Delahunt
A surname derived from Old French and meaning "from the hunt" or "hunter."
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 857 Americans carry the last name Delahunt. That puts it at #31,656 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.25 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 399,947 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Delahunt 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
857
1 in 399,947
Census rank
#31,656
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.3
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
730
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 730 bearers of the surname Delahunt in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.25 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 31656th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Delahunt, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.0%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.6%) and Two or More Races (1.1%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Delahunt
The surname Delahunt is of Anglo-Norman origin, derived from the Old French phrase 'de la hunte', meaning 'of the hunt'. It is believed to have originated in the 12th century, when the Norman nobility in England adopted surnames to distinguish themselves from the common people.
The name is thought to have been initially bestowed upon someone who lived near a hunting ground or forest, or perhaps someone who held the position of a huntsman or gamekeeper. It may have also been given as a descriptive nickname to someone with a particular talent or passion for hunting.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire, dated 1195, which mentions a William de la Hunte. The Hundred Rolls of 1273 also record a John de la Hunte in Oxfordshire, suggesting the name was present in different parts of England during the Middle Ages.
Over time, the name underwent various spelling variations, such as Delahunte, Delahunty, and Delahunte, before eventually settling into its modern form, Delahunt. These variations reflect the fluid nature of surname spellings in the past, which were often influenced by regional dialects and the interpretation of scribes.
One notable figure bearing the name Delahunt was Sir John Delahunt (c. 1530-1594), an English soldier and Member of Parliament during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. He served in the Irish wars and was knighted for his military service in 1586.
Another Delahunt of historical significance was Captain William Delahunt (c. 1670-1720), an Irish sailor and explorer who is credited with being the first European to set foot on the South Pacific island of Rotuma in 1720.
In the literary world, Mary Delahunty (1874-1957), an Irish writer and poet, gained recognition for her works celebrating the beauty of the Irish countryside and the struggles of rural life.
The name Delahunt can also be found in various locations, such as Delahunt Street in Richmond, Virginia, and Delahunt Court in Dublin, Ireland, both likely named after individuals bearing the surname.
It is worth noting that the surname Delahunt has occasionally been confused with the similar-sounding but distinct surname Delahanty, which has a separate origin and meaning.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Delahunt
Among Census respondents with the surname Delahunt, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.0%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.6%) and Two or More Races (1.1%).
The bar chart below shows how Delahunt 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 Delahunt surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White94.0%
- Hispanic or Latino3.6%
- Two or more races1.1%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Delahunt 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 | #31,656 | #31,656 | 0.0% |
| Count | 730 | 730 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.25 | 0.25 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Delahunt bearers went from 730 to 730 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #31,656 to #31,656.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Delahunt
FAQ
Delahunt surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Delahunt?
The surname Delahunt holds position #31,656 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 857 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.25 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Delahunt surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Delahunt, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.0%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.6%) and Two or More Races (1.1%). 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.