The Mcclure Family History

What Does the Mcclure Surname Mean? Historical Origins Explained

The surname McClure is of Scottish origin, derived from the Gaelic term ‘macgille,’ which translates to son of the sallow lad. Variants of the name McClure include MacLure, MacCloor, McCloor, MaacClure, and McLeur. In England, the distribution of the McClure surname is relatively limited, primarily concentrated in the northern counties of Yorkshire, Durham, Lancashire, and Cumberland, with a significant presence also noted in London. In Scotland, the majority of McClure families reside in the southwestern part of the country, particularly within the counties of Lanarkshire, Renfrewshire, Ayrshire, and Wigtownshire, which host the largest populations of this surname. In the United States, the McClure name is predominantly found in states such as New York, Ohio, Kentucky, Illinois, Colorado, Georgia, North Carolina, California, and Texas. Notable individuals bearing the McClure surname include race car driver Eric McClure, film actor Doug McClure, poet Michael McClure, English Arctic explorer Robert McClure, sculptor Mavis McClure, English author James Howe McClure, Canadian actress Kandyse McClure, and professional baseball player Bob McClure.