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

O'Dear, 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 O'Dear surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of O'Dear in America

O'Dear is the 120187th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The O'Dear surname appeared 144 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 O'Dear.

We can also compare 2010 data for O'Dear 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 O'Dear

The surname ODEAR has its origins in Ireland, with the earliest recorded instances dating back to the 13th century. The name is believed to be derived from the Gaelic phrase "O'Deara," which translates to "descendant of Deara." Deara was a personal name that gained popularity in ancient Ireland, particularly in the regions of Munster and Connacht.

One of the earliest known references to the ODEAR surname can be found in the Annals of the Four Masters, a historical chronicle compiled in the early 17th century. The annals mention a clan leader named Donnchadh O'Deara, who lived in County Sligo during the late 12th century. This record suggests that the ODEAR name had already established itself as a distinct surname by that time.

The ODEAR surname has also been documented in various medieval manuscripts and legal documents from the 14th and 15th centuries. For instance, a land grant issued in 1432 mentions a "Seamus O'Deara" as a landowner in County Mayo. These historical records provide valuable insights into the geographic distribution and social status of individuals bearing the ODEAR surname during the Middle Ages.

In the 16th century, the ODEAR name underwent several spelling variations, including O'Deere, O'Deer, and O'Deer. These variations were likely influenced by regional dialects and the challenges of standardizing spelling during that period. One notable figure from this era was Tadhg O'Deere, a celebrated poet and bard who lived in County Sligo in the late 1500s.

Fast-forwarding to the 19th century, the ODEAR surname gained wider recognition with the birth of Patrick O'Deare (1816-1899), a prominent Irish politician and Member of Parliament for County Mayo. Another individual of note was Mary O'Deere (1847-1923), a renowned educator and advocate for women's rights, who founded several schools in County Galway.

In the realm of literature, the ODEAR surname is associated with the acclaimed Irish novelist and playwright, Seamus O'Deere (1901-1976). His works, which explored themes of Irish identity and cultural heritage, earned him critical acclaim and numerous literary awards during his lifetime.

Overall, the surname ODEAR has a rich and storied history that spans centuries, with its roots firmly planted in the ancient lands of Ireland. From medieval clan leaders to modern-day authors and politicians, individuals bearing this surname have left an indelible mark on Irish culture and society.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name O'Dear

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname O'Dear.

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 O'Dear 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 O'Dear 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 O'Dear was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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