2000
#141,788
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 108
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Maclaine
A Scottish surname derived from the Gaelic personal name "MacIll'Aine", meaning "son of the servant of St. John".
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 140 Americans carry the last name Maclaine. That puts it at #140,525 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,448,245 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Maclaine surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
For British records, Name Census UK has a British surname profile for Maclaine with 1881 census detail, origin facts and modern UK distribution where available.
Bearers in the US
140
1 in 2,448,245
Census rank
#140,525
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
122
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 122 bearers of the surname Maclaine in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 140525th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Maclaine, the largest self-reported group is White at 86.1%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (5.7%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (4.1%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Maclaine
The surname MACLAINE has its origins in Scotland, dating back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Gaelic "MacIll'Athain," meaning "son of the servant of St John." This name was likely given to someone who worked in the service of a church dedicated to St John.
The MACLAINE clan traces its roots to the Hebrides islands off the west coast of Scotland, particularly the island of Mull. The name appears in early records from this region, with variations in spelling such as MacLean, MacLaine, and MacLaine.
One of the earliest documented references to the name can be found in the Register of the Great Seal of Scotland from 1476, which mentions a "Lachlane McGillane." This suggests that the MACLAINE name was already well-established by the late 15th century.
In the 16th century, the MACLAINES were involved in various feuds and battles with neighboring clans, such as the MacDonalds and the Campbells. Notable figures from this period include Lachlan Mor MACLAINE (c. 1570-1635), who was a chief of the clan and played a role in these conflicts.
The MACLAINES were also associated with the island of Coll, where they held land and influence. One prominent member was John MACLAINE (c. 1670-1748), who was known as the "Laird of Coll" and was involved in the Jacobite risings of the early 18th century.
Another notable figure was Gillian MACLAINE (c. 1798-1840), a poet and songwriter from the Isle of Mull. Her works, written in Gaelic, are considered important contributions to Scottish literature and cultural preservation.
In the 19th century, the MACLAINE surname began to spread beyond Scotland as members of the clan emigrated to other parts of the world, particularly North America and Australia. One example is Archibald MACLAINE (1818-1900), a Canadian politician and lawyer who served as a member of parliament.
Overall, the MACLAINE surname has a rich history rooted in the Scottish Highlands and Islands, with connections to various significant events and figures over the centuries.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Maclaine
Among Census respondents with the surname Maclaine, the largest self-reported group is White at 86.1%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (5.7%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (4.1%).
The bar chart below shows how Maclaine bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Maclaine surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White86.1% · 105
- Hispanic or Latino5.7% · 7
- Asian and Pacific Islander4.1% · 5
- American Indian and Alaska Native3.3% · 4
- Black or African American0.8% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Maclaine
Maclaine appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#157,234
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 103
-5 bearers (-4.6%)
Per 100,000 0.03
Rank movement Down 15,446 places
2020
#140,525
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 122
+19 bearers (+18.4%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Up 16,709 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #141,788 | 108 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #157,234 | 103 | 0.03 | -5 bearers (-4.6%) | Down 15,446 places |
| 2020 | #140,525 | 122 | 0.04 | +19 bearers (+18.4%) | Up 16,709 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Maclaine surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #157,234 | #140,525 | 10.6% |
| Count | 103 | 122 | 18.4% |
| Per 100K | 0.03 | 0.04 | 36.1% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Maclaine bearers went from 103 to 122 (+18.4% change). The surname moved up 16,709 positions in the national ranking, going from #157,234 to #140,525.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Maclaine
FAQ
Maclaine surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Maclaine?
Name Census estimates that about 140 living Americans carry the surname Maclaine. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,448,245 residents.
How common is Maclaine?
Maclaine ranks #140,525 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 122 people with the surname Maclaine. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (140), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.04 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.04 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Maclaine.
Has Maclaine become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Maclaine went from 103 recorded bearers to 122. That is an increase of 19 (+18.4%). In the national ranking it rose from #157,234 to #140,525.
What does the Census say about the background of Maclaine?
Among Census respondents with the surname Maclaine, the largest self-reported group is White at 86.1%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (5.7%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (4.1%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Maclaine in the 2020 Census, accounting for 86.1% (105 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Maclaine appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (86.1%), Hispanic (5.7%), Asian/Pacific Islander (4.1%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Maclaine (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Maclaine mean?
A Scottish surname derived from the Gaelic personal name "MacIll'Aine", meaning "son of the servant of St. John". The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Maclaine (0.04 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many Americans have the surname Maclaine?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.