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

Roary, 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 Roary surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Roary in America

Roary is the 109258th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Roary surname appeared 162 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 Roary.

We can also compare 2010 data for Roary 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 Roary

The surname Roary originates from Ireland, with its roots traced back to the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old Irish word "roir," which means "king" or "ruler." This suggests that the name may have been given to those who held positions of authority or leadership within their communities.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Roary can be found in the Annals of Ulster, a chronicle of medieval Irish history. In the entry for the year 1172, a reference is made to "Ruaidhri Ua Ruairc," which translates to "Rory O'Rourke," indicating the presence of the name during that time period.

The Roary surname was also associated with several prominent figures throughout Irish history. In the 14th century, Brian Roary was a notable chieftain of the O'Rourke clan, a powerful family in the region of Leitrim. Another notable figure was Seán Roary, a 16th-century Irish priest and scholar who played a pivotal role in preserving and documenting ancient Irish literature.

The name Roary has also been linked to various place names in Ireland. For example, the townland of Roary, located in County Tyrone, is believed to have derived its name from the surname. Additionally, the variant spelling "Rourke" is found in several place names, such as Rourkestown in County Westmeath.

Five notable historical figures with the surname Roary include:

1. Teague Roary (c. 1590 - 1660), an Irish soldier and landowner who fought in the Irish Confederate Wars.
2. Calvagh Roary (c. 1610 - 1680), a prominent member of the O'Rourke clan and a leader during the Irish Rebellion of 1641.
3. Bridget Roary (c. 1650 - 1730), a celebrated Irish poet and storyteller whose works preserved aspects of Irish folklore and culture.
4. Michael Roary (1756 - 1841), a renowned Irish harpist and composer who helped revive the tradition of Irish harp music.
5. Eamon Roary (1879 - 1954), an Irish politician and activist who played a significant role in the Irish Republican movement and the struggle for Irish independence.

While the surname Roary has undergone various spellings over time, it continues to maintain its deep-rooted connection to Irish heritage and history, serving as a reminder of the rich cultural tapestry woven by generations of bearers of this name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Roary

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

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

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

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