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

Fogan, 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 Fogan surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Fogan in America

Fogan is the 150452nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Fogan surname appeared 109 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Fogan.

We can also compare 2010 data for Fogan 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 Fogan

The surname Fogan originated in Ireland, likely emerging in the 16th or 17th century. It is believed to be derived from the Irish Gaelic word "foghain," meaning "to serve" or "to suffice." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to a servant or someone employed in domestic service.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Fogan can be found in the Hearth Money Rolls of 1665, where a Thomas Fogan is listed as residing in County Wexford, Ireland. The name also appears in various parish records and land surveys from the 17th and 18th centuries, predominantly in the counties of Wexford and Kilkenny.

During the 17th century, the name Fogan was sometimes spelled as "Foggan" or "Foggin," reflecting regional variations in pronunciation and spelling conventions of the time. In the early 19th century, there are records of a Fogan family residing in the townland of Ballymartin, near Kilmore Quay in County Wexford.

One notable figure with the surname Fogan was John Fogan, a Catholic priest and educator who lived from 1770 to 1848. He was instrumental in establishing Catholic schools in County Wexford during a time when Catholic education was heavily restricted in Ireland.

Another individual of note was Michael Fogan, born in 1824 in County Wexford. He emigrated to the United States in the mid-19th century and became a prominent businessman and philanthropist in New York City, contributing to various charitable causes and supporting Irish immigrants.

In the late 19th century, a James Fogan, born in 1856 in County Kilkenny, gained recognition as a talented artist and painter. His works, depicting landscapes and scenes of rural Irish life, were exhibited in various galleries across Ireland and England.

Additionally, the Fogan surname has been linked to several place names in Ireland, such as Fogan's Cross and Fogan's Bridge, both located in County Wexford. These place names likely derived from individuals or families bearing the Fogan surname who lived in or owned land in those areas.

While not as prominent as some other Irish surnames, the name Fogan has a rich history and connection to the counties of Wexford and Kilkenny, where it has been documented for several centuries. The name's origins and meaning reflect the diverse occupations and roles that individuals with this surname may have held throughout Irish history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Fogan

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

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

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

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