Egan
Derived from the Irish surname Mac Aodhagáin, meaning "descendant of Aodhagán," a personal name meaning "little fire."
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 26,769 Americans carry the last name Egan. That puts it at #1,561 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 7.81 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 12,804 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Egan 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
27K
1 in 12,804
Census rank
#1,561
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
7.8
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
23K
uncommon in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 23,048 bearers of the surname Egan in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 7.81 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 1561st position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Egan, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.5%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.4%) and Two or More Races (1.2%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Egan
The surname Egan has its origins in Ireland, where it first emerged as a variant of the Gaelic name Ó hAodhagáin, meaning "descendant of Aodhagán." Aodhagán itself is a diminutive form of the name Aodh, meaning "fire."
The Egan surname is most closely associated with County Offaly and County Tipperary, where it has been present since the Middle Ages. It is believed to have originated as a patronymic name, indicating a family's descent from a particular ancestor.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the Egan name can be found in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history compiled in the early 17th century. The annals mention an individual named Conchobhar Ó hAodhagáin, who was the Chief of Ui Fiachrach in County Sligo, in the year 1182.
In the 16th century, the Egan family was prominent in County Offaly, where they held lands in the baronies of Geashill and Philipstown. Notable members from this period include Terence Egan, a member of the Irish Parliament in 1585, and William Egan, who was appointed Sheriff of County Offaly in 1596.
During the Irish Confederate Wars of the 1640s, several Egans played significant roles, including John Egan, who served as a captain in the Confederate Catholic forces, and Rory Egan, a prominent landowner in County Offaly who supported the Catholic cause.
In the 18th century, Patrick Egan (1670-1759) was a renowned historian and genealogist from County Offaly, who compiled a detailed account of the Egan family's history and lineage.
Another notable figure was John Egan (1784-1858), a Catholic priest and educator from County Tipperary, who played a key role in establishing primary schools and promoting education in his local community.
As the Egan name spread throughout Ireland and beyond, it has been associated with various notable individuals, including the American writer and activist Terry Egan (1939-2019), and the Australian rugby league player and coach Kevin Egan (born 1957).
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Egan
Among Census respondents with the surname Egan, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.5%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.4%) and Two or More Races (1.2%).
The bar chart below shows how Egan 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 Egan surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White94.5%
- Hispanic or Latino2.4%
- Two or more races1.2%
- Asian and Pacific Islander1.0%
- Black or African American0.6%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.3%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Egan 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 | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #1,458 | #1,561 | -7.1% |
| Count | 22,491 | 23,048 | 2.5% |
| Per 100K | 8.34 | 7.81 | -6.4% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Egan bearers went from 22,491 to 23,048 (+2.5% change). The surname moved down 103 positions in the national ranking, going from #1,458 to #1,561.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Egan
FAQ
Egan surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Egan?
The surname Egan holds position #1,561 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 26,769 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 7.81 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Egan surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Egan, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.5%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.4%) and Two or More Races (1.2%). 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.