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

Derry, 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 Derry surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Derry in America

Derry is the 7863rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Derry surname appeared 4,209 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 Derry.

We can also compare 2010 data for Derry 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 Derry

The surname Derry is believed to have originated in Ireland and is derived from the Irish Gaelic word "doire," which means "oak grove" or "oak wood." The name is closely associated with the city of Derry, also known as Londonderry, in Northern Ireland.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Derry can be found in ancient Irish manuscripts and records dating back to the 12th century. It is believed that the name was initially used as a descriptive term for individuals who lived near or worked in oak groves or forests.

One notable historical reference to the name Derry is found in the Annals of Ulster, a chronicle of medieval Irish history. The Annals mention several individuals with the surname Derry, suggesting that the name was well-established in Ireland by the 13th century.

In the 16th century, during the Plantation of Ulster, many English and Scottish settlers arrived in the region, and the name Derry became more widespread. The city of Derry itself was an important center of trade and commerce during this period, and it is likely that the surname gained prominence as a result.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Derry was John Derry, who was born in County Tyrone, Ireland, around 1550. He was a prominent landowner and local official during the Plantation of Ulster.

Another notable figure was Sir Edward Derry (1598-1667), an English soldier and politician who served as Governor of the Isle of Man and played a significant role in the English Civil War.

In the 18th century, the surname Derry was found in various parts of Ireland, as well as in areas of Scotland and England where Irish immigrants had settled. One notable individual from this period was William Derry (1720-1789), an Irish-born artist and engraver who worked in London and is known for his portraits and landscapes.

In the 19th century, the Derry surname spread further as Irish immigration to the United States and other parts of the world increased. One prominent individual from this era was Reverend James Derry (1822-1902), an Irish-born Presbyterian minister who served in several churches in the United States and was a vocal advocate for temperance and abolition.

Another notable figure was Joseph Derry (1861-1938), a Canadian-born businessman and politician who served as a Member of Parliament in the Canadian House of Commons and was involved in various mining and industrial ventures.

Throughout history, the surname Derry has been associated with individuals from diverse backgrounds and professions, reflecting its Irish origins and the dispersal of Irish people around the world.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Derry

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

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

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

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