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

Gavigan, 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 Gavigan surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Gavigan in America

Gavigan is the 22573rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Gavigan surname appeared 1,138 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 Gavigan.

We can also compare 2010 data for Gavigan 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 Gavigan

The surname Gavigan has its roots in Ireland, originating in the ancient Gaelic language. It is believed to have derived from the Irish Gaelic words "gamhan" meaning "calf" and "gan" meaning "without," suggesting a possible connection to cattle herding or farming. The earliest recorded spellings of the name include Gauvigan, Gavagan, and Gavehan.

The name first appeared in historical records during the 12th century, with references to individuals bearing the surname in County Cavan, Ireland. One of the earliest documented instances is from the Annals of Ulster, which mentions a "Máel Brigte Ua Gauvigan" in the year 1199. This entry suggests that the name was already well-established in the region by that time.

During the 16th century, the Gavigans were prominent landowners in County Cavan, with records indicating their presence in the parishes of Kilmore and Lurgan. The Fiants of the Tudor Sovereigns of Ireland, a collection of official documents from the Tudor period, mention several Gavigans, including Edmond Gavigan, who received a pardon in 1586.

One notable individual from this era was Sir John Gavigan, a military officer born in County Cavan in the late 16th century. He served in the Irish Confederate Wars and was knighted for his service to the Catholic cause. His descendants continued to play a significant role in the region for several generations.

In the 17th century, the Gavigans were among the prominent families affected by the Cromwellian Settlement and the subsequent redistribution of land in Ireland. Many were forced to relocate or lost their ancestral lands during this turbulent period.

Another notable figure was Patrick Gavigan, born in County Cavan in 1720. He was a prominent Catholic priest and educator who played a crucial role in establishing schools in the region during a time when Catholic education was highly restricted.

As the Gavigan family spread throughout Ireland and beyond, the name underwent various spelling variations, including Gavagan, Gavegan, and Gavigan. While the name is primarily associated with County Cavan, it can also be found in other parts of Ireland, as well as in immigrant communities in countries like the United States, Canada, and Australia.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Gavigan

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

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

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

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