Okeefe
An Irish surname referring to a descendant of Caoimh, derived from an Irish Gaelic word meaning "gentle" or "kind."
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 20,223 Americans carry the last name Okeefe. That puts it at #2,079 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 5.90 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 16,949 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Okeefe 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
20K
1 in 16,949
Census rank
#2,079
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
5.9
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
17K
uncommon in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 17,414 bearers of the surname Okeefe in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 5.90 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 2079th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Okeefe, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.7%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.7%) and Two or More Races (1.3%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Okeefe
The surname OKEEFE is an anglicized version of the Irish Gaelic Ó Caoimh, meaning "descendant of Caoimh". This name has its origins in County Cork, Ireland, dating back to the 11th century.
The name Caoimh is derived from the Irish word "caomh", meaning "gentle" or "kind". It was a common personal name in medieval Ireland, particularly in the province of Munster, where County Cork is located.
One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name OKEEFE can be found in the Annals of Inisfallen, a chronicle of medieval Irish history compiled by monks in the 12th century. The annals refer to several individuals with the name Ó Caoimh, indicating its widespread use in the region.
In the 16th century, during the Tudor conquest of Ireland, many Irish surnames were anglicized, leading to the spelling variation OKEEFE. This spelling became more prevalent as English rule solidified in Ireland.
Notable individuals with the surname OKEEFE include John O'Keefe (1747-1833), an Irish dramatist and playwright known for his comedies such as "The Lie of the Day" and "The Agreeable Surprise". Another prominent figure was Patrick O'Keefe (1826-1913), an Irish-American builder and contractor who constructed several landmarks in New York City, including the Cathedral of St. Patrick.
Edmond O'Keefe (1864-1940) was a Canadian lawyer and politician who served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba. In the United States, Joseph O'Keefe (1864-1937) was a professional baseball player who played for several teams in the late 19th century.
More recently, Georgia O'Keeffe (1887-1986) was a renowned American artist known for her paintings of enlarged flowers, New Mexico landscapes, and modernist works. Although her surname is spelled differently, it shares the same Irish roots as OKEEFE.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Okeefe
Among Census respondents with the surname Okeefe, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.7%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.7%) and Two or More Races (1.3%).
The bar chart below shows how Okeefe 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 Okeefe surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White94.7%
- Hispanic or Latino2.7%
- Two or more races1.3%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.7%
- Black or African American0.4%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.3%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Okeefe 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 | #2,079 | #2,079 | 0.0% |
| Count | 17,414 | 17,414 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 5.90 | 5.90 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Okeefe bearers went from 17,414 to 17,414 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #2,079 to #2,079.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Okeefe
FAQ
Okeefe surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Okeefe?
The surname Okeefe holds position #2,079 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 20,223 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 5.90 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Okeefe surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Okeefe, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.7%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.7%) and Two or More Races (1.3%). 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.