Find out how popular the last name O'Keeffe 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'Keeffe.

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

Popularity of O'Keeffe in America

O'Keeffe is the 14579th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The O'Keeffe surname appeared 2,043 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 O'Keeffe.

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

The surname OKEEFFE is of Irish origin, with its roots dating back to the ancient Gaelic Ó Caoimh clan in County Cork, Ireland. The name is derived from the Gaelic words "caomh," meaning "gentle" or "kind," and "ó," signifying "descendant of."

The OKEEFFE name can be traced back to the 11th century, when it was first recorded in the Annals of Innisfallen, a chronicle of medieval Irish history. The name was prominent among the ruling families of the Uí Ímhair and Uí Laoghaire dynasties in the region of West Munster.

One of the earliest known references to the OKEEFFE surname can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Cloyne, a taxation record from 1285, where the name appears as "O'Kyfy." Over the centuries, various spellings emerged, including O'Keyffe, O'Keefe, and the modern OKEEFFE.

In the 16th century, the OKEEFFE clan played a significant role in the Desmond Rebellions against English rule in Ireland. One notable figure was Piers OKEEFFE, a military leader who fought alongside the Earl of Desmond in the Second Desmond Rebellion (1579-1583).

Another prominent individual was John OKEEFFE (1747-1833), an Irish playwright and satirist known for his comedies and farces. His most famous work, "The Agreeable Surprise," premiered in 1781 and enjoyed widespread popularity.

In the realm of art, Georgia OKEEFFE (1887-1986) remains one of the most celebrated American artists of the 20th century. She was a pioneering figure in the field of modern art, renowned for her distinctive paintings of natural forms and landscapes.

Another notable OKEEFFE was Patrick OKEEFFE (1827-1913), an Irish-born prelate who served as the second Bishop of Hartford, Connecticut, from 1888 to 1899. He played a crucial role in the growth and development of the Catholic Church in New England during his episcopacy.

The OKEEFFE name has also been associated with various place names in Ireland, such as Kilcaskan Castle, an ancient fortress located in County Cork, which was once the seat of the OKEEFFE clan.

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

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

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'Keeffe 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'Keeffe 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'Keeffe 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'Keeffe, please contact us.

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