McGraw surname: meaning, origin and how common it is

Meaning and origin

The last name McGraw has its origin in the Gaelic language of Ireland. Derived from the Gaelic name Mac Graith, it signifies "son of Graith," with "Mac" translating to "son of." Graith itself derives from "grádh," meaning "love" or "affection." Thus, the surname reflects the filial connection to a person named Graith, denoting a descendant within an ancestral lineage.

Surname origins are rarely settled: one spelling can have several sources, and families often took a name for reasons nobody wrote down. Check it against the sources below before you rely on it.

#1,668

McGraw was the 1,668th most common surname in the 2010 US Census, with 21,614 people, about 7.0 in every 100,000.

Who carries it

White (non-Hispanic)82.5%
Hispanic or Latino2.9%
Black (non-Hispanic)11.8%
Asian or Pacific Islander0.5%
Two or more races1.8%
American Indian or Alaska Native0.6%

Where it is found

Countries linked to McGraw.

Surnames like McGraw

Names it is linked with, then names with the same origin and a similar standing.

Check the sources

Forebears: where McGraw is found around the world
The Internet Surname Database: a second opinion on the origin
US Census Bureau: the 2010 surname figures used here

For a name you are serious about, compare the dictionaries: Reaney and Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames; Hanks, Dictionary of American Family Names.