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

Furphy, 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 Furphy surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Furphy in America

Furphy is the 79846th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Furphy surname appeared 238 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 Furphy.

We can also compare 2010 data for Furphy 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 Furphy

The surname "FURPHY" is believed to have originated in Ireland, with the earliest records dating back to the 16th century. It is thought to be derived from the Irish Gaelic word "fuar," which means "cold," and "pighí," meaning "small stream." This suggests that the name may have referred to someone who lived near a cold stream or a person who worked with water in some capacity.

One of the earliest documented references to the name can be found in the Fiants of the Reign of Queen Elizabeth, a collection of official records from the late 16th century. The name appears in various spellings, such as "Furphe," "Furphie," and "Furphy," indicating the variations that existed at the time.

The name "FURPHY" gained particular prominence in Australia, where it is believed to have been introduced by Irish immigrants during the 19th century. One notable figure with this surname was John Furphy, a blacksmith and inventor who was born in Shepparton, Victoria, in 1842. He is credited with designing and manufacturing the iconic Furphy water carts, which became a ubiquitous sight across Australia in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Another prominent individual with the surname "FURPHY" was Joseph Furphy, a novelist and poet who was born in Yalla-Y-Poora, Victoria, in 1843. His most famous work, "Such Is Life," is considered a classic of Australian literature and provides valuable insights into life in rural Australia during the late 19th century.

In the United Kingdom, the name "FURPHY" has been recorded in various historical documents, including parish records and census data. One notable example is William Furphy, a British soldier who served in the Napoleonic Wars and was born in Northumberland in 1788.

The surname "FURPHY" has also been associated with several place names, particularly in Ireland. For instance, the townland of Furphyville in County Longford is believed to have derived its name from the Furphy family who resided in the area.

Throughout history, the name "FURPHY" has been borne by individuals from various walks of life, including writers, soldiers, inventors, and tradespeople. While the exact origins of the name may be uncertain, it remains a distinctive and recognizable surname with a rich historical legacy, particularly in Ireland, Australia, and the United Kingdom.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Furphy

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

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

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

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