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

Irene, 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 Irene surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Irene in America

Irene is the 54530th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Irene surname appeared 378 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Irene.

We can also compare 2010 data for Irene 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 Irene

The surname Irene is derived from the Greek name "Eirene," which means "peace." This name has its roots in ancient Greece, where it was a popular female name given to children as a symbol of tranquility and serenity.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Irene can be traced back to the Byzantine Empire, where it was used by members of the aristocracy and royalty. One notable individual who bore this name was Irene of Athens, a Byzantine empress who reigned from 797 to 802 AD. She is known for her efforts to restore the veneration of icons in the Byzantine Empire and for her role in the establishment of the Isaurian dynasty.

During the Middle Ages, the surname Irene was relatively common in regions of Europe that had been influenced by Greek culture, such as Italy and parts of the Balkans. In the 14th century, records show that a family with the surname Irene resided in the city of Venice, where they were involved in the lucrative spice trade with the East.

As trade and migration patterns evolved, the surname Irene spread to other parts of Europe and eventually to the Americas. In the 16th century, a Spanish conquistador named Juan de Irene accompanied Hernán Cortés on his expedition to Mexico and is credited with being one of the first Europeans to introduce horses to the New World.

Another notable individual with the surname Irene was Irene de Butrón, a Spanish noblewoman who lived during the 17th century. She was a prominent figure in the court of King Philip IV and is remembered for her patronage of the arts, particularly her support of the renowned painter Diego Velázquez.

In the 19th century, the surname Irene gained prominence in Russia, where it was adopted by members of the nobility and intellectual elite. One such individual was Irene Pavlovna Fedorovna, a writer and social activist who played a significant role in the women's rights movement in Russia during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Throughout history, the surname Irene has been associated with individuals from diverse backgrounds and regions, reflecting the widespread influence of Greek culture and the enduring significance of the concept of peace across various societies.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Irene

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

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

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

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