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

McGovney, 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 McGovney surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of McGovney in America

McGovney is the 116829th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The McGovney surname appeared 149 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 McGovney.

We can also compare 2010 data for McGovney 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 McGovney

The surname McGovney originates from Ireland, specifically from the northern counties of Ulster. It is believed to have emerged around the 16th century during the Plantation of Ulster, when many Scottish settlers arrived in the region. The name is derived from the Gaelic "Mac Gobhann," which translates to "son of the smith" or "son of the blacksmith."

In the early days, the McGovney surname was predominantly found in the counties of Antrim and Derry. It is thought to be a variant spelling of the more common Irish surname "McGovern" or "McGowan," which also derive from the same Gaelic roots. Historical records from the 17th and 18th centuries often feature variations in spelling, such as "McGovney," "McGavney," and "McGauney."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the McGovney name can be found in the Hearth Money Rolls of 1663, which listed householders and their taxable hearths. This document mentions a "Patrick McGovney" residing in County Antrim. Another notable reference is the 1766 Religious Census of Ireland, where several McGovney families are listed in the parish of Drumachose, County Derry.

During the 19th century, the McGovney name appeared in various historical records and documents. For instance, John McGovney (1820-1892), a prominent merchant and landowner, was born in County Antrim and later emigrated to the United States. Another notable figure was Michael McGovney (1842-1921), a politician and member of the Irish Parliamentary Party, who represented County Sligo in the House of Commons.

In the realm of literature, the surname McGovney is mentioned in several works, including "The Annals of Ulster" by James O'Laverty, published in 1887. This historical text references a "Donough McGovney" who was a member of the Irish Parliament in the late 16th century.

Other notable individuals with the McGovney surname include:

1. Patrick McGovney (1812-1887), an Irish-American businessman and politician from Pennsylvania.
2. Margaret McGovney (1885-1958), an American educator and women's rights advocate.
3. Thomas McGovney (1860-1938), an Irish-American labor leader and trade unionist in New York City.
4. William McGovney (1797-1870), an Irish-born farmer and landowner in Ontario, Canada.
5. Mary McGovney (1876-1962), an Australian community leader and philanthropist in Melbourne.

While the McGovney surname may not be as widespread as some other Irish names, it has a rich history deeply rooted in the Ulster region of Ireland, with connections to the blacksmith trade and a legacy that spans several centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name McGovney

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

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

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

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