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

Herlihy, 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 Herlihy surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Herlihy in America

Herlihy is the 12188th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Herlihy surname appeared 2,556 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 Herlihy.

We can also compare 2010 data for Herlihy 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 Herlihy

The surname Herlihy is of Irish origin, with its roots dating back to the 12th century. It is derived from the old Gaelic words "O'hIrluachra," which translates to "descendant of the man from the rushy land." This name references the ancestral homeland of the Herlihy clan, which was situated in the marshy regions of County Cork, Ireland.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Herlihy can be found in the Annals of Inisfallen, a chronicle of Irish history from the 5th to the 13th centuries. This ancient manuscript mentions a notable figure named Diarmaid O'hIrluachra, who lived in the late 12th century and was a prominent leader in the region.

The Herlihy name also appears in various land records and rent rolls from the 16th and 17th centuries, indicating their presence in counties like Cork, Kerry, and Limerick. During this period, the name was often spelled differently, such as O'Hirluachra, O'Hirlihy, and O'Herlihy, reflecting the fluid nature of surnames in those times.

Notable individuals bearing the Herlihy surname throughout history include John Herlihy (1760-1828), an Irish poet and schoolteacher from County Cork, known for his works in the Irish language. Another prominent figure was Michael Herlihy (1785-1862), a Catholic priest and educator who founded several schools in County Cork.

In the 19th century, Jeremiah Herlihy (1832-1905) gained recognition as a successful businessman and landowner in Cork. He played a significant role in the development of the city's infrastructure and was involved in various civic projects.

Moving into the 20th century, Patrick Herlihy (1920-1997) was a renowned Irish historian and author, best known for his publications on the history of Cork and its surrounding regions. His works provided valuable insights into the cultural and social fabric of the area.

Lastly, Maureen Herlihy (1938-2018) was a celebrated artist and sculptor from County Kerry. Her works, often inspired by Irish mythology and folklore, were exhibited in various galleries and museums across Ireland and internationally.

While the Herlihy name may have evolved in spelling over the centuries, its roots can be traced back to the ancient Gaelic clans of Ireland, reflecting a rich heritage and a strong connection to the land.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Herlihy

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

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

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

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