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

Queenan, 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 Queenan surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Queenan in America

Queenan is the 31587th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Queenan surname appeared 732 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 Queenan.

We can also compare 2010 data for Queenan 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 Queenan

The surname Queenan has its origins in Ireland, dating back to the 17th century. It is believed to be a variant of the Gaelic name O'Cuinneagain or O'Cuinneagain, which means "descendant of Cuinneagain." Cuinneagain itself is thought to be derived from the Irish word "cuinne," meaning a corner or an angle, possibly referring to a physical feature or location.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Queenan can be found in various Irish records and documents from the 1600s. One notable example is the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history, which mentions a individual named O'Cuinneagain in the year 1621.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, the name Queenan was predominantly found in counties such as Galway, Mayo, and Sligo in the western part of Ireland. It is likely that the name originated in these regions before spreading to other parts of the country.

One of the earliest known individuals with the surname Queenan was Patrick Queenan, who was born in County Mayo in the mid-17th century. He was a prominent figure in the local community and is mentioned in several historical records from that time period.

Another notable figure was Michael Queenan, born in County Sligo in the late 18th century. He was a successful merchant and landowner, and his name appears in various land records and deeds from the early 19th century.

In the 19th century, the name Queenan gained more prominence, with several individuals making significant contributions in various fields. One such person was John Queenan (1837-1901), a prominent Irish politician and member of the British House of Commons, representing constituencies in County Mayo.

Another noteworthy individual was Mary Queenan (1860-1932), an Irish writer and poet who published several collections of works during her lifetime. Her poetry often explored themes of Irish culture and identity.

Towards the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the Queenan surname began to spread beyond Ireland, as many individuals emigrated to other parts of the world, particularly the United States and Canada. One notable example is James Queenan (1866-1945), an Irish-American businessman and philanthropist who made significant contributions to the city of Chicago.

These are just a few examples of individuals with the surname Queenan who have left their mark on history. While the name may have originated in a specific region of Ireland, it has since spread and become more widespread, with descendants carrying on the legacy of this distinctive Irish surname.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Queenan

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

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

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

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