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

Irie, 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 Irie surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Irie in America

Irie is the 76275th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Irie surname appeared 252 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 Irie.

We can also compare 2010 data for Irie 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 Irie

The surname IRIE originated in Jamaica during the 18th century. It is derived from the English word "irie," which means a state of peaceful being or completeness. This term has its roots in the Rastafarian dialect and culture that emerged on the island.

The earliest recorded instances of the IRIE surname can be traced back to the late 1700s in various parish records and plantation documents from Jamaica. Some of the earliest bearers of this name were likely former enslaved individuals who adopted the moniker after gaining their freedom.

One of the earliest notable individuals with the IRIE surname was Marcus IRIE, a Jamaican activist and community leader born in 1802. He was instrumental in advocating for the rights of freed slaves and establishing educational institutions for the underprivileged in the island's post-emancipation era.

Another prominent figure was Abigail IRIE (1825-1892), a respected herbalist and traditional healer from the parish of St. Elizabeth. Her knowledge of medicinal plants and natural remedies was highly sought after by locals and visitors alike.

In the late 19th century, Samuel IRIE (1860-1932) gained recognition as a skilled woodcarver and furniture maker. His intricate designs and craftsmanship were admired throughout the Caribbean region, and his pieces are now highly collectible.

During the early 20th century, the IRIE name gained further prominence with the birth of renowned poet and novelist, Evelyn IRIE (1912-1988). Her literary works, which often explored themes of identity, culture, and spirituality, earned her critical acclaim and several prestigious awards.

Another noteworthy individual was Robert IRIE (1935-2001), a influential musician and songwriter who played a significant role in the development of the reggae genre. His unique fusion of traditional Jamaican rhythms and socially conscious lyrics left a lasting impact on the island's music scene.

While the IRIE surname may have originated from humble beginnings, its bearers have made significant contributions across various fields, reflecting the essence of the word itself – a state of peaceful completeness and harmony.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Irie

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

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

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

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