Malone
A surname of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic "Maoil Eoin," meaning "a devotee of Saint John."
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 82,844 Americans carry the last name Malone. That puts it at #465 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 24.17 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 4,137 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Malone 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
83K
1 in 4,137
Census rank
#465
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
24.2
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
71K
uncommon in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 71,286 bearers of the surname Malone in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 24.17 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 465th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Malone, the largest self-reported group is White at 67.3%. The next largest groups are Black (26.8%) and Hispanic (2.5%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Malone
The surname Malone is of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic "O Maoilain" which means "descendant of the tonsured one". It is believed to have originated in County Fermanagh and surrounding areas of Ulster in the 12th century.
The name is thought to have evolved from the personal name "Maolan" which was a diminutive form of the Irish word "mael" meaning "tonsured" or "bald". The prefix "O" in O Maoilain indicated the name was hereditary, passing down through generations.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Malone appears in the Annals of Ulster, a chronicle of medieval Irish history, where it is spelled "O Maelan" in reference to events occurring in the year 1181.
The name is also found in the Fiants of the Tudor Sovereigns, a collection of official documents from the 16th century, where it is spelled "O Maylone".
Notable individuals with the surname Malone throughout history include Edmund Malone (1741-1812), an Irish editor and literary critic who published an influential edition of William Shakespeare's plays. Marcus Malone (1834-1915) was an American politician who served as a U.S. Representative from Texas.
Cheryl Malone (born 1950) is an American television news anchor and reporter who has worked for various networks including CBS and NBC. Walter Malone (1909-2003) was an American jazz saxophonist and bandleader who performed with notable musicians like Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker.
The name Malone is also associated with several place names in Ireland, such as Malone Park and Malone Road in Belfast, which were named after the Malone family who owned lands in the area.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Malone
Among Census respondents with the surname Malone, the largest self-reported group is White at 67.3%. The next largest groups are Black (26.8%) and Hispanic (2.5%).
The bar chart below shows how Malone 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 Malone surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White67.3%
- Black or African American26.8%
- Hispanic or Latino2.5%
- Two or more races2.2%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.7%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.6%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Malone 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 | #465 | #465 | 0.0% |
| Count | 71,286 | 71,286 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 24.17 | 24.17 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Malone bearers went from 71,286 to 71,286 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #465 to #465.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Malone
FAQ
Malone surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Malone?
The surname Malone holds position #465 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 82,844 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 24.17 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Malone surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Malone, the largest self-reported group is White at 67.3%. The next largest groups are Black (26.8%) and Hispanic (2.5%). 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.