The Macleod surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 7,886 people carried this name — #4,495 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 37,500 people counted. That is up 5% from 7,542 in 2000.

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What the name means

The meaning of the Macleod surname

A surname from Irish, A surname from Scottish Gaelic, A surname from Cree.

Anglicization of various Irish or Scottish Gaelic surnames. In Canada, the surname is also used as a common Anglicization of Cree ᒪᐦᑭᔪᐠ (mahkiyok, “the big one”) according to records of Scottish missionaries.

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary (en.wiktionary.org) — entry «Macleod» (English), by Wiktionary contributors · licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0) · excerpt, lightly adapted.

In Switzerland’s population statistics

39 people named Macleod live in Switzerland.

They live in 7 of Switzerland’s 26 cantons, most of all in Geneva.

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they live today

Geneva 16
Aargau 4
Bern 4
Neuchâtel 4
Zug 4
Zurich 4
Valais 3

Swiss Federal Statistical Office (FSO), «Surnames of the permanent resident population by canton», 2025, opendata.swiss/en/dataset/nachnamen-der-standigen-wohnbevolkerung-nach-kanton3 · names with fewer than 3 bearers in a canton are not published.

In the Nordic population registers

27 people named Macleod is counted in Sweden.

Sweden’s figure is from 31 December 2022, the last count Statistics Sweden published.

Counted, by country

Sweden (2022) 27

Own calculations based on data from Statistics Sweden (SCB), surnames with at least two bearers, 31 December 2022 — CC BY 4.0 (names with 20 or more bearers shown).

In Scotland, 1880s

McLeod and Macleod, counted together, were 12 in every 10,000 names in Scotland.

That is about 1 in 833. Its home there, in Guppy’s words: “Inverness-shire and Ross-shire.” He counted the more than 20,000 names in Halliburton’s County Directory of Scotland, taking Scotland as a whole, and listed only the names that reached 10 in every 10,000.

H. B. Guppy, «Homes of Family Names in Great Britain» (London, 1890), appendix: alphabetical list of the most frequent Scottish names, p. 592 — public domain · names in Halliburton’s County Directory of Scotland, per 10,000 for the whole country.

In Scotland’s registers today

Macleod was recorded 368 times in Scotland’s registers of births, marriages and deaths in 2025.

That made it the 45th most common name in those registers. In 1975, the first year of the series, the count was 621. Each birth counts the child’s surname, each marriage both partners’ and each death the surname of the person who died — a yearly count of registrations, not of the people who live in Scotland.

National Records of Scotland, «Most Common Surnames, 2025» (published 26 May 2026): every surname recorded 10 or more times in the 2025 registers, and the series from 1975 · different spellings are counted separately — © Crown copyright 2026. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

In print

Macleod in American newspapers,
1886–1917.

Newspaper page from The Warner Sun carrying the name Macleod
The Warner Sun 1886-10-29
Newspaper page from Glas Svobode carrying the name Macleod
Glas Svobode 1917-11-20
Newspaper page from The Providence News carrying the name Macleod
The Providence News 1902-12-24

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 1,190 pages in all carry the name.

In print

Macleod in Australian newspapers,
1820s–2000s.

35,047 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Macleod. The most, 9,589, date from the 1930s. Weighed against how much of each state’s press from the same decades has been digitised, it stands out most in Victoria, at 2.2 times its expected share.

Articles, by state

Victoria 14,449
New South Wales 7,541
Queensland 6,237
Western Australia 2,443
South Australia 2,276
Tasmania 1,484
ACT (Canberra) 440
Northern Territory 27

Trove, National Library of Australia (trove.nla.gov.au) · articles in its digitised newspapers that name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Macleod.

Who carried it

People named Macleod,
with a public archive behind them.

  • Roderick Macleod, 2nd of Cadboll d. 1770
  • John Macleod d. 1823
  • Flora Macleod d. 1780
  • Margaret Stirling Macleod d. 1951
  • Mary Macleod d. 1841
  • Roderick Macleod, 17th of MacLeod d. 1664

Wikidata (CC0) · 10 lives in all are documented under this name.

In the public record

People named Macleod,
in the records of 8 countries.

Soldiers, farmers, migrants and neighbours who carried the name and left a trace in public archives. Everyone shown here died long ago or was born more than a century ago.

United States1,544 records

1,544 records of the Macleod name in the United States
  • U.S. alien registration index, 1940–1955 902
  • U.S. Army enlistment records, World War II 272
  • Other U.S. records 370
  1. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record George M. MacLeod

    Born 1918 in Idaho. Enlisted 1941 at Caldwell; metal worker from Canyon County. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 1986, buried at Willamette National Cemetery, Oregon.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  2. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record Ronald MacLeod

    Born 1904 in United Kingdom. Enlisted 1942 at Fort Jay Governors Island, New York; power station operator. U.S. Army veteran; died 1956, buried at Long Island National Cemetery, New York.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  3. Names engraved on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C.
    Example: U.S. war memorial
    War record Robin Douglas MacLeod

    Born 1947; from Binghamton, New York. U.S. Marine Corps, rifleman; killed in action 1967 in Thua Thien, South Vietnam.

    U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain)

Showing 3 of 1,544 records for Macleod in the United States.

Counts: U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index · U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: U.S. Selective Service registration card, 1942 (public domain); Vietnam Veterans Memorial, photo by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden, 2009 (public domain).

Canada4,999 records

4,999 records of the Macleod name in Canada
  • Nova Scotia Archives name indexes 4,608
  • Canadian Virtual War Memorial 122
  • Other Canadian records 269
  1. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Civil record William MacLeod

    Killed in 1959 at the Dominion No. 16 mine, Nova Scotia.

    Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia.
  2. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record John Alexander MacLeod

    Buried in 1963 at Burnsland Cemetery, Calgary, Alberta, aged 73.

    City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary.
  3. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Angus Alexander MacLeod

    Died 1999, aged 67; buried at St. Vital Cemetery, Winnipeg, Manitoba.

    City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg.

Showing 3 of 4,999 records for Macleod in Canada.

Counts: Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. · Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada. · City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver. · City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary. · Halifax Regional Municipality. Contains information licenced under the Open Government Licence—Halifax. · City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg. · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · City of Niagara Falls. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Niagara Falls. · Contains information provided by the City of Waterloo under licence. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0); Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, photo by Edgar El (CC BY 3.0).

Australia643 records

643 records of the Macleod name in Australia
  • Victoria wills and probate, deaths to 2001 225
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 223
  • Other Australian records 195
  1. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Ann MacLeod

    Applied for permission to marry in Van Diemen's Land in 1834. Married 1834 in Hobart, Tasmania.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  2. An 1829 etching of convicts being rowed out to the prison ship York in Portsmouth Harbour
    Pictured: convicts going on board a prison ship, 1829
    Transportation record John MacLeod

    Transported to New South Wales aboard the Admiral Gambier, arriving 1808.

    Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY)
  3. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Neil MacLeod

    Arrived in Victoria in 1886 aboard the Iberia, aged 23; English.

    Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 643 records for Macleod in Australia.

Counts: Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) · Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0) · Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · ACT Government, Transport Canberra and City Services (CC BY 4.0) · City of Ballarat, Avenue of Honour Plaques (CC BY 3.0 AU). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain); Prison-ship in Portsmouth Harbour, with the convicts going on board, etching by Edward William Cooke, 1829, Royal Museums Greenwich (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

United Kingdom156 records

156 records of the Macleod name in the United Kingdom
  • Scottish rolls of honour, First World War 91
  • Stirling Council burial records 48
  • Other British records 17
  1. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record Norman Donald MacLeod

    Born 1892 at Dalvey; regular soldier. Served in the First World War. Named in the Morayshire roll of honour (1921).

    National Library of Scotland, Rolls of Honour (public domain)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Hector Maclennan MacLeod

    Buried in 1962 at Killearn Cemetery, Stirling, Scotland, aged 60.

    Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
  3. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Mary Rebecca MacLeod

    Will proved in 1940; of Bethesda, Carnarvon.

    National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0)

Showing 3 of 156 records for Macleod in the United Kingdom.

Counts: National Library of Scotland, Rolls of Honour (public domain) · Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0) · MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: C. & E. Morton Ltd roll of honour, 1914–1919, photo by Adrian S Pye via Geograph (CC BY-SA 2.0); Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain).

Netherlands146 records

146 records of the Macleod name in the Netherlands
  • Dutch population registers 61
  • Dutch civil registers (births, marriages, deaths) 55
  • Dutch church registers before 1811 30
  1. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Johanna Benedicta Wilhelmina MacLeod

    Married in 1896 in Rijswijk. Died 1966 in 's-Gravenhage, aged 96.

    Open Archives, Archief Delft (CC BY 4.0); Open Archives, Haags Gemeentearchief (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Norman Mac-Leod

    Born 1837 in Bergen op Zoom. Married in 1868 in Bergen op Zoom.

    Open Archives, Brabants Historisch Informatie Centrum (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Edward Donald Henry MacLeod

    Born 1842 in Maastricht. Married in 1869 in Gouderak.

    Open Archives, Regionaal Historisch Centrum Limburg (CC BY 4.0); Open Archives, Streekarchief Midden-Holland (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 146 records for Macleod in the Netherlands.

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain).

New Zealand20 records

20 records of the Macleod name in New Zealand
  • Christchurch City cemetery records 13
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 3
  • Other New Zealand records 4
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Jack MacLeod

    Died 1985, aged 80; buried at Bromley Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Angus MacLeod

    Died 1960, aged 85; buried at Omaka Cemetery, Marlborough.

    Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record John Macintosh MacLeod

    Born 1929, died 2001; buried at Kaiapoi Public Cemetery, Canterbury.

    Waimakariri District Council (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 20 records for Macleod in New Zealand.

Counts: Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0) · Canterbury Maps (Environment Canterbury), Timaru and Mackenzie District Councils (CC BY 3.0 NZ) · Waimakariri District Council (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).

France19 records

19 records of the Macleod name in France France's national death register, 1970–2001
  1. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Robert Charles Edouard MacLeod

    Born 1900 in Le Havre; died 1973 in Le Havre (Seine-Maritime).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
  2. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Marguerite Helene MacLeod

    Born 1897 in Le Havre (Seine-Maritime); died 1991 in Le Chesnay (Yvelines).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
  3. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Roger Louis MacLeod

    Born 1912 in Paris; died 1985 in Paris.

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)

Showing 3 of 19 records for Macleod in France.

Counts: Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Death register of Nice, 1930, Archives départementales des Alpes-Maritimes (public domain).

Belgium1 record

1 record of the Macleod name in Belgium Belgian civil registers (births, marriages, deaths)
  1. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Anna MacLeod

    Died 1905 in Gent.

    Open Archives, Archief Gent (CC BY 4.0)

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0).

Other spellings of this name

The same name, spelled another way.

Spellings that H. B. Guppy (England and Wales, 1890) or the Registrar-General for Ireland (births index of 1890) counted as one name together with Macleod.

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Macleod.

When the index is not enough

This page says where Macleod is.
A volume says what happened to it.

Every page in the index is free and stays free. The Heritage Volume is the long form: the full paper trail, the arms, the crossing — bound, and yours.

See the Macleod volume
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