Cagney
An occupational English surname derived from the Old French cagnier meaning "baker" or "dealer in cages".
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 754 Americans carry the last name Cagney. That puts it at #34,427 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.22 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 454,581 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Cagney surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
754
1 in 454,581
Census rank
#34,427
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.2
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
658
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 658 bearers of the surname Cagney in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.22 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 34427th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Cagney, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.7%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.1%) and Two or More Races (1.7%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Cagney
The surname Cagney is of Irish origin, tracing its roots back to the 12th century in County Westmeath, Ireland. It is believed to be derived from the Gaelic word "Cathánaigh," which means "son of Cathán" or "little warrior." The name was likely taken on by descendants of a person named Cathán.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Cagney can be found in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history compiled in the 17th century. The annals mention a Malachias Cathanach, a leader who lived in the late 12th century.
In the 16th century, the Cagney family held lands in the Barony of Rathconrath, County Westmeath. The name appears in various records from that time, including the Fiants of the Tudor Sovereigns and the Irish Monastic Possessions.
A notable early bearer of the name was John Cagney, born in 1566 in Rathconrath, County Westmeath. He was a prominent landowner and member of the Irish gentry.
Another historical figure with the Cagney surname was Patrick Cagney, born in 1677 in County Westmeath. He was a renowned scholar and author who published several works on Irish history and language.
The name Cagney has also had various spelling variations over the centuries, including Caghney, Caghnay, and Cagney. Some of these variations may have been influenced by the pronunciation of the name in different regions of Ireland.
In more recent times, the Cagney surname gained international recognition through the actor James Cagney (1899-1986), who rose to fame in Hollywood during the 1930s and 1940s. He starred in numerous classic films, including "The Public Enemy" and "Yankee Doodle Dandy," for which he won an Academy Award.
Other notable individuals with the Cagney surname include John Cagney (1913-1986), an Irish-American actor and brother of James Cagney; Jeanne Cagney (1919-1984), an American actress and sister of James Cagney; and Carey Cagney (1899-1986), an American vaudeville performer and brother of James Cagney.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Cagney
Among Census respondents with the surname Cagney, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.7%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.1%) and Two or More Races (1.7%).
The bar chart below shows how Cagney bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Cagney surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White94.7%
- Hispanic or Latino2.1%
- Two or more races1.7%
- Black or African American1.1%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Cagney surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #34,427 | #34,427 | 0.0% |
| Count | 658 | 658 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.22 | 0.22 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Cagney bearers went from 658 to 658 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #34,427 to #34,427.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Cagney
FAQ
Cagney surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Cagney?
The surname Cagney holds position #34,427 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 754 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.22 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Cagney surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Cagney, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.7%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.1%) and Two or More Races (1.7%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.