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Macclay Family History

Macclay Surname Meaning

Historically, surnames evolved as a way to sort people into groups - by occupation, place of origin, clan affiliation, patronage, parentage, adoption, and even physical characteristics (like red hair). Many of the modern surnames in the dictionary can be traced back to Britain and Ireland.


Similar surnames: Mcclay, Maclay, Mackley, Malay, Barclay, Mccloy, Mcclam, Mccay

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Macclay family from?

You can see how Macclay families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Macclay family name was found in the USA, and Scotland between 1871 and 1920. The most Macclay families were found in USA in 1920. In 1871 there was 1 Macclay family living in Stirlingshire. This was 100% of all the recorded Macclay's in Scotland. Stirlingshire had the highest population of Macclay families in 1871.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Macclay 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 Macclay family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 163 census records available for the last name Macclay. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Macclay census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Macclay

Passenger Lists

There are 28 immigration records available for the last name Macclay. 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 Macclay immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 21 military records available for the last name Macclay. For the veterans among your Macclay ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Macclay military records

You've only scratched the surface of Macclay family history

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What is the average Macclay lifespan?

Between 1962 and 1993, in the United States, Macclay life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1977, and highest in 1981. The average life expectancy for Macclay in 1962 was 74, and 94 in 1993.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Macclay

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Macclay 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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