Devane
An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic Ó Daimhín, meaning "descendant of Daimhín" (a personal name meaning "fawn" or "poet").
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 2,673 Americans carry the last name Devane. That puts it at #13,297 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.78 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 128,228 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Devane 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
2.7K
1 in 128,228
Census rank
#13,297
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.8
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
2.3K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 2,294 bearers of the surname Devane in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.78 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 13297th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Devane, the largest self-reported group is White at 74.4%. The next largest groups are Black (18.8%) and Hispanic (2.7%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Devane
The surname DEVANE is of Irish origin, traced back to the 16th century in County Cork, Ireland. It is an anglicized form of the Gaelic surname Ó Daimhín, which means "descendant of Daimhín," an Irish personal name derived from the word "daimh," meaning "ox" or "steer."
The earliest recorded spelling of the name DEVANE in Ireland dates back to 1601, when it appeared in the "Fiants of Elizabeth I" as "O'Davine." This document was a record of royal pardons and grants made during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.
In the 17th century, the surname DEVANE was found in various Irish records, including the "Census of Ireland" of 1659, where it was listed as a principal Irish family name in County Cork. The name was also mentioned in the "Hearth Money Rolls" of 1665, which recorded households and their tax assessments.
One of the earliest notable individuals with the DEVANE surname was John Devane (1805-1867), an Irish Catholic priest and educator who served as the first President of the Jesuit-run St. Ignatius College in San Francisco, California.
Another prominent figure was John O'Devane (1820-1907), an Irish-born journalist and newspaper editor who worked for various publications in New York City, including The Irish World and American Industrial Liberator.
In the 19th century, the surname DEVANE was also found in other parts of Ireland, such as County Limerick. One notable individual from this region was William Devane (1855-1932), a member of the Irish Parliamentary Party and a supporter of Irish Home Rule.
The DEVANE surname also has a connection to place names in Ireland. For example, there is a townland called Devane in County Cork, which likely derived its name from the surname.
Another notable individual with the DEVANE surname was Michael Devane (1871-1949), an Irish politician and member of the First Dáil Éireann, the revolutionary parliament of the Irish Republic established in 1919.
Overall, the surname DEVANE has a rich history rooted in Irish culture and ancestry, with various notable individuals bearing this name throughout the centuries.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Devane
Among Census respondents with the surname Devane, the largest self-reported group is White at 74.4%. The next largest groups are Black (18.8%) and Hispanic (2.7%).
The bar chart below shows how Devane 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 Devane surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White74.4%
- Black or African American18.8%
- Hispanic or Latino2.7%
- Asian and Pacific Islander2.3%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Devane 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 | #13,297 | #13,297 | 0.0% |
| Count | 2,294 | 2,294 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.78 | 0.78 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Devane bearers went from 2,294 to 2,294 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #13,297 to #13,297.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Devane
FAQ
Devane surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Devane?
The surname Devane holds position #13,297 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 2,673 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.78 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Devane surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Devane, the largest self-reported group is White at 74.4%. The next largest groups are Black (18.8%) and Hispanic (2.7%). 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.