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

Coffey, 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 Coffey surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Coffey in America

Coffey is the 955th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Coffey surname appeared 36,423 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 12 people would have the surname Coffey.

We can also compare 2010 data for Coffey 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 Coffey

The surname COFFEY has its origins in Ireland, dating back to the medieval period. It is derived from the Irish Gaelic word "ó Cobhthaigh," which means "descendant of Cobhthach." Cobhthach was a personal name that roughly translates to "victorious" or "triumphant."

The name was initially concentrated in County Cork and the surrounding regions of southern Ireland. It is believed to have emerged as a distinct surname in the 11th or 12th century, as the practice of inheriting fixed surnames became more widespread among the Gaelic Irish population.

One of the earliest documented references to the surname COFFEY can be found in the Annals of Inisfallen, a chronicle of medieval Irish history. The annals mention a "Cobhthach Ua Cobthaigh" (Coffey) who was a prominent figure in the year 1178.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the COFFEY surname appeared frequently in various legal documents and land records in County Cork and neighboring counties. Notable individuals bearing the name during this period include Dermot COFFEY, a landowner in County Waterford in the late 16th century, and John COFFEY, a member of the Irish Parliament in the 1630s.

In the 18th century, Michael COFFEY (1679-1757) was a renowned Irish Catholic prelate who served as the Bishop of Cloyne and Ross. Another prominent figure was Denny COFFEY (1730-1810), a member of the Irish House of Commons and a supporter of the United Irishmen movement.

As the COFFEY surname spread beyond Ireland, it gained recognition in other parts of the world. Charles Coffey (1676-1745) was an English playwright and poet, best known for his work "The Devil to Pay." In the United States, Levi Coffin (1798-1877) was a prominent Quaker and abolitionist who played a significant role in the Underground Railroad, earning him the nickname "President of the Underground Railroad."

Throughout history, the COFFEY surname has been associated with various families and individuals who have made notable contributions in various fields, including politics, religion, literature, and social activism.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Coffey

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

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

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

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