The McMullen surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 20,545 people carried this name — #1,742 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 14,400 people counted. That is up 3% from 19,998 in 2000.

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Where the name comes from

The origin of the McMullen surname

From the Irish variant of McMillan.

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary (en.wiktionary.org) — entry «McMullen» (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

McMullen was recorded 16 times in Scotland’s registers of births, marriages and deaths in 2025.

That made it the 1361st most common name in those registers, shared with others on the same count. In 1975, the first year of the series, the count was 24. 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

164 families named McMullen, or a close spelling, were counted in 1790.

Each family is counted by its head. About 887 people lived in those households, 5.4 to a family on average. The census counted these spellings together: McMullen, McMollen, McMullan, McMulland, Mcmullen, M'Mullen, McMullens, McMullin, McMullind, McMulling, McMullon, McMullun, McMulyen. 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 87
New York 24
Maryland 14
South Carolina 10
North Carolina 9
New Hampshire 7
Massachusetts 7
Virginia 3
Maine 2
Vermont 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

McMullen in American newspapers,
1907–1917.

Newspaper page from The Wenatchee Daily World carrying the name McMullen
The Wenatchee Daily World 1907-04-18
Newspaper page from The Daily Missoulian carrying the name McMullen
The Daily Missoulian 1917-09-28
Newspaper page from The Ogden Standard carrying the name McMullen
The Ogden Standard 1917-10-06

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 85,335 pages in all carry the name.

In print

McMullen in Australian newspapers,
1830s–1990s.

12,756 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss McMullen. The most, 2,788, 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 Western Australia, at 1.9 times its expected share.

Articles, by state

New South Wales 5,377
Western Australia 2,144
Queensland 2,045
Victoria 1,187
South Australia 994
Tasmania 900
ACT (Canberra) 97
Northern Territory 4

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

Who carried it

People named McMullen,
with a public archive behind them.

  • Adam McMullen
    Adam McMullen 1872–1959 · governor
  • Chester B. McMullen
    Chester B. McMullen 1902–1953 · politician
  • Fayette McMullen
    Fayette McMullen 1805–1880 · politician
  • Robert J. McMullen
    Robert J. McMullen 1884–1962
  • Tara Correa-McMullen 1989–2005 · film actor
  • Richard C. McMullen 1868–1944 · governor

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

In the public record

People named McMullen,
in the records of 7 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 States3,305 records

3,305 records of the McMullen name in the United States
  • New York City birth, marriage and death certificates 844
  • U.S. Army enlistment records, World War II 783
  • Other U.S. records 1,678
  1. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record John A. McMullen

    Born 1908 in Oklahoma. Enlisted 1943 at Fort Sam Houston, Texas; auto mechanic from Pittsburg County. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 1968, buried at Houston National Cemetery, Texas.

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

    Arrived at New York in 1892 aboard the Ethiopia from Glasgow and Moville, aged 50; servant. From Ireland; bound for Philadelphia.

    U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted)
  3. Names engraved on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C.
    Example: U.S. war memorial
    War record Lyman Allister McMullen

    Born 1936; from Newport, Oregon. U.S. Army, heavy vehicle driver; died of wounds 1966 in South Vietnam.

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

Showing 3 of 3,305 records for McMullen 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, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) · U.S. National Archives, Famine Irish Passenger Records (public domain) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index · U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain) · New York State, Open NY (police and firefighter memorial rolls). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: U.S. Selective Service registration card, 1942 (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Vietnam Veterans Memorial, photo by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden, 2009 (public domain).

Australia863 records

863 records of the McMullen name in Australia
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 455
  • Tasmanian Names Index 151
  • Other Australian records 257
  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 Alice McMullen

    Transported to Van Diemen's Land aboard the Arabian, sailing from Dublin in 1846. Native of Enniskillen, Fermanagh. Applied for permission to marry in Van Diemen's Land in 1851.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Robert McMullen

    Died 1876 in Fingal, Tasmania, aged 55. Will registered in Tasmania in 1876.

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

    Arrived in Victoria in 1857 aboard the Africa, aged 3; Irish.

    Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 863 records for McMullen 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) · State Library of Western Australia (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); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

Canada387 records

387 records of the McMullen name in Canada
  • Nova Scotia Archives name indexes 290
  • City of Calgary cemetery records 26
  • Other Canadian records 71
  1. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Civil record Kenneth McMullen

    Killed in 1871 at the Sydney 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 Neil McMullen

    Came to Ontario in 1865 aboard the Belgian, landing at Portland, bound for Barrie, 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 Richard McMullen

    Died 2000, aged 50; buried at Brookside Cemetery, Winnipeg, Manitoba.

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

Showing 3 of 387 records for McMullen in Canada.

Counts: Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. · City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary. · 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 Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg. · Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario. · 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. · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain). 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).

United Kingdom15 records

15 records of the McMullen name in the United Kingdom
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 14
  • Stirling Council burial records 1
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Robert McMullen

    Died 1993, aged 68; buried at Bannockburn Cemetery, Stirling, Scotland.

    Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
  2. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record R. McMullen

    Royal Fusiliers. Listed among the dead in the War Office casualty list of 1918.

    National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain)
  3. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record J. McMullen

    Dorsetshire Regiment. Listed among the dead in the War Office casualty list of 1918.

    National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain)

Showing 3 of 15 records for McMullen in the United Kingdom.

Counts: National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0); C. & E. Morton Ltd roll of honour, 1914–1919, photo by Adrian S Pye via Geograph (CC BY-SA 2.0).

New Zealand7 records

7 records of the McMullen 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 Margaret McMullen

    Died 1923, aged 68; buried at Linwood 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 Peter McMullen

    Died 1951, aged 20; buried at Ruru Lawn, 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 William John McMullen

    Died 1949, aged 71; buried at Bromley Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 7 records for McMullen 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).

France2 records

2 records of the McMullen 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 Andrew McMullen

    Born 1966 in the United States; died 2001 in the United States.

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

    Born 1916 in Great Britain; died 2000 in Tonnerre (Yonne).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)

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).

Netherlands1 record

1 record of the McMullen name in the Netherlands Dutch population registers
  1. A page of the 1910 United States census, Milwaukee
    Example: U.S. census, 1910
    Population register Raymond Mc Mullen

    In the population register of Jarrow (Gb); student, born 1907 in Jarrow (Gb).

    Open Archives, West Brabants Archief (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 McMullen.

When the index is not enough

This page says where McMullen 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.

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