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

Drennan, 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 Drennan surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Drennan in America

Drennan is the 7821st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Drennan surname appeared 4,233 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 Drennan.

We can also compare 2010 data for Drennan 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 Drennan

The surname Drennan is of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic name "O'Drennain" which means "descendant of Drennan". It is believed to have originated in the ancient Dalriada region of Scotland, which encompasses parts of modern-day Argyll and Antrim.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be traced back to the 12th century in County Antrim, Ireland. One of the earliest documented references is in the Annals of the Four Masters, which mentions a chieftain named Niall O'Drennan in 1171.

During the medieval period, the Drennan surname was prominent in the Glens of Antrim, particularly in the areas of Glenarm and Cushendall. The name is also associated with several place names in the region, such as Drennanstown and Drennans Mill.

In the 16th century, the Drennan family played a significant role in the Irish Confederate Wars, with several members serving as officers in the Confederate Catholic forces. One notable figure was Conn O'Drennan, who led a contingent of soldiers from Antrim in the Battle of Benburbh in 1646.

During the Plantation of Ulster in the 17th century, many Drennan families were displaced from their ancestral lands and migrated to other parts of Ireland, as well as to the Americas and other British colonies. This led to the widespread distribution of the surname across various regions.

Notable individuals with the Drennan surname include:

1. William Drennan (1754-1820), an Irish physician, poet, and political radical, who co-founded the Society of United Irishmen.
2. John Drennan (1791-1866), an Irish-American merchant and philanthropist, who established the Drennan Institute in Charleston, South Carolina.
3. Ann Drennan (1809-1892), an Irish botanist and author, known for her work on algae and lichens.
4. Thomas Drennan (1809-1892), an Irish-Canadian politician and businessman, who served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada.
5. Mathew Drennan (1826-1904), an Irish-American entrepreneur and industrialist, who founded the Drennan Axe and Tool Company in New York.

The Drennan surname has a rich history rooted in the ancient Gaelic traditions of Ireland and Scotland. Its prevalence throughout the centuries and its association with various historical figures and events make it a significant part of the cultural heritage of the British Isles and beyond.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Drennan

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

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

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

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