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

Kernan, 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 Kernan surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kernan in America

Kernan is the 9850th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kernan surname appeared 3,284 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 Kernan.

We can also compare 2010 data for Kernan 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 Kernan

The surname Kernan has its origins in Ireland, dating back to the 16th century. It is believed to be derived from the Irish Gaelic word "cearnan," which means "little corner" or "little angle." This suggests that the name may have been originally used to describe someone who lived in a small, secluded area or on a piece of land with an angled shape.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Kernan can be found in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history compiled by Franciscan monks in the 17th century. The annals mention a Kernan family who lived in County Fermanagh, in what is now Northern Ireland. This region, known for its numerous lakes and rugged terrain, could have contributed to the naming of the family.

The Kernan name has also been linked to various place names in Ireland, such as Kernagh and Kernon, which are believed to be derived from the same root word as the surname. These place names can be found in counties like Cavan, Fermanagh, and Monaghan, further solidifying the name's Irish origins.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname Kernan. One such person was Sir Francis Kernan (1516-1588), an Irish soldier and military commander who served under Queen Elizabeth I during the Tudor conquest of Ireland. Another prominent figure was John Kernan (1837-1907), an American lawyer and politician who served as the 24th Governor of New York from 1873 to 1875.

In the literary world, James Kernan (1838-1907) was an Irish journalist and author who wrote extensively about Irish history and culture. His works include "The Story of Ireland" and "Ireland's Attitude Towards England," which provide valuable insights into the country's past.

The Kernan name has also been associated with religious figures, such as Patrick Kernan (1847-1921), an Irish Catholic priest who served as the Bishop of Clogher from 1892 until his death. In the realm of sports, John Kernan (1890-1963) was an American football player and coach who played for the University of Pennsylvania and later coached at several colleges.

While the surname Kernan is primarily of Irish descent, it has also been adopted by families in other parts of the world, such as the United States, Canada, and Australia, where Irish immigrants settled and established roots.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kernan

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

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

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

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