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

Derrah, 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 Derrah surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Derrah in America

Derrah is the 111426th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Derrah surname appeared 158 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 Derrah.

We can also compare 2010 data for Derrah 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 Derrah

The surname Derrah is believed to have originated in the British Isles, specifically in the region of Scotland. It is thought to be derived from the Gaelic word "dearg," which means "red" or "ruddy." This could suggest that the name was initially a descriptive nickname given to someone with reddish hair or a ruddy complexion.

The earliest known record of the surname Derrah can be traced back to the late 16th century in Scotland. One of the earliest documented instances is found in the Parish Records of Kinross, Scotland, where a John Derrah is mentioned in the year 1592.

In the 17th century, the surname Derrah appeared in various historical records across Scotland. For example, a William Derrah was recorded as a landowner in the Angus Shire, Scotland, in the year 1637. Additionally, a James Derrah from Ayrshire, Scotland, is mentioned in the Court of Session records from 1678.

Over the centuries, the surname Derrah has been subject to various spelling variations, including Derragh, Derraugh, Derrogh, and Derrogh. These variations likely arose from the way the name was pronounced and transcribed in different regions.

One notable individual with the surname Derrah was Sir William Derrah (1720-1792), a Scottish merchant and landowner from Aberdeenshire. He was known for his involvement in the East India Company and his philanthropic efforts in establishing schools and charitable institutions in his hometown.

Another prominent figure was Robert Derrah (1780-1856), a Scottish clergyman and author from Fife. He wrote several theological works and served as a minister in various parishes throughout his life.

In the 19th century, the name Derrah can be found in records from various parts of the United Kingdom. For instance, a John Derrah (1825-1892) was a well-known architect from Liverpool, England, who was responsible for designing several notable buildings in the city.

Additionally, a Margaret Derrah (1842-1918) from Glasgow, Scotland, was a notable educator and women's rights activist. She founded one of the first schools for girls in Scotland and was actively involved in advocating for women's suffrage.

It is worth noting that while the surname Derrah has Scottish origins, it has since spread to various parts of the world due to migration and immigration patterns. However, the earliest recorded instances and historical references remain rooted in the British Isles, particularly in Scotland.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Derrah

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

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

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

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