2000
#6,470
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 4,841
First available Census row
Per 100,000 1.79
Rare Last name
Mcshane
An Anglicized form of the Irish surname Mac Seáin, meaning "son of Seán" (John).
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 5,722 Americans carry the last name Mcshane. That puts it at #6,537 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 1.67 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 59,901 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Mcshane 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 Mcshane with 1881 census detail, origin facts and modern UK distribution where available.
Bearers in the US
5.7K
1 in 59,901
Census rank
#6,537
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
1.7
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
5.0K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 4,990 bearers of the surname Mcshane in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 1.67 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 6537th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Mcshane, the largest self-reported group is White at 87.1%. The next largest groups are Black (4.8%) and Two or More Races (3.2%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Mcshane
The surname McShane originates from Ireland and is derived from the Gaelic name "Mac Seáin," which translates to "son of Seán" or "son of John." It is a prominent Irish surname found predominantly in the counties of Antrim, Armagh, and Down in the northern part of Ireland.
During the Middle Ages, the McShane clan played a significant role in Irish history, particularly in the region of Glenarm, County Antrim. Records indicate that the McShanes were among the principal septs (family branches) of the powerful O'Neill dynasty, who ruled a large part of Ulster for several centuries.
The earliest recorded mention of the surname McShane can be traced back to the 16th century in the "Annals of the Four Masters," a historical chronicle compiled by Irish Franciscan monks. This document mentions a notable figure named Turlough McShane, who was a prominent leader in the late 16th century.
In the 17th century, the McShane surname appeared in various legal documents and records, such as the "Hearth Money Rolls" and the "Census of Ireland" conducted in 1659. These records provide valuable insights into the distribution and prominence of the McShane family during that period.
One notable figure bearing the McShane surname was John McShane (1711-1786), an Irish Catholic patriot and member of the United Irishmen movement. He played a crucial role in advocating for Catholic rights and Irish independence during the late 18th century.
Another prominent individual was Bernard McShane (1809-1888), an Irish-born Roman Catholic priest who served as the Bishop of Dubuque, Iowa, in the United States. He was instrumental in establishing several educational institutions and promoting the growth of the Catholic Church in the Midwestern United States.
In the literary realm, James McShane (1844-1908), an Irish writer and journalist, gained recognition for his contributions to Irish literature and his advocacy for Irish nationalism through his writings and editorials.
The McShane surname has also been associated with various place names in Ireland, such as McShane's Fort in County Antrim and McShane's Glebe in County Down, reflecting the historical presence and influence of the McShane clan in these regions.
Throughout history, the McShane surname has undergone various spelling variations, including MacShane, McShain, and McSheyne, reflecting the phonetic adaptations and regional dialects in different parts of Ireland.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Mcshane
Among Census respondents with the surname Mcshane, the largest self-reported group is White at 87.1%. The next largest groups are Black (4.8%) and Two or More Races (3.2%).
The bar chart below shows how Mcshane 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 Mcshane surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White87.1% · 4,344
- Black or African American4.8% · 239
- Two or more races3.2% · 162
- Hispanic or Latino3.0% · 152
- Asian and Pacific Islander1.6% · 79
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.3% · 14
Timeline
Historical Census data for Mcshane
Mcshane 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
#6,737
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 5,006
+165 bearers (+3.4%)
Per 100,000 1.70
Rank movement Down 267 places
2020
#6,537
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 4,990
-16 bearers (-0.3%)
Per 100,000 1.67
Rank movement Up 200 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #6,470 | 4,841 | 1.79 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #6,737 | 5,006 | 1.70 | +165 bearers (+3.4%) | Down 267 places |
| 2020 | #6,537 | 4,990 | 1.67 | -16 bearers (-0.3%) | Up 200 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 Mcshane 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 | #6,737 | #6,537 | 3.0% |
| Count | 5,006 | 4,990 | -0.3% |
| Per 100K | 1.70 | 1.67 | -1.8% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Mcshane bearers went from 5,006 to 4,990 (-0.3% change). The surname moved up 200 positions in the national ranking, going from #6,737 to #6,537.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Mcshane
FAQ
Mcshane surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Mcshane?
Name Census estimates that about 5,722 living Americans carry the surname Mcshane. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 59,901 residents.
How common is Mcshane?
Mcshane ranks #6,537 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 1.67 per 100,000 residents, which is about 2 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 4,990 people with the surname Mcshane. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (5,722), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 1.67 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 1.67 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 2 of them to have the surname Mcshane.
Has Mcshane become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Mcshane went from 5,006 recorded bearers to 4,990. That is a decrease of 16 (-0.3%). In the national ranking it rose from #6,737 to #6,537.
What does the Census say about the background of Mcshane?
Among Census respondents with the surname Mcshane, the largest self-reported group is White at 87.1%. The next largest groups are Black (4.8%) and Two or More Races (3.2%). 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 Mcshane in the 2020 Census, accounting for 87.1% (4,344 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Mcshane appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (87.1%), Black (4.8%), Two or More Races (3.2%). 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 Mcshane (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 Mcshane mean?
An Anglicized form of the Irish surname Mac Seáin, meaning "son of Seán" (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 Mcshane (1.67 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 people have the last name Mcshane?
For a quick modern take, check how many Americans have the surname Mcshane on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org.