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

Boru, 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 Boru surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Boru in America

Boru is the 118853rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Boru surname appeared 146 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 Boru.

The history of the last name Boru

The surname BORU is of Irish origin, tracing its roots back to the 10th and 11th centuries. It is derived from the Irish Gaelic word "borumha," which means "cattle tribute" or "cattle tax." This surname is closely associated with the legendary Irish king Brian Boru, who ruled as the High King of Ireland from 1002 until his death in 1014.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname BORU appears in the Annals of Inisfallen, a chronicle of medieval Irish history compiled in the 12th century. The name is mentioned in connection with Brian Boru, who is celebrated for his military victories against Viking invaders and his efforts to unite Ireland under his rule.

The surname BORU gained prominence during Brian Boru's reign and continued to be associated with his descendants and those claiming kinship with the famous king. In the centuries following Brian Boru's death, the name appeared in various Irish manuscripts and historical records, including the Annals of Ulster and the Annals of the Four Masters.

One notable bearer of the surname BORU was Muirchertach Ua Briain (c. 1050-1119), a King of Munster and a direct descendant of Brian Boru. Another was Domnall Ua Briain (c. 1145-1194), who served as King of Thomond and is considered a significant figure in medieval Irish history.

The surname BORU has also been associated with several place names in Ireland, such as Borrisokane (meaning "the oak grove of the cattle tribute") and Borris (derived from the Irish word "Borris," meaning "cattle tribute settlement").

Other notable individuals with the surname BORU include Mathghamhain Ua Briain (c. 1088-1115), a King of Munster, and Toirdhealbach Ua Briain (c. 1009-1086), a King of Munster and an ally of Brian Boru. These historical figures played important roles in shaping the political and cultural landscape of medieval Ireland.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Boru

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

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

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

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