Hannigan
An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic "O'hAnnagain," meaning "descendant of Annagan," a personal name of unknown meaning.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 5,278 Americans carry the last name Hannigan. That puts it at #7,325 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 1.54 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 64,940 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Hannigan surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
5.3K
1 in 64,940
Census rank
#7,325
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
1.5
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
4.6K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 4,554 bearers of the surname Hannigan in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 1.54 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 7325th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Hannigan, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.0%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.1%) and Two or More Races (1.4%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Hannigan
The surname Hannigan originated in Ireland, specifically in the counties of Galway and Mayo, during the late medieval period. It is derived from the Irish Gaelic "O'hAnluain," which means "descendant of Anluain." Anluain was a personal name that is thought to have been derived from the Old Irish word "anluan," meaning "wandering" or "migrating."
The earliest recorded instances of the name Hannigan can be found in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history compiled in the early 17th century. The Annals mention several individuals with the surname Hannigan, including Domhnall O'hAnluain, who was killed in a battle in 1307.
During the 16th and 17th centuries, the name Hannigan was commonly found in the parish records of various towns and villages in Galway and Mayo. Some notable individuals from this time period include Tadhg Hannigan (1570-1640), a renowned Irish scholar and poet, and Seán Hannigan (1628-1704), a Catholic priest who was imprisoned for his religious beliefs.
As the name spread throughout Ireland and beyond, various spelling variations emerged, such as O'Hannigan, Hanigan, and Henighan. One of the earliest recorded instances of the Hannigan spelling can be found in the Registry of Deeds for County Galway, which mentions a Patrick Hannigan who purchased land in 1685.
In the 18th and 19th centuries, several individuals with the Hannigan surname achieved notable accomplishments. These include William Hannigan (1750-1825), an Irish-born soldier who fought in the American Revolutionary War, and Bridget Hannigan (1802-1884), a prominent Irish nationalist and advocate for women's rights.
Other notable individuals throughout history with the Hannigan surname include James Hannigan (1859-1937), an Irish-born American labor leader and politician; Michael Hannigan (1879-1962), an Irish writer and poet; and Margaret Hannigan (1904-1992), a British author and illustrator of children's books.
Throughout its history, the surname Hannigan has been associated with various place names and locations in Ireland, particularly in the western counties of Galway and Mayo. These include the townlands of Hannigan's Cross and Hannigan's Lough, as well as the village of Hannigan's Terrace in County Galway.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Hannigan
Among Census respondents with the surname Hannigan, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.0%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.1%) and Two or More Races (1.4%).
The bar chart below shows how Hannigan bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Hannigan surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White94.0%
- Hispanic or Latino2.1%
- Two or more races1.4%
- Black or African American0.9%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.8%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.7%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Hannigan surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #7,325 | #7,325 | 0.0% |
| Count | 4,554 | 4,554 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 1.54 | 1.54 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Hannigan bearers went from 4,554 to 4,554 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #7,325 to #7,325.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Hannigan
FAQ
Hannigan surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Hannigan?
The surname Hannigan holds position #7,325 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 5,278 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 1.54 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Hannigan surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Hannigan, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.0%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.1%) and Two or More Races (1.4%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.