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

Darrah, 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 Darrah surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Darrah in America

Darrah is the 9531st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Darrah surname appeared 3,410 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Darrah.

We can also compare 2010 data for Darrah 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 Darrah

The surname DARRAH has its origins in Ireland, tracing back to the 16th century. It is believed to be derived from the Irish Gaelic word "darragh," which means "oak tree." This suggests that the name may have been initially given as a descriptive surname to someone who lived near a prominent oak tree or in an area known for its abundance of oak trees.

Early records indicate that the DARRAH surname was particularly prevalent in County Monaghan, where it is thought to have originated. The name appears in various Irish annals and manuscripts from the 16th and 17th centuries, though the earliest recorded instance is difficult to pinpoint with certainty.

One notable early reference to the name can be found in the "Annals of the Four Masters," a chronicle of medieval Irish history compiled in the early 17th century. The annals mention a "Donnchadh Darach," which translates to "Donnchadh of the Oak," suggesting a possible connection to the surname's origins.

In the 17th century, the DARRAH surname began to spread beyond County Monaghan as families migrated to other parts of Ireland and, eventually, to other regions of the British Isles and beyond. One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname was John DARRAH, born around 1620 in County Monaghan.

Another notable figure was Reverend William DARRAH, a Presbyterian minister born in County Antrim, Ireland, in 1675. He emigrated to America in the early 18th century and played a significant role in establishing Presbyterian churches in Pennsylvania.

In the 18th century, the DARRAH surname gained prominence with the birth of Michael DARRAH (1725-1804), a notable figure in the American Revolutionary War. He served as a captain in the Pennsylvania militia and was present at the Battle of Brandywine in 1777.

Another individual of note was John DARRAH (1798-1879), a Scottish-born engineer who contributed to the development of early steam engines and played a role in the construction of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway.

In the 19th century, the DARRAH surname continued to spread worldwide, with individuals bearing the name contributing to various fields. One such individual was Mary DARRAH (1824-1911), an American educator and philanthropist who founded several schools and organizations dedicated to the education of women and girls.

While the DARRAH surname has its roots in Ireland, it has since become a part of the historical fabric of many nations, with individuals bearing this name making significant contributions across various fields throughout the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Darrah

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

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

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

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