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

Regan, 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 Regan surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Regan in America

Regan is the 1642nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Regan surname appeared 21,951 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 7 people would have the surname Regan.

We can also compare 2010 data for Regan 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 Regan

The surname Regan has its origins in Ireland, where it first appeared in the 9th century. It is derived from the Gaelic word "rioghan," meaning "queen" or "royal." The name is closely associated with the ancient Irish kingdom of Leinster and the O'Regan clan, who held territories in County Tipperary.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Annals of Inisfallen, a chronicle of medieval Irish history, where it is mentioned in reference to the death of Riogan, King of Leinster, in 842 AD. The name also appears in the Book of Leinster, a 12th-century manuscript containing various texts related to the province of Leinster.

The O'Regan clan played a significant role in Irish history, with several notable members recorded over the centuries. One of the most prominent figures was Dermot O'Regan, who served as the Bishop of Cork in the 13th century. Another notable individual was Maurice Regan, a 17th-century Irish Catholic priest and historian who wrote extensively about the history of Ireland and the Irish people.

In the 16th century, the Regan name also gained prominence in England, particularly in the county of Gloucestershire. This branch of the family is believed to have descended from Irish migrants or settlers who arrived in England during this period. One notable English bearer of the name was Elizabeth Regan, a 17th-century writer and translator who published several works, including a translation of the Greek philosopher Xenophon's "Oeconomicus."

Beyond Ireland and England, the Regan surname can also be found in other parts of the world, particularly in areas with significant Irish diaspora populations. For example, in the United States, the name is well-represented, with notable figures such as Donald Regan, the former White House Chief of Staff under President Ronald Reagan (no relation), and the actress Kathleen Regan, known for her roles in films like "The Godfather Part II" and "The Deerhunter."

Other historical figures with the surname Regan include John Regan, an Irish politician and member of the Irish Republican Brotherhood in the late 19th century, and Patrick Regan, an Irish-American labor leader and union organizer who played a significant role in the labor movement of the early 20th century.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Regan

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

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

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

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