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

Geary, 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 Geary surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Geary in America

Geary is the 2895th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Geary surname appeared 12,382 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 4 people would have the surname Geary.

We can also compare 2010 data for Geary 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 Geary

The surname Geary has its origins in Ireland and is derived from the Irish Gaelic name 'O Gadhra', which means 'descendant of the goat-keeper'. It is believed that the name originated in County Sligo, where the name was prominent among the Connacht dynasty that ruled the region during the Middle Ages.

The earliest recorded instance of the name dates back to the 13th century, where it appears in the Annals of the Four Masters, a historical chronicle compiled by Franciscan scholars in the 17th century. The name is also found in the Pipe Rolls of County Sligo from the 14th century, indicating its widespread use in the region during that time.

As the name spread across Ireland, various spellings emerged, including Geary, Gearie, Gearey, and Gearry. Some of these variations were influenced by the Anglicization of Irish names during the English conquest of Ireland in the 16th and 17th centuries.

One notable historical figure with the surname Geary was Edmond Geary (1586-1637), an Irish Catholic priest who was executed during the English Reformation for his refusal to renounce his faith. Another was Sir Francis Geary (1810-1896), a British military officer who served in the Crimean War and the Indian Rebellion of 1857.

The name also has a strong connection to the city of Cork, where a prominent family of merchants and landowners known as the Gearys rose to prominence in the 18th and 19th centuries. One member of this family, John Geary (1794-1873), was a successful businessman and philanthropist who played a significant role in the development of Cork's infrastructure and public works.

In the United States, the name Geary became associated with John White Geary (1819-1873), a politician and military leader who served as the Governor of Pennsylvania and as a Union general during the American Civil War. Another notable American with the surname was John Geary (1888-1958), a labor leader and one of the founding members of the American Federation of Labor.

Throughout history, the surname Geary has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including clergymen, military personnel, businessmen, and political figures, reflecting its deep roots and widespread presence across Ireland and beyond.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Geary

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

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

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

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