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

Ganigan, 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 Ganigan surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ganigan in America

Ganigan is the 151532nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ganigan surname appeared 108 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 Ganigan.

The history of the last name Ganigan

The surname Ganigan is believed to have originated in Ireland, tracing its roots back to the Irish Gaelic language. It is thought to have been derived from the Gaelic word "ganach," which means "greedy" or "voracious." This suggests that the name may have initially been a nickname given to someone with a hearty appetite or a tendency towards greed.

During the Middle Ages, the name Ganigan first appeared in various Irish annals and records, particularly in the counties of Cork and Kerry. One of the earliest documented references to the name can be found in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history, which mentions a "Domhnall Ó Ganigain" in the year 1285.

In the 16th century, the Ganigan surname was associated with several notable figures in Irish history. One such individual was Seán Ó Ganigain, a poet and scholar who lived in the early 1500s and was renowned for his works in the Irish language. Another was Tadhg Ó Ganigain, a wealthy landowner and chieftain who played a role in the Desmond Rebellions against English rule in the late 16th century.

The surname Ganigan also appeared in various historical documents and records throughout the 17th and 18th centuries. One noteworthy example is Éamonn Ó Ganigain, a Catholic priest who was born in 1670 and played a significant role in preserving Irish culture and language during the Penal Laws era.

In the 19th century, the Ganigan name was carried by several individuals who made their mark in various fields. One such person was Michael Ganigan (1820-1892), an Irish-born engineer who worked on the construction of several notable bridges and railways in the United States. Another was Patrick Ganigan (1845-1920), a successful businessman and philanthropist who founded the Ganigan Foundation in New York City.

Throughout its history, the surname Ganigan has also been associated with various place names and locations in Ireland. For instance, the townland of Ganigans in County Cork is believed to have derived its name from the Ganigan family who once lived there. Similarly, the village of Ganigansburgh (now known as Ballylickey) in County Cork was named after the Ganigan clan that inhabited the area.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ganigan

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

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 Ganigan 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.

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

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

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