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Macdonald Family History

Macdonald Surname Meaning

Scottish: see McDonald.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names ©2013, Oxford University Press


Similar surnames: 

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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Macdonald family from?

You can see how Macdonald families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Macdonald family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Macdonald families were found in and Scotland in 1841. In 1891 there were 774 Macdonald families living in London. This was about 23% of all the recorded Macdonald's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Macdonald families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Macdonald 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 Macdonald 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 Macdonald. 8% of Macdonald men worked as a General Labourer and 62% of Macdonald women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Macdonald were Incapacitated and Housewife.

View Census Data for Macdonald | 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%
  • Police Constable
    4%
  • Medical Practitioner
    4%
  • Incapacitated
    3%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    62%
  • Private Means
    3%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    3%
  • Housewife
    2%

What Macdonald family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 631,000 census records available for the last name Macdonald. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Macdonald census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Macdonald

Passenger Lists

There are 133,000 immigration records available for the last name Macdonald. 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 Macdonald immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 72,000 military records available for the last name Macdonald. For the veterans among your Macdonald ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Macdonald military records

You've only scratched the surface of Macdonald family history

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What is the average Macdonald lifespan?

Between 1942 and 2004, in the United States, Macdonald life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1942, and highest in 2003. The average life expectancy for Macdonald in 1942 was 22, and 74 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Macdonald

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Macdonald 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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