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

Falvey, 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 Falvey surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Falvey in America

Falvey is the 16327th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Falvey surname appeared 1,765 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 Falvey.

We can also compare 2010 data for Falvey 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 Falvey

The surname Falvey is of Irish origin, originating in County Kerry, Ireland. It is an anglicized form of the Gaelic "O'Falvey" or "O'Falvaigh," which can be traced back to the 12th century. The name is derived from the Irish word "falbh," meaning "to go" or "to wander," suggesting that the family's ancestors may have been wanderers or travelers.

The Falveys were a prominent family in County Kerry, with their ancestral homeland located in the Iveragh Peninsula. They were part of the Gaelic nobility and held significant influence in the region. One of the earliest recorded references to the name can be found in the Annals of Inisfallen, an Irish chronicle from the 12th century, which mentions the death of Donough O'Falvey, a notable figure from the family, in 1178.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Falveys were involved in various conflicts between the English and the Irish. In 1598, the Annals of the Four Masters recorded the death of Dermot O'Falvey, who was killed during the Nine Years' War against the English. Several members of the family served as captains and soldiers in the Irish Confederate Wars, defending their lands and traditions.

One notable figure from the Falvey family was Captain Garrett Falvey (c. 1600-1675), who fought alongside the Irish Confederate forces during the Irish Confederate Wars. He was known for his bravery and military prowess and was awarded lands in County Kerry for his services.

Another prominent Falvey was Daniel Falvey (1772-1844), a successful merchant and shipowner from Tralee, County Kerry. He played a significant role in the establishment of the Tralee Ship Canal, which facilitated trade and commerce in the region.

In the 19th century, John Falvey (1837-1923) was a renowned Irish author and journalist, known for his works on Irish history and culture. He was a staunch advocate for Irish independence and played an influential role in the Irish literary revival.

The Falvey surname has been carried around the world by Irish immigrants, particularly during the Great Famine of the 19th century. Today, it can be found in many countries with significant Irish diaspora populations, such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Falvey

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

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

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

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