The McLellan surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 6,318 people carried this name — #5,505 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 46,700 people counted. That is up 3% from 6,122 in 2000.

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Where the name comes from

The origin of the McLellan surname

Variant of McClellan.

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

In Scotland’s registers today

McLellan was recorded 75 times in Scotland’s registers of births, marriages and deaths in 2025.

That made it the 354th most common name in those registers, shared with others on the same count. In 1975, the first year of the series, the count was 135. 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

In 1790, McLellan was counted together with McClelland: 178 families in all.

Each family is counted by its head. About 1,051 people lived in those households, 5.9 to a family on average. The census counted these spellings together: McClelland, McClaland, McClalen, McClalin, McClallan, McClallen, McClallin, McClayland, McClelan, McCleland, McClelean, McClellan, McClellen, Mcclelon, McLaland, McLallan, McLallen, McLeeland, McLeland, Mcleland, McLelen, McLellan, McLellen, McLillan. 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 90
Virginia 17
Maine 16
Maryland 13
New York 12
North Carolina 11
South Carolina 8
Massachusetts 7
New Hampshire 2
Rhode Island 1
Connecticut 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. 252 — public domain · names carried by at least 100 white persons in 1790.

In print

McLellan in American newspapers,
1913–1915.

Newspaper page from El Paso Herald carrying the name McLellan
El Paso Herald 1915-01-23
Newspaper page from The Day Book carrying the name McLellan
The Day Book 1915-04-30
Newspaper page from The Watchman And Southron carrying the name McLellan
The Watchman And Southron 1913-10-01

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 62,197 pages in all carry the name.

In print

McLellan in Australian newspapers,
1840s–2000s.

17,952 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss McLellan. The most, 3,378, 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 1.8 times its expected share.

Articles, by state

Victoria 6,345
Queensland 3,418
South Australia 3,146
New South Wales 2,965
Western Australia 1,820
Tasmania 169
ACT (Canberra) 49
Northern Territory 14

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

Who carried it

People named McLellan,
with a public archive behind them.

  • Silas McLellan
    Silas McLellan 1897–1974 · marathon runner
  • Isaac McLellan
    Isaac McLellan 1806–1899 · magazine writer
  • C. M. S. McLellan
    C. M. S. McLellan 1865–1916 · librettist
  • Hugh Dean McLellan
    Hugh Dean McLellan 1876–1953 · lawyer
  • William McLellan 1924–2011 · engineer

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

In the public record

People named McLellan,
in the records of 6 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 States1,056 records

1,056 records of the McLellan name in the United States
  • U.S. alien registration index, 1940–1955 343
  • U.S. Army enlistment records, World War II 240
  • Other U.S. records 473
  1. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record John J. McLellan

    Born 1924 in Massachusetts. Enlisted 1942 at Boston; clerk from Plymouth County. U.S. Army Air Forces veteran of World War II; died 1990, buried at Massachusetts National Cemetery, Massachusetts.

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

    Born 1942; from Cleveland, Ohio. U.S. Navy, pilot; killed in action 1968 in Offshore, South Vietnam.

    U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain)
  3. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Mary McLellan

    Arrived at New York in 1870 aboard the India from Glasgow and Moville, aged 22; servant. From Scotland.

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

Showing 3 of 1,056 records for McLellan 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. 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) · U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain) · New York State, Open NY (police and firefighter memorial rolls) · Ramsey County, Minnesota (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); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

Canada3,551 records

3,551 records of the McLellan name in Canada
  • Nova Scotia Archives name indexes 3,315
  • Mountain View Cemetery, Vancouver 72
  • Other Canadian records 164
  1. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Civil record Andrew McLellan

    Killed in 1917 at the Dominion No. 12 mine, Nova Scotia.

    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 Allin McLellan

    Came to Ontario in 1871 aboard the European, landing at Quebec, bound for Malton, 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 Nellie Naomi McLellan

    Died 1989, aged 82; buried at Transcona Cemetery, Winnipeg, Manitoba.

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

Showing 3 of 3,551 records for McLellan 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) · Halifax Regional Municipality. Contains information licenced under the Open Government Licence—Halifax. · 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); 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).

Australia828 records

828 records of the McLellan name in Australia
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 479
  • Victoria wills and probate, deaths to 2001 165
  • Other Australian records 184
  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 Mary McLellan

    Transported to Van Diemen's Land aboard the Borneo, sailing from London in 1828. Native of Roseneath, Dunbartonshire.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Catherine McLellan

    Arrived in Victoria in 1853 aboard the Birman, aged 13; Scottish.

    Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Robert A. D. McLellan

    Engineer of Glen Iris, Victoria; died 1947.

    Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 828 records for McLellan in Australia.

Counts: Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0) · Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY) · Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) · 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); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain).

United Kingdom121 records

121 records of the McLellan name in the United Kingdom
  • Stirling Council burial records 87
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 28
  • Other British records 6
  1. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record Duncan Tait Hutchison McLellan

    Born 1893 at Brechin. Served in the First World War. Named in the University of Aberdeen roll of service in the Great War, 1914-1919.

    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 Alex McLellan

    Buried in 1902 at Valley 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 John McLellan

    Will proved in 1941; of Denbigh, Denbigh.

    National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0)

Showing 3 of 121 records for McLellan 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); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain).

New Zealand23 records

23 records of the McLellan name in New Zealand Christchurch City cemetery records
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record John McLellan

    Died 1964, aged 86; 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 Donald McLellan

    Died 1939, aged 76; buried at Bromley Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Hugh McLellan

    Died 1905, aged 70; buried at Lyttelton Anglican Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 23 records for McLellan in New Zealand.

Counts: Christchurch City 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).

Netherlands1 record

1 record of the McLellan name in the Netherlands Dutch population registers
  1. A page of the 1910 United States census, Milwaukee
    Example: U.S. census, 1910
    Population register Marija Elizabeth Annie Mc Lellan

    In a population register; born 1876 in Bloemfontein.

    Open Archives, Stadsarchief Rotterdam (CC BY 4.0)

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: U.S. census of 1910, Milwaukee (public domain).

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to McLellan.

When the index is not enough

This page says where McLellan 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 McLellan volume
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