The McLean surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 43,260 people carried this name — #801 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 6,820 people counted. That is up 6% from 40,871 in 2000.

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What the name means

The meaning of the McLean surname

A Scottish surname from Scottish Gaelic, an anglicization of Mac Gille Eòin (“son of the servant of John”).

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

In the Nordic population registers

70 people named McLean are counted in Finland and Sweden.

Sweden’s figure is from 31 December 2022, the last count Statistics Sweden published. Finland counts its citizens, at home or abroad.

Counted, by country

Finland (2026) 35
Sweden (2022) 35

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) · Digital and Population Data Services Agency (DVV), Finland, surname statistics, August 2026 — CC BY 4.0.

In Scotland, 1880s

McLean and Maclean, counted together, were 31 in every 10,000 names in Scotland.

That is about 1 in 323. Its home there, in Guppy’s words: “Scattered, but most numerous in Argyllshire.” 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

McLean was recorded 395 times in Scotland’s registers of births, marriages and deaths in 2025.

That made it the 40th most common name in those registers. In 1975, the first year of the series, the count was 529. 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 the first U.S. census, 1790

278 families named McLean, or a close spelling, were counted in 1790.

Each family is counted by its head. About 1,543 people lived in those households, 5.6 to a family on average. The census counted these spellings together: McLean, McClaen, McClain, Mcclain, McClaine, McClane, McClean, McClene, Maclain, McLain, Mclain, McLaine, McLane, Mclane, McLean, Mclean, McLeane, McLeain, McLene. The table lists white heads of families only, in the twelve states whose 1790 records survive; Virginia’s figures come from state lists of 1782–1785.

Families, by state

Pennsylvania 89
North Carolina 83
New York 31
Maryland 21
South Carolina 15
Virginia 14
Massachusetts 10
Connecticut 5
Maine 4
Vermont 3
Rhode Island 2
New Hampshire 1

U.S. Census Bureau, «A Century of Population Growth from the First Census of the United States to the Twelfth, 1790–1900» (Washington, 1909), table 111, p. 253 — public domain · names carried by at least 100 white persons in 1790.

In print

McLean in American newspapers,
1896–1921.

Newspaper page from The Madisonian carrying the name McLean
The Madisonian 1896-07-18
Newspaper page from The Dillon Herald carrying the name McLean
The Dillon Herald 1921-04-07
Newspaper page from Morning Appeal carrying the name McLean
Morning Appeal 1899-10-24

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 14,495 pages in all carry the name.

In print

McLean in Australian newspapers,
1820s–2010s.

202,132 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss McLean. The most, 45,344, date from the 1930s. New South Wales has the most articles, but weighed against how much of each state’s press from the same decades has been digitised, the name stands out most in Victoria, at 1.3 times its expected share.

Articles, by state

New South Wales 64,180
Victoria 49,256
Queensland 40,553
South Australia 27,226
Western Australia 15,361
Tasmania 4,124
ACT (Canberra) 950
Northern Territory 192

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

Who carried it

People named McLean,
with a public archive behind them.

  • John McLean
    John McLean 1878–1955 · American football coach
  • Willie McLean
    Willie McLean 1904–1977 · association football player
  • John McLean
    John McLean 1785–1861 · jurisprudence
  • Malcom McLean 1913–2001 · painter
  • Jackie McLean 1931–2006 · recording artist

Wikidata (CC0) · portraits via Wikimedia Commons, shown cropped, in the public domain or CC0.

In the public record

People named McLean,
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 States6,942 records

6,942 records of the McLean name in the United States
  • New York City birth, marriage and death certificates 1,526
  • U.S. Army enlistment records, World War II 1,440
  • Other U.S. records 3,976
  1. Names engraved on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C.
    Example: U.S. war memorial
    War record Alex Leon McLean

    Born 1948; from Baltimore, Maryland. U.S. Marine Corps, rifleman; killed in action 1969 in Quang Nam, South Vietnam. Buried at Raleigh National Cemetery, North Carolina.

    U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (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 James D. McLean

    Born 1920 in Montana. Enlisted 1944 at Fort Douglas, Utah; boilermaker from Deer Lodge County. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 2001, buried at Sunset Memorial Gardens, Anaconda, Montana.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  3. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Catherine McLean

    Arrived at New York in 1885 aboard the Anchoria from Glasgow, aged 21; servant. From Inverness, Scotland.

    U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted)

Showing 3 of 6,942 records for McLean in the United States.

Counts: NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index · U.S. National Archives, Famine Irish Passenger Records (public domain) · City of Asheville (public domain, PDDL) · U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain) · Ramsey County, Minnesota (public domain) · New York State, Open NY (police and firefighter memorial rolls) · Sacramento County, Historic Burials (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Vietnam Veterans Memorial, photo by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden, 2009 (public domain); U.S. Selective Service registration card, 1942 (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

Australia8,112 records

8,112 records of the McLean name in Australia
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 4,212
  • Victoria wills and probate, deaths to 2001 1,668
  • Other Australian records 2,232
  1. 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 Christian McLean

    Transported to Van Diemen's Land aboard the Sea Queen, sailing from Woolwich in 1846. Native of Argyllshire. Applied for permission to marry in Van Diemen's Land in 1847.

    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 Mary McLean

    Transported to Van Diemen's Land aboard the Atwick, sailing from London in 1837. Native of Tobermory, Argyllshire. Applied for permission to marry in Van Diemen's Land in 1840.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  3. 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 Agnes McLean

    Transported to Van Diemen's Land aboard the Baretto Junior, sailing from Downs in 1850. Native of Campbeltown, Argyllshire. Applied for permission to marry in Van Diemen's Land in 1854.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 8,112 records for McLean in Australia.

Counts: Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0) · Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (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). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Prison-ship in Portsmouth Harbour, with the convicts going on board, etching by Edward William Cooke, 1829, Royal Museums Greenwich (public domain).

Canada7,769 records

7,769 records of the McLean name in Canada
  • Nova Scotia Archives name indexes 6,867
  • Mountain View Cemetery, Vancouver 260
  • Other Canadian records 642
  1. A Canadian First World War grave register card for a soldier who died of wounds in 1917
    Example: Canadian war grave register, 1917
    War record Russell Roderick R. McLean

    Served in the No. 2 Construction Battalion in the First World War, lieutenant; of Moncton, New Brunswick.

    Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia.
  2. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Isabella McLean

    Came to Ontario in 1866 aboard the Luciana, landing at N York, bound for Clinton, Ontario; Irish.

    Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario.
  3. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Daniel Joseph McLean

    Buried in 1983 at Mount Hermon Cemetery, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, aged 59.

    Halifax Regional Municipality. Contains information licenced under the Open Government Licence—Halifax.

Showing 3 of 7,769 records for McLean in Canada.

Counts: Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. · City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver. · Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada. · City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary. · City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg. · Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario. · 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. · Halifax Regional Municipality. Contains information licenced under the Open Government Licence—Halifax. · Contains information provided by the City of Waterloo under licence. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Canadian First World War circumstances-of-death register (scan by Scottgraham87 via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, photo by Edgar El (CC BY 3.0).

United Kingdom457 records

457 records of the McLean name in the United Kingdom
  • Stirling Council burial records 283
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 119
  • Other British records 55
  1. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record Murdo Alexander McLean

    Born 1898 at Collie; baker. Served in the First World War. Named in the Morayshire roll of honour (1921). Listed among the dead in the War Office casualty list of 1918 (Seaforth Highlanders).

    National Library of Scotland, Rolls of Honour (public domain); National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain)
  2. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record Hugh McLean

    Born 1878 at Elgin; motor driver. Served in the First World War. Named in the Morayshire roll of honour (1921).

    National Library of Scotland, Rolls of Honour (public domain)
  3. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record John McLean

    Died 1892, aged 41; buried at Kilmadock Cemetery, Stirling, Scotland.

    Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Showing 3 of 457 records for McLean in the United Kingdom.

Counts: 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 Scotland, Rolls of Honour (public domain) · MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. · National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0). 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).

New Zealand172 records

172 records of the McLean name in New Zealand
  • Christchurch City cemetery records 111
  • Thames-Coromandel District cemetery records 29
  • Other New Zealand records 32
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Clarence Cecil McLean

    Died 1982, aged 77; buried at Ruru Lawn, 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 Sarah Jane McLean

    Buried in 1932 at Buffalo Cemetery, Thames-Coromandel District, Waikato, aged 58.

    Thames-Coromandel District Council (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Lenore Ruth McLean

    Died 1997, aged 70; buried at Fairhall Cemetery, Marlborough.

    Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 172 records for McLean in New Zealand.

Counts: Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0) · Thames-Coromandel District Council (CC BY 4.0) · Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0) · Canterbury Maps (Environment Canterbury), Timaru and Mackenzie District Councils (CC BY 3.0 NZ) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · 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).

Netherlands4 records

4 records of the McLean name in the Netherlands
  • Dutch population registers 2
  • Dutch civil registers (births, marriages, deaths) 1
  • Dutch church registers before 1811 1
  1. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record John Mc Lean

    Died 1895 in Rotterdam, aged 57.

    Open Archives, Stadsarchief Rotterdam (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 1 of 4 records for McLean in the Netherlands.

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

France3 records

3 records of the McLean 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 Murray Stowe McLean

    Born 1934 in Krugersdorf (Afrique Sud); died 1988 in Mauritius.

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)

Showing 1 of 3 records for McLean 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).

Ireland2 records

2 records of the McLean name in Ireland County Galway graveyard records
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record John McLean

    Died 1808, aged 33; buried at St Marys, Tuam, Co. Galway.

    Galway County Council (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 1 of 2 records for McLean in Ireland.

Counts: Galway County 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).

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 McLean.

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to McLean.

When the index is not enough

This page says where McLean 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 McLean volume
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