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

Cargin, 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 Cargin surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Cargin in America

Cargin is the 150452nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Cargin surname appeared 109 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 Cargin.

We can also compare 2010 data for Cargin 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 Cargin

The surname Cargin has its origins in Ireland, specifically in the northern counties of Ulster. It emerged in the late 16th century and is derived from the Irish Gaelic word "cargain," which means "rocky land" or "rough ground." This suggests that the name was initially associated with people living in or near areas with rugged terrain.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Cargin surname can be found in the Fiants of the Reign of Queen Elizabeth I, which were official records of royal grants and appointments in Ireland. In these documents, dated around 1600, there are references to individuals with the surname Cargin or similar spellings, such as Cargyn or Cargine.

The Cargin name has been particularly prominent in counties Antrim and Derry, where many families bearing this surname have lived for generations. In the 17th and 18th centuries, several notable individuals with the Cargin surname emerged, including James Cargin (1648-1721), a landowner and merchant in County Antrim, and Patrick Cargin (1702-1778), a renowned scholar and teacher from County Derry.

Another notable figure was John Cargin (1762-1834), a prominent politician and member of the Irish Parliament who represented County Antrim. He played a significant role in advocating for Catholic emancipation and was a vocal supporter of Irish nationalist causes.

During the 19th century, the Cargin surname gained further recognition with the birth of William Cargin (1812-1892), a celebrated author and poet who wrote extensively about Irish history and culture. His works, including "The Emerald Isle" and "Echoes of Erin," were widely acclaimed and helped preserve and promote Irish literary traditions.

The name Cargin has also been associated with several places in Ireland, such as Cargin townland in County Antrim and Cargin Glen, a scenic valley located in the same county. These place names likely derive from the same Gaelic root as the surname, reflecting the connection between the Cargin family and the rugged landscapes of Ulster.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Cargin

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

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

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

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