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

Relihan, 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 Relihan surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Relihan in America

Relihan is the 64891st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Relihan surname appeared 306 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 Relihan.

We can also compare 2010 data for Relihan 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 Relihan

The surname Relihan is of Irish origin, with roots dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to have originated in County Clare, particularly in the regions around Ennis and Killaloe. The name is derived from the Gaelic words "Reilid" or "Reilgeadh," which refer to a graveyard or burial place.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the Relihan name can be found in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history. In this text, a reference is made to a clergyman named Giolla na Naomh Ó Reiligeáin, who lived in the 14th century.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Relihan family held significant influence and landholdings in the Killaloe area. Historical records from this period, such as the Fiants of the Tudor Sovereigns and the Books of Survey and Distribution, document several members of the Relihan clan.

A notable figure from this era was Donnchadh Ó Reiligeáin (c. 1580-1650), a renowned Irish poet and historian. His works, including the "Pious Miscellany" and "The Lamentation of the Munster Poets," provide valuable insights into the cultural and literary traditions of the time.

In the 18th century, the Relihan name appears in various parish records and land registries. One prominent individual was Daniel Relihan (1715-1783), a landowner and magistrate in County Clare. His descendants continued to play an active role in the local community for generations.

Another notable figure was Reverend Patrick Relihan (1776-1846), a Catholic priest who served as the Parish Priest of Killaloe and Vicar General of the Diocese of Killaloe. He was highly respected for his charitable works and dedication to his parishioners.

During the 19th century, the Relihan surname spread beyond County Clare as family members migrated to other parts of Ireland and abroad. John Relihan (1846-1914), a renowned novelist and journalist, was born in County Mayo but had ancestral roots in Clare.

Bridget Relihan (1835-1922), an Irish immigrant to the United States, became a noted philanthropist and benefactor in Chicago, establishing the Relihan Home for Working Girls to provide housing and support for young women.

These examples illustrate the rich history and enduring legacy of the Relihan surname, which spans centuries and reflects the cultural, literary, and societal contributions of its bearers.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Relihan

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!