Hinchey
An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic personal name Ó hÍnnéidigh, meaning "descendant of Ínnéidigh".
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 1,508 Americans carry the last name Hinchey. That puts it at #20,512 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.44 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 227,291 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Hinchey 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
1.5K
1 in 227,291
Census rank
#20,512
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.4
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
1.3K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 1,293 bearers of the surname Hinchey in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.44 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 20512th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Hinchey, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.4%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (1.7%) and Two or More Races (1.6%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Hinchey
The surname Hinchey has its origins in Ireland, dating back to the late medieval period. It is a variant spelling of the Irish Gaelic name Ó hInnse, which means "descendant of Innse." The name is derived from the Old Irish word "innsi," meaning an island or islet.
The Hinchey surname is particularly associated with County Cork in the southern region of Ireland. Historical records suggest that the name was prominent in the baronies of Muskerry and Duhallow in Cork. Some of the earliest documented instances of the name can be found in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history.
In the 16th century, the Hinchey family was recorded as holding lands in the parish of Kilshannick, near the town of Mallow in County Cork. The name was often anglicized as Hinchy, Hinchey, or Hinchie during this period.
One notable individual with the Hinchey surname was John Hinchey, a Catholic priest and historian who lived in the late 17th century. He wrote a significant work titled "A History of the Irish Church," which provided valuable insights into the religious and cultural landscape of Ireland at that time.
Another prominent figure was William Hinchey (1798-1874), an Irish-born politician and judge who served in the British colonial administration in South Africa. He was appointed as the Chief Justice of the Cape Colony in 1857.
In the United States, one of the earliest recorded instances of the Hinchey name was in the late 18th century, when Irish immigrants began arriving in significant numbers. John Hinchey (1788-1864), an Irish immigrant, became a prominent businessman and landowner in Pennsylvania.
The Hinchey surname also has a notable connection to the American labor movement. Patrick Hinchey (1867-1929) was an Irish-American labor leader and co-founder of the Boston Labor Union, which played a crucial role in advocating for workers' rights in the early 20th century.
Throughout history, the Hinchey surname has been associated with various occupations, including farming, craftsmanship, and religious vocations. While the name has evolved over time, its Irish roots and connection to the island or islet from which it originated remain a significant part of its history and heritage.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Hinchey
Among Census respondents with the surname Hinchey, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.4%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (1.7%) and Two or More Races (1.6%).
The bar chart below shows how Hinchey 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 Hinchey surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White94.4%
- Hispanic or Latino1.7%
- Two or more races1.6%
- American Indian and Alaska Native1.1%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.8%
- Black or African American0.4%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Hinchey 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 | #20,512 | #20,512 | 0.0% |
| Count | 1,293 | 1,293 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.44 | 0.44 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Hinchey bearers went from 1,293 to 1,293 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #20,512 to #20,512.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Hinchey
FAQ
Hinchey surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Hinchey?
The surname Hinchey holds position #20,512 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 1,508 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.44 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Hinchey surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Hinchey, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.4%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (1.7%) and Two or More Races (1.6%). 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.