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

McGarvey, 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 McGarvey surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of McGarvey in America

McGarvey is the 8389th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The McGarvey surname appeared 3,945 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 McGarvey.

We can also compare 2010 data for McGarvey 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 McGarvey

The surname McGarvey has its origins in Ireland, with roots dating back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Irish Gaelic name "Mac Garbháin," which translates to "son of Garbhán." Garbhán was a personal name that meant "rough" or "coarse," possibly referring to a person's physical appearance or demeanor.

The McGarvey name was initially concentrated in County Tyrone, located in the northern part of Ireland. Over time, it spread to other regions of the country as families migrated and settled in new areas. Variations in spelling, such as McGarvie, McGarvery, and McGarvy, emerged due to differences in pronunciation and recording practices.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the McGarvey name can be found in the Annals of Ulster, a chronicle of medieval Irish history. This manuscript, compiled by monks in the 15th century, mentions a "Murchadh Mac Garbháin" in an entry dated 1244.

In the 16th century, the McGarvey name appeared in the Fiants of the Tudor Sovereigns, a collection of official documents from the reign of the Tudor monarchs in England and Ireland. These records provide insight into land grants, appointments, and other administrative matters involving individuals with the McGarvey surname.

Notable figures bearing the McGarvey name include:

1. Patrick McGarvey (1640-1692), an Irish Catholic priest who played a significant role in preserving the faith during the Penal Laws era in Ireland.
2. John McGarvey (1780-1853), an Irish-born teacher and educational reformer who established several schools in County Tyrone and advocated for improved educational opportunities.
3. Emma McGarvey (1855-1938), a prominent Irish suffragist and activist who campaigned for women's rights and social reforms in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
4. Michael McGarvey (1892-1979), an American labor leader and politician who served as the President of the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers and represented Ohio in the United States House of Representatives.
5. Seamus McGarvey (born 1967), an Irish cinematographer known for his work on films such as "The Avengers," "Atonement," and "Anna Karenina," for which he received an Academy Award nomination.

The McGarvey surname has a rich history that spans centuries and reflects the cultural heritage of Ireland. Its origins can be traced back to ancient personal names and its presence can be found in various historical records, demonstrating the enduring legacy of this Irish family name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name McGarvey

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

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

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

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