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

Irey, 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 Irey surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Irey in America

Irey is the 25518th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Irey surname appeared 968 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 Irey.

We can also compare 2010 data for Irey 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 Irey

The surname IREY is believed to have originated in the Normandy region of northern France during the medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Old French word "ire," meaning anger or wrath. This could suggest that the name may have been initially bestowed as a nickname, perhaps referring to an ancestor with a fiery temperament.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the IREY name can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land and property undertaken in England in 1086 by order of William the Conqueror. The name appears in several variations, such as Iree, Irie, and Irey, suggesting its French origins.

In the 13th century, records show a notable figure named Richard Irey, born around 1220 in the village of Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, England. He was a prominent landowner and served as a local magistrate during the reign of King Henry III.

Another notable bearer of the IREY name was Sir John Irey, born in 1435 in the town of Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, England. He was a respected soldier who fought in the Wars of the Roses and was knighted for his bravery on the battlefield by King Edward IV in 1461.

In the 16th century, a prominent figure named Elizabeth Irey, born in 1542 in the village of Stoke Poges, Buckinghamshire, England, gained recognition as a skilled herbalist and midwife. Her knowledge of medicinal plants and natural remedies was highly regarded in her community.

During the 17th century, the IREY name appears to have spread across the English Channel to the Netherlands. Records from that time show a Dutch merchant named Jan Irey, born in 1618 in Amsterdam, who traded in spices and other goods from the East Indies.

Another historical figure with the IREY surname was Thomas Irey, born in 1712 in the town of Carlisle, Cumberland, England. He was a respected scholar and author who wrote extensively on topics such as philosophy, literature, and classical studies.

Throughout its history, the IREY surname has been associated with various locations, including the towns and villages mentioned above, as well as places like Ire, a commune in the Hautes-Alpes department of southeastern France, and the Ireys, a group of small islands located off the coast of Cornwall, England.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Irey

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

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

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

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