Lonergan
An Irish surname derived from Ó Longargáin, meaning "descendant of Longargán," a personal name of uncertain origin.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 4,319 Americans carry the last name Lonergan. That puts it at #8,817 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 1.26 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 79,360 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Lonergan 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
4.3K
1 in 79,360
Census rank
#8,817
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
1.3
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
3.7K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 3,713 bearers of the surname Lonergan in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 1.26 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 8817th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Lonergan, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.8%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.6%) and Two or More Races (1.3%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Lonergan
The surname Lonergan originated in Ireland and is derived from the Gaelic personal name Lonargán, which means "descendant of Lonargan." The name Lonargan itself is a combination of two Gaelic words: "lon," meaning a blackbird, and "argán," meaning a little hero or champion.
Lonergan is an anglicized version of the Irish Ó Longargáin surname, which means "descendant of Lonargán." The Ó prefix in Irish surnames indicates a patronymic name, denoting "grandson of" or "descendant of." The name was prevalent in counties Tipperary and Kilkenny in the southeastern part of Ireland.
One of the earliest known records of the name Lonergan can be found in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history compiled in the early 17th century. The annals mention a Domhnall Ó Longargáin, who was the Chief of Uí Duach, a territory in County Tipperary, in the year 1286.
In the late 16th and early 17th centuries, several individuals with the surname Lonergan are mentioned in the Fiants of the Tudor Sovereigns, a collection of administrative records from the Tudor period in Ireland. These include Edmund Lonergan, who was granted land in County Tipperary in 1606, and Donell Lonergan, who was pardoned for his involvement in the Desmond Rebellions in 1586.
Notable individuals with the surname Lonergan throughout history include:
1. Donal Cam O'Lonergan (c. 1555-1624), an Irish Catholic priest and writer who fled Ireland during the Elizabethan persecution of Catholics.
2. Patrick Lonergan (1834-1903), an Irish-American civil engineer who designed and constructed several major bridges in the United States.
3. Bernard Lonergan (1904-1984), a Canadian Jesuit priest, philosopher, and theologian known for his influential works on philosophical method and theology.
4. Donal Lonergan (1937-2003), an Irish actor best known for his roles in films such as "The Commitments" and "The Boxer."
5. Amanda Lonergan (born 1976), an American actress and producer known for her work in television shows like "Desperate Housewives" and "The O.C."
The surname Lonergan is also associated with several place names in Ireland, such as Lonergan's Cross and Lonergan's Hill in County Tipperary, reflecting the historical presence of the family in that region.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Lonergan
Among Census respondents with the surname Lonergan, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.8%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.6%) and Two or More Races (1.3%).
The bar chart below shows how Lonergan 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 Lonergan surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White94.8%
- Hispanic or Latino2.6%
- Two or more races1.3%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.6%
- Black or African American0.5%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.2%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Lonergan 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 | #8,817 | #8,817 | 0.0% |
| Count | 3,713 | 3,713 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 1.26 | 1.26 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Lonergan bearers went from 3,713 to 3,713 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #8,817 to #8,817.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Lonergan
FAQ
Lonergan surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Lonergan?
The surname Lonergan holds position #8,817 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 4,319 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 1.26 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Lonergan surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Lonergan, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.8%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.6%) and Two or More Races (1.3%). 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.