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

Dunagan, 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 Dunagan surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Dunagan in America

Dunagan is the 9384th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Dunagan surname appeared 3,465 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 Dunagan.

We can also compare 2010 data for Dunagan 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 Dunagan

The surname Dunagan has its origins in the Gaelic language of Ireland and Scotland. It is believed to have derived from the Irish Gaelic word "dun," meaning a fortified hill or fort, and "agan" which is a diminutive suffix, giving the name the meaning of "little fort."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Annals of Ulster, a chronicle of medieval Irish history, where it mentions a "Dunagan of Armagh" in the year 1036. This suggests that the name was already well-established in Ireland by the 11th century.

In Scotland, the name is thought to have originated in the regions of Argyll and Bute, where it was likely adopted by families who lived near or were associated with a particular fortified settlement or dun. The earliest known Scottish bearer of the name was Malcolm Dunagan, who is mentioned in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a collection of homages sworn to King Edward I of England.

Throughout the centuries, the name has undergone various spelling variations, including Donegan, Donnegan, Dunnagan, and Dunigan, reflecting the fluid nature of surname spellings in earlier times.

One notable bearer of the Dunagan name was John Dunagan, an Irish soldier who fought in the American Revolutionary War. Born in County Donegal, Ireland, in 1744, he served in the Continental Army and was present at the Siege of Yorktown in 1781.

Another individual of historical significance was William Dunagan, a Scottish explorer and navigator who accompanied Sir Walter Raleigh on his expeditions to the Americas in the late 16th century. Dunagan's accounts of these voyages provided valuable insights into the early exploration of the New World.

In the literary realm, the name was borne by the Irish poet and playwright, Michael Dunagan (1840-1920), whose works explored themes of Irish identity and cultural heritage.

The Dunagan surname also found its way into the annals of American history with the figure of James Dunagan (1812-1889), a prominent businessman and landowner in Texas during the 19th century, who played a significant role in the development of the state's economy.

Throughout its long history, the Dunagan name has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, from soldiers and explorers to artists and entrepreneurs, reflecting the diverse experiences and contributions of those who bore this distinctive surname.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Dunagan

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

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

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

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