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

Ganey, 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 Ganey surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ganey in America

Ganey is the 17258th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ganey surname appeared 1,641 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 Ganey.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ganey 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 Ganey

The surname Ganey has its origins in the Gaelic language and is believed to have first emerged in Ireland during the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Irish Gaelic word "gainne," which means "scarcity" or "famine." This suggests that the name may have initially been a descriptive nickname given to someone who lived through a time of famine or scarce resources.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Ganey can be found in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history compiled in the early 17th century. The text mentions a man named Tadhg Ganey, who was a prominent figure in County Mayo during the 15th century.

The name Ganey has also been connected to various place names in Ireland, particularly in counties such as Mayo and Sligo. For example, there is a townland called Gaunoge (derived from the Irish "Gáinne Óg," meaning "young Ganey") located in County Mayo.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, as the English colonization of Ireland intensified, many Irish families with the surname Ganey were forced to anglicize their names to more English-sounding variants, such as Gainey or Gainey. This was often done to avoid discrimination or persecution.

One notable figure with the surname Ganey was Edmond Ganey, an Irish Catholic priest who lived in the 17th century. He was known for his active role in the Confederate Wars, a series of conflicts between the Irish Catholics and the English Parliamentarian forces.

Another individual of historical significance was John Ganey, a member of the Irish Republican Brotherhood, a revolutionary organization that played a crucial role in the Irish independence movement in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. John Ganey was born in County Mayo in 1860 and participated in various uprisings against British rule.

In the realm of literature, the surname Ganey is associated with the Irish writer and poet Seamus Ganey, who was born in County Sligo in 1892. He is particularly known for his works that celebrated the Irish language and culture.

Furthermore, the name Ganey has been carried by several notable figures in the field of sports. One example is Michael Ganey, an Irish hurler who played for the Galway senior hurling team in the 1960s and 1970s, winning several prestigious titles.

Throughout history, the surname Ganey has maintained a strong presence in Ireland, particularly in the western counties. While the name may have originated from humble beginnings, it has been borne by individuals who have made significant contributions to various aspects of Irish society and culture.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ganey

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

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

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

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