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

Feehan, 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 Feehan surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Feehan in America

Feehan is the 16273rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Feehan surname appeared 1,772 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 Feehan.

We can also compare 2010 data for Feehan 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 Feehan

The surname Feehan is of Irish origin and is believed to have emerged in the 16th century. It is a variant spelling of the Gaelic name "O'Fiachain," which means "descendant of Fiachan." Fiachan was a personal name derived from the Irish word "fiach," meaning "raven" or "hunter."

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be traced back to County Mayo in the west of Ireland. It is thought to have been concentrated in the baronies of Carra and Erris, where the family held lands and played a significant role in the local community.

In medieval Irish records, the name appears with various spellings, such as "O'Feehyly," "O'Feehilly," and "O'Feehily." These variants reflect the fluid nature of spelling conventions during that period.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Donnchadh Ó Fiachna, a prominent Irish poet who lived in the late 16th century. His poetry, which celebrated the exploits of local chieftains, provides valuable insights into the cultural and political landscape of the time.

Another notable figure was Fearghal Ó Fiachna, a renowned scholar and scribe who lived in the 17th century. He was responsible for transcribing and preserving several important Irish manuscripts, ensuring the survival of invaluable historical and literary works.

During the 18th century, the name Feehan gained prominence in County Mayo. Patrick Feehan, born in 1752, was a successful merchant and landowner who played a significant role in the local community.

In the 19th century, John Feehan (1813-1887) was a respected Catholic priest who served in the Diocese of Tuam. He was known for his dedication to education and his efforts to improve the lives of the local population.

Another notable figure was Michael Feehan (1857-1923), a successful businessman and philanthropist. He made significant contributions to the development of his hometown, Westport, in County Mayo, and was widely respected for his generosity and civic engagement.

Over time, the name Feehan has spread beyond Ireland, with members of the family settling in various parts of the world, including the United States, Canada, and Australia.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Feehan

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

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

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

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