History of your Surname
Get access to Mcnair family records.Start a free trial

Mcnair Family History

Mcnair Name Meaning

Scottish:: Anglicized form of Gaelic Mac Iain Uidhir ‘son of sallow John’. This form is associated mainly with Ross-shire. Anglicized form of Gaelic Mac an Fhuibhir ‘son of the smith’ Mac an Fhuidhir ‘the stranger's son’ or Mac an Oighre ‘son of the heir’ which despite different pronunciation have all been suggested to explain this surname. It was sometimes also Anglicized as Weir . The surname evidently arrived late in Ireland from Scotland. Anglicized form of Gaelic Mac an Mhaoir ‘son of the steward or keeper’. The same name in Ireland was commonly Anglicized as Weir .

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


Similar surnames: Mccaig, Mcnary, Mcneil, Mccoin, Mcnabb, Mcbain, Mcnay, Mcnee, Mccuaig

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Black & white image of a young woman scientist

Where is the Mcnair family from?

You can see how Mcnair families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Mcnair family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Mcnair families were found in USA in 1880. In 1911 there were 70 Mcnair families living in New Brunswick. This was about 56% of all the recorded Mcnair's in Canada. New Brunswick had the highest population of Mcnair families in 1911.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Mcnair surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Mcnair ancestors do for a living?

In 1921, Farmer and Stenographer were the top reported jobs for men and women in the Canada named Mcnair. 43% of Mcnair men worked as a Farmer and 22% of Mcnair women worked as a Stenographer. Some less common occupations for Americans named Mcnair were Cultivateur and Clerk. .

View Census Data for Mcnair | 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 1921

  • Farmer
    43%
  • Labourer
    7%
  • Salesman
    6%
  • Cultivateur
    6%

Top Female Occupations In 1921

  • Stenographer
    22%
  • Housekeeper
    16%
  • Income
    11%
  • Clerk
    11%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Mcnair family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 70,000 census records available for the last name Mcnair. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Mcnair census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Mcnair

Passenger Lists

There are 7,000 immigration records available for the last name Mcnair. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in Canada, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Mcnair immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 15,000 military records available for the last name Mcnair. For the veterans among your Mcnair ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Mcnair military records

You've only scratched the surface of Mcnair family history

Discover More

What is the average Mcnair lifespan?

Between 1943 and 2004, in the United States, Mcnair life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1944, and highest in 2004. The average life expectancy for Mcnair in 1943 was 45, and 74 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Mcnair

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Mcnair family tree

Explore Your Tree

Browse profiles of historical people with the Mcnair last name

Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial