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

Graney, 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 Graney surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Graney in America

Graney is the 18137th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Graney surname appeared 1,535 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 Graney.

We can also compare 2010 data for Graney 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 Graney

The surname Graney has its roots in Ireland, originating from the Gaelic O'Greine, meaning 'descendant of Gréine'. The name Gréine itself is derived from the Old Irish word 'grían', meaning 'sun'. The earliest recorded instances of the name date back to the 12th century, where it was found in various Irish annals and manuscripts.

One of the earliest recorded bearers of the name was Donnchadh Ó Gréine, a prominent Irish cleric who lived in the late 12th century. He was noted for his scholarship and served as the Abbot of the renowned monastery at Clonmacnoise.

The Graney surname was particularly prevalent in counties Cork, Limerick, and Tipperary, where the family held lands and wielded significant influence. In the 14th century, the Annals of Inisfallen mention a notable figure named Diarmaid Ó Gréine, who was a respected bard and historian.

During the 16th century, the name underwent various spelling variations, such as O'Greany, O'Greyny, and Grainy, as it adapted to the English language. One notable bearer of the name during this period was Tadhg Ó Gréine, a prominent Irish chieftain who played a significant role in the Desmond Rebellions against English rule in Munster.

In the 17th century, the Graney surname spread to other parts of Ireland, particularly the counties of Clare and Galway. A notable figure from this period was Seán Ó Gréine, a renowned Irish harper and composer who was celebrated for his mastery of traditional Irish music.

The 18th century saw the rise of another prominent figure, Séamus Ó Gréine, a celebrated Irish poet and playwright whose works were widely acclaimed for their literary merit and cultural significance.

Throughout history, the Graney surname has been borne by several notable individuals, including Patrick Graney (1798-1868), an Irish-American civil engineer who played a crucial role in the construction of the Erie Canal, and John Graney (1876-1944), a prominent American baseball player and manager who played for several Major League Baseball teams in the early 20th century.

The Graney surname continues to be widely used in Ireland and among the Irish diaspora around the world, serving as a testament to its rich historical roots and cultural significance.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Graney

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

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

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

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