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

Behanan, 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 Behanan surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Behanan in America

Behanan is the 144141st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Behanan surname appeared 115 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Behanan.

The history of the last name Behanan

The surname Behanan is believed to have originated in Ireland, specifically from the Gaelic Irish name Ó Beacháin, which means "descendant of Beachán." Beachán is a diminutive form of the Irish name Bēcc, meaning "small" or "little." The name likely emerged as a nickname or descriptive name in the early medieval period.

The Behanan surname can be traced back to County Kerry in the southwestern part of Ireland, where it was particularly prominent in the region around Dingle. The earliest recorded instances of the name appear in various Irish annals and records from the 16th and 17th centuries, such as the Annals of the Four Masters and the Fiants of the Tudor Sovereigns.

One notable figure bearing the Behanan surname was Sir John Behanan, a 17th-century Irish landowner and member of the Irish Parliament. He was born around 1630 in County Kerry and played a significant role in the political affairs of the region during the tumultuous period of the Irish Confederate Wars and the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland.

Another individual of note was Daniel Behanan, an Irish-born American soldier who fought in the Revolutionary War. He was born in County Kerry in 1749 and later immigrated to Pennsylvania, where he enlisted in the Continental Army and served under General George Washington.

In the 19th century, a prominent figure with the Behanan surname was Michael Behanan, a Irish-American businessman and philanthropist. Born in County Kerry in 1820, he immigrated to the United States and became a successful merchant in New York City. He was known for his charitable contributions to various causes, including the establishment of schools and hospitals in his native Ireland.

The Behanan surname has also been associated with several notable places in Ireland. For instance, the townland of Behananorris in County Kerry is believed to have derived its name from the Behanan family who once owned lands in the area. Similarly, the Behanan River in the same county is thought to have been named after the family.

Over the centuries, the surname has undergone various spelling variations, such as Behanon, Behannen, and Behanam, reflecting the regional dialects and linguistic changes in Ireland. However, the Behanan spelling has remained the most prevalent form of the name throughout its history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Behanan

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

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 Behanan 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.

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 Behanan was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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