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Mcdonald Family History

Mcdonald Surname Meaning

Scottish: Anglicized form of Gaelic Mac Domhnaill ‘son of Domhnall’ a name derived from the Celtic elements domno- ‘world’ + val- ‘might rule’. Donald is an Anglicized form (via Latin) of this personal name used in Scotland though the surname is also widespread in Ireland. The name is equivalent to Irish McDonnell and McConnell and to Manx Cannell .

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


Similar surnames: Mcmonagle, Mcdougall, Mcdonnell, Mcdowell, Ronald, Leonard, Mcfall

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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

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Where is the Mcdonald family from?

You can see how Mcdonald families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Mcdonald family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Mcdonald families were found in and Scotland in 1841. In 1840 there were 299 Mcdonald families living in New York. This was about 19% of all the recorded Mcdonald's in USA. New York had the highest population of Mcdonald families in 1840.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Mcdonald surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
  • 1840
  • 1880
  • 1920
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What did your Mcdonald ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Teacher were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Mcdonald. 14% of Mcdonald men worked as a Laborer and 6% of Mcdonald women worked as a Teacher. Some less common occupations for Americans named Mcdonald were Truck Driver and Maid. .

View Census Data for Mcdonald | 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 1940

  • Laborer
    14%
  • Farmer
    12%
  • Salesman
    5%
  • Truck Driver
    3%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Teacher
    6%
  • Housekeeper
    6%
  • Stenographer
    6%
  • Maid
    6%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Mcdonald family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 1 million census records available for the last name Mcdonald. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Mcdonald census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search US census records for Mcdonald

Passenger Lists

There are 259,000 immigration records available for the last name Mcdonald. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the USA, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Mcdonald immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 247,000 military records available for the last name Mcdonald. For the veterans among your Mcdonald ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

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What is the average Mcdonald lifespan?

Between 1940 and 2004, in the United States, Mcdonald life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1940, and highest in 1998. The average life expectancy for Mcdonald in 1940 was 24, and 73 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Mcdonald

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