Find out how popular the last name Behan is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Behan.

Behan, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Behan surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Behan in America

Behan is the 11092nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Behan surname appeared 2,862 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Behan.

We can also compare 2010 data for Behan to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Behan

The surname Behan originated in Ireland, with its earliest known origins dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to be derived from the Irish Gaelic word "beathán," which means "little life" or "little being." This name was likely given as a descriptive nickname to someone who was small in stature or youthful in appearance.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Behan surname can be found in the Annals of Ulster, a chronicle of medieval Irish history. In an entry dated 1173, a man named Aedh Behan is mentioned as being present at a significant event.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Behan family was well-established in County Wexford, located in the southeastern part of Ireland. Several members of the family were landowners and prominent figures in the local community.

In the late 18th century, a notable individual named Brendan Behan (1735-1814) served as a member of the Irish Parliament, representing the borough of Duleek in County Meath. He was a vocal advocate for Catholic rights and played a significant role in the political landscape of the time.

Another prominent figure bearing the Behan surname was the acclaimed Irish playwright and author, Brendan Behan (1923-1964). Born in Dublin, he gained international recognition for his works, including the plays "The Quare Fellow" and "The Hostage," as well as the autobiographical novel "Borstal Boy."

In the realm of Irish music, the Behan name has been carried on by the traditional singer and songwriter, Paddy Behan (1913-1988). He was a beloved figure in Dublin's folk music scene and a prolific composer of ballads and songs celebrating Irish culture and history.

Other notable individuals with the Behan surname include Michael Behan (1865-1923), an Irish politician and member of the Irish Parliamentary Party, and Dominic Behan (1928-1989), a writer and playwright who was the younger brother of the famous Brendan Behan.

While the Behan name has its roots in Ireland, it has since been carried by individuals across various parts of the world, reflecting the diaspora of Irish emigration throughout history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Behan

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Behan.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Behan was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Behan has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Behan was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Behan, please contact us.

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