Carragher
An occupational surname likely referring to a carter or transporter of goods.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 583 Americans carry the last name Carragher. That puts it at #43,885 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.17 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 587,915 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Carragher 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
583
1 in 587,915
Census rank
#43,885
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.2
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
491
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 491 bearers of the surname Carragher in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.17 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 43885th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Carragher, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.7%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (1.8%) and Two or More Races (1.4%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Carragher
The surname Carragher is of Irish origin, originating from the Gaelic-speaking regions of Ireland. The name is believed to have derived from the Irish word "carragh," meaning a rock or rocky place, suggesting that the name likely referred to someone who lived near a rocky area or came from a place with a similar name.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Carragher can be found in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history compiled in the early 17th century. The name is mentioned in reference to individuals living in County Mayo during the 14th and 15th centuries.
The surname Carragher has also been associated with the Irish surname "Carragher" or "Carriger," which is derived from the Irish word "cairrge," meaning a rock or rocky area. This alternative spelling suggests that the name may have originated from different regions of Ireland or evolved over time due to variations in pronunciation and spelling.
In the 16th century, the name appears in various Irish records, including the Fiants of the Tudor Sovereigns, which documented land grants and appointments in Ireland during the Tudor period. One notable individual from this time was John Carragher, who was granted lands in County Galway in the late 1500s.
During the 17th and 18th centuries, the Carragher surname can be found in various parish records and census documents from counties such as Mayo, Galway, and Sligo, indicating the widespread presence of the name across western Ireland.
Notable individuals with the surname Carragher include:
1. Patrick Carragher (1799-1877), an Irish politician and member of the British Parliament for Dundalk from 1847 to 1857.
2. James Carragher (1870-1942), an Irish-American labor leader and founder of the United Brewery Workers Union in the United States.
3. John Carragher (1885-1962), an Irish-born Australian politician and member of the Australian House of Representatives for the Labor Party.
4. Jamie Carragher (born 1978), a former English professional footballer who played for Liverpool F.C. and the English national team.
5. Michael Carragher (born 1960), an Irish author and academic known for his works on Irish literature and culture.
The surname Carragher has a rich history rooted in the rocky landscapes of Ireland, with its earliest recorded instances dating back to the medieval period. Over the centuries, individuals bearing this name have made significant contributions in various fields, reflecting the enduring legacy of this Irish surname.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Carragher
Among Census respondents with the surname Carragher, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.7%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (1.8%) and Two or More Races (1.4%).
The bar chart below shows how Carragher 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 Carragher surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White95.7%
- Hispanic or Latino1.8%
- Two or more races1.4%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Carragher 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 | #43,885 | #43,885 | 0.0% |
| Count | 491 | 491 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.17 | 0.17 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Carragher bearers went from 491 to 491 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #43,885 to #43,885.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Carragher
FAQ
Carragher surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Carragher?
The surname Carragher holds position #43,885 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 583 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.17 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Carragher surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Carragher, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.7%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (1.8%) and Two or More Races (1.4%). 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.