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

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

Popularity of O'Rorke in America

O'Rorke is the 55255th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The O'Rorke surname appeared 372 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'Rorke.

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

The surname ORORKE is of Irish origin, originating in County Roscommon in the western province of Connacht. It dates back to the 12th century and is derived from the Gaelic name "O'Ruairc," which means "descendant of Ruairc."

Ruairc was a personal name that became a surname, and it is thought to be derived from the Old Irish word "ruarc," meaning "red-haired." The clan descended from Ruairc, a prominent Gaelic chieftain, held significant power in County Roscommon during the Middle Ages.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name ORORKE can be found in the Annals of Ulster, a medieval Irish chronicle that covers events from the 5th to the 16th century. The name is also found in the Annals of the Four Masters, another important source of Irish history from the 17th century.

In the 14th century, a branch of the ORORKE clan migrated to County Sligo, where they established themselves as lords of the territory known as Breffny. The Annals of Ulster mention a notable figure named Tiernan ORORKE, who was the Lord of Breffny in the late 14th century.

Another significant figure with this surname was Felim ORORKE, who lived in the 16th century and was involved in the Irish Confederate Wars against English rule. He was recognized as the Prince of Breffny and fought alongside the famous Irish leader Hugh O'Neill.

During the 17th century, the ORORKE clan faced significant challenges due to the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland and the subsequent Plantation of Ulster. Many members of the clan were dispossessed of their lands, and some were forced into exile.

In the 18th century, a notable ORORKE was Hugh ORORKE, a respected Irish scholar and poet who lived from 1715 to 1790. He was known for his works in the Irish language and his efforts to preserve Irish culture and traditions.

Another prominent figure was James ORORKE, born in 1835, who was a renowned Irish historian and author. He wrote extensively on the history of County Sligo and the ORORKE clan, contributing significantly to the preservation of their legacy.

The surname ORORKE has also been associated with various place names in Ireland, such as Ororke's Isle in County Leitrim and Ororke's Castle in County Sligo, reflecting the clan's historical significance and influence in the region.

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

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

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'Rorke 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'Rorke 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'Rorke 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'Rorke, please contact us.

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