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

Lorigan, 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 Lorigan surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Lorigan in America

Lorigan is the 69996th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Lorigan surname appeared 280 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 Lorigan.

We can also compare 2010 data for Lorigan 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 Lorigan

The surname Lorigan originated in Ireland, with its roots dating back to the 16th century. It is believed to be derived from the Irish Gaelic word "lorgan," which means "a shinguard" or "a greave." This suggests that the name may have been initially assigned as a descriptive nickname to someone who wore shinguards, perhaps a soldier or a warrior.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be traced back to County Tipperary in Ireland. One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Patrick Lorigan, who was born around 1580 in Thurles, County Tipperary. He was a farmer and landowner, and his family's roots can be traced back to the nearby town of Holycross.

In the 17th century, the name appears in various historical records, including the Hearth Money Rolls of 1665, which were tax records that listed households and their occupants. The name is also found in the Petty's Census of Ireland, conducted in 1659, which provides valuable insights into the distribution and prevalence of surnames across the country during that time.

One notable individual bearing the Lorigan surname was James Lorigan, born in 1725 in Nenagh, County Tipperary. He was a prominent merchant and trader, and his business dealings extended throughout Ireland and parts of England. His son, Michael Lorigan (1760-1845), followed in his footsteps and became a successful businessman and landowner in County Tipperary.

Another historical figure of note was Bridget Lorigan (1790-1872), who was born in Clonmel, County Tipperary. She was a renowned philanthropist and social reformer, known for her efforts in improving the lives of the poor and underprivileged in her community. Her work and legacy were widely recognized during her lifetime and beyond.

The Lorigan surname also has connections to various place names in Ireland, such as Lorigan's Cross, a townland in County Tipperary, and Loriganbeg, a small village in the same county. These place names likely derived from families or individuals bearing the Lorigan surname who lived in or were associated with those areas.

Throughout the centuries, the Lorigan surname has seen various spelling variations, including Lorrigan, Lorregan, and Lorrigen, among others. However, the core essence and meaning of the name have remained consistent, rooted in its Irish origins and connection to the concept of shinguards or greaves.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Lorigan

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

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

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

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