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

Heenan, 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 Heenan surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Heenan in America

Heenan is the 14995th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Heenan surname appeared 1,970 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 Heenan.

We can also compare 2010 data for Heenan 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 Heenan

The surname Heenan is of Irish origin, with roots dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to have originated from the Gaelic word "Ó hEidhin," which means "descendant of Eidhin." Eidhin was an Irish personal name derived from the word "éidean," meaning "ivy."

The earliest records of the name Heenan can be traced back to County Sligo in the northwest of Ireland. It is believed that the family was part of the Gaelic nobility, holding lands and influence in the region. The name is found in various Irish annals and historical manuscripts from the 14th and 15th centuries.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Heenan is in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history written in the early 17th century. The annals mention a notable figure named Tomaltach Ó hEidhin, who was a prominent chieftain and warrior in the late 14th century.

The name Heenan has also been associated with several place names in Ireland, such as Ballyheenan and Cloonheenan, which further solidifies its Irish origins. Over time, the name has been subject to various spellings, such as Heenane, Heenan, and Heeney, due to the Anglicization of Irish names.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have carried the Heenan surname. One of the most famous was John Heenan (1834-1873), an American bare-knuckle boxer known as the "Benicia Boy." He gained notoriety for his match against the English champion, Tom Sayers, in 1860, which ended in a draw after 37 rounds.

Another prominent figure was Alban Heenan (1879-1946), an Irish prelate who served as the Bishop of Waterford and Lismore from 1932 until his death. He played a significant role in the Catholic Church in Ireland during the early 20th century.

In the realm of literature, Patrick Heenan (1919-2008) was an Irish playwright and novelist known for his works exploring the lives of working-class families in Dublin. His play "The Cure" was widely acclaimed and performed both in Ireland and abroad.

The Heenan surname has also been prominent in the field of sports. One notable individual was Michael Heenan (1895-1975), an Australian tennis player who won several Grand Slam titles in the 1920s and was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame.

Another sports figure was John Heenan (1905-1986), an Australian cricketer who played for the Australian national team in the 1930s and was part of the famous "Bodyline" tour to England in 1932-33.

While the surname Heenan may not be as widespread as some other Irish names, it has a rich history and has been carried by many notable individuals throughout the centuries, reflecting the diverse contributions of those who bear this name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Heenan

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

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

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

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