Mackay | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • General Labourer
    8%
  • Medical Practitioner
    5%
  • Police Constable
    5%
  • Incapacitated
    4%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    62%
  • Private Means
    4%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    3%
  • Housekeeper
    2%

What Mackay family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 267,000 census records available for the last name Mackay. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Mackay census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Mackay

Passenger Lists

There are 70,000 immigration records available for the last name Mackay. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Mackay immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 28,000 military records available for the last name Mackay. For the veterans among your Mackay ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Mackay military records

You've only scratched the surface of Mackay family history

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What is the average Mackay lifespan?

Between 1945 and 2004, in the United States, Mackay life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1955, and highest in 1999. The average life expectancy for Mackay in 1945 was 36, and 78 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Mackay

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Mackay ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

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