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

Magner, 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 Magner surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Magner in America

Magner is the 10935th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Magner surname appeared 2,911 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 Magner.

We can also compare 2010 data for Magner 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 Magner

The surname Magner has its origins in Ireland, and it is believed to have emerged during the Middle Ages, around the 12th or 13th century. The name is thought to be derived from the Irish Gaelic word "maighnéir," which means "magnet" or "magnetic stone."

One theory suggests that the name may have originally been a descriptive nickname given to someone who possessed a strong or magnetic personality. Alternatively, it could have been an occupational surname for someone who worked with magnets or as a maker of compasses or navigational instruments.

While there are no direct records of the name appearing in ancient manuscripts like the Domesday Book, some early references can be found in Irish historical records. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name is from the 16th century, when a certain Dermot Magner is mentioned in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history.

In the 17th century, the name is seen in various records, such as the 1659 Census of Ireland, where several individuals with the surname Magner are listed in County Tipperary and County Kilkenny. This suggests that the name was concentrated in these regions during that time period.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname Magner. One prominent figure was Patrick Magner (1806-1864), an Irish Catholic priest and educator who founded several schools in Ireland and the United States. Another notable Magner was John Magner (1884-1947), an Irish-American businessman and politician who served as the mayor of Yonkers, New York, in the early 20th century.

In the realm of literature, the surname Magner is associated with Mary Magner (1909-1993), an Irish novelist and short story writer who gained recognition for her works depicting life in rural Ireland. Additionally, James Magner (1919-2004) was an American artist and illustrator known for his work in the advertising industry.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name in a place name context is Magner's Hill, a small village in County Tipperary, Ireland, which likely derived its name from an early settler or landowner with the surname Magner.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Magner

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

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

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

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