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

Gargan, 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 Gargan surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Gargan in America

Gargan is the 39837th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Gargan surname appeared 551 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 Gargan.

We can also compare 2010 data for Gargan 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 Gargan

The surname Gargan is believed to have originated in Ireland, with its roots dating back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Gaelic word "garg," which means fierce or valiant, and can be traced to the ancient Irish clan of O'Gargain.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Gargan can be found in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history compiled in the early 17th century. This text mentions several individuals bearing the name, including Domnall O'Gargain, who was a prominent chieftain in County Sligo in the late 12th century.

The surname Gargan can also be linked to various place names in Ireland, such as Garganvillen, a small village in County Tipperary. This connection suggests that the name may have originated from a specific location or territory associated with the O'Gargain clan.

In the 16th century, the Gargan surname gained further prominence with the birth of Edmond Gargan (c. 1550-1610), a renowned Irish scholar and philosopher who studied at the University of Paris. He later became a professor of philosophy at the University of Reims in France.

Another notable figure with the Gargan surname was John Gargan (1770-1846), an Irish-born soldier who served in the British Army during the Napoleonic Wars. He fought in several major battles, including the Battle of Waterloo in 1815, and rose to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel.

In the 19th century, the Gargan name was also associated with the Irish literary world. Thomas Gargan (1817-1892) was a renowned poet and playwright from County Mayo, known for his works celebrating Irish culture and traditions.

Other notable individuals bearing the Gargan surname include:

• Michael Gargan (1867-1947), an Irish-American politician and judge who served as a member of the New York State Assembly and the New York Supreme Court.
• Francis Gargan (1900-1976), an American actor who appeared in numerous films and television shows throughout his career, including roles in classic movies like "The Thin Man" and "It Happened One Night."
• Patricia Gargan (1925-2018), an American author and journalist who wrote several books on subjects ranging from art to travel.

While the surname Gargan has its roots in Ireland, it has since spread to various parts of the world, carried by Irish emigrants and their descendants. However, its origin and connection to the ancient O'Gargain clan remain a significant part of its rich historical legacy.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Gargan

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

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

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

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