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

Healey, 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 Healey surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Healey in America

Healey is the 3445th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Healey surname appeared 10,370 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 Healey.

We can also compare 2010 data for Healey 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 Healey

The surname Healey is of English origin, derived from the Old English word "hæl", meaning "healthy" or "sound". It is a locational surname, referring to a person who lived in a place called Healey or Hea Leah, meaning "high wood" or "high clearing".

The name can be traced back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Hela" and "Helia". One of the earliest recorded instances of the name is found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1170, which mention a "William de Heley".

In the 13th century, the surname was commonly spelled as "Heley" or "Heleye". By the 14th century, the spelling had evolved to "Helay" and "Healey". The variant spellings "Healy" and "Hely" also emerged during this period.

The Healey surname is particularly prevalent in Lancashire, where there are several places named Healey, including Healey in Rochdale and Healey in Burnley. The name is also found in Yorkshire, Cheshire, and other parts of northern England.

Notable individuals with the surname Healey include:

1. Denis Healey (1917-2015), a British Labour politician who served as Chancellor of the Exchequer and Secretary of State for Defence.
2. John Healey (born 1960), a British Labour politician and Member of Parliament for Wentworth and Dearne.
3. Patrick Healey (1939-2015), an American actor known for his roles in films like "Reservoir Dogs" and "The Fugitive".
4. Mary Healey (1836-1926), an English feminist and advocate for women's suffrage.
5. Michael Healey (born 1966), a Canadian playwright and screenwriter known for works like "The Drawer Boy" and "Mustard".

The Healey surname has a long and rich history, reflecting its origins in the English countryside and its widespread presence across various regions of England. It has been borne by individuals from diverse backgrounds, including politicians, actors, and writers, contributing to the cultural tapestry of the English-speaking world.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Healey

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

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

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

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