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

Faherty, 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 Faherty surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Faherty in America

Faherty is the 18511th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Faherty surname appeared 1,491 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 Faherty.

We can also compare 2010 data for Faherty 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 Faherty

The surname Faherty has its origins in Ireland, where it first emerged in the early medieval period. It is believed to be derived from the Irish Gaelic word "fathach," which means "giant" or "gigantic." The name may have been given to someone of exceptional stature or physical presence.

In its earliest recorded forms, the name was spelled "Fathartaigh" or "Fatharta," reflecting its Gaelic roots. Over time, as the name spread and evolved, it took on various anglicized spellings such as Faherty, Faharty, and Faharty.

The Faherty clan was historically associated with County Galway in the western province of Connacht. They were a prominent family in the region, and their name appears in several historical records from the medieval period onwards.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the 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 a notable figure named Tomaltach Ua Fatharta, who was a chieftain and leader of the Faherty clan in the late 12th century.

In the 16th century, the Faherty family held significant influence and landholdings in the baronies of Moycullen and Ballynahinch in County Galway. During this period, several members of the clan were noted for their involvement in local politics and conflicts.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the surname Faherty. One such figure was John Faherty (1804-1885), an Irish-American businessman and philanthropist who founded the Faherty Knitting Mills in Boston, Massachusetts.

Another prominent individual was Michael Faherty (1851-1923), an Irish nationalist and Member of Parliament for County Galway. He was actively involved in the Irish Home Rule movement and advocated for Irish independence.

In the field of literature, John Faherty (1901-1991) was an Irish poet and writer who published several collections of poetry, including "The Wind Still Blows" and "The Sands of Existence."

Bridget Faherty (1838-1925) was a notable educator and pioneer in the field of women's education in Ireland. She founded several schools and played a significant role in promoting educational opportunities for girls.

Finally, James Faherty (1779-1858) was an Irish-American soldier who fought in the War of 1812 and later became a prominent businessman and landowner in New York City.

These are just a few examples of individuals who bore the surname Faherty throughout history, highlighting the name's deep roots in Irish culture and its global reach over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Faherty

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

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

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

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