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

Shamrock, 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 Shamrock surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Shamrock in America

Shamrock is the 54752nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Shamrock surname appeared 376 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 Shamrock.

We can also compare 2010 data for Shamrock 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 Shamrock

The surname SHAMROCK has its origins in Ireland, dating back to the 16th century. It derives from the Irish Gaelic word "seamróg," which means "clover" or "trefoil." The clover plant, with its distinctive three leaves, has long been a symbol of Ireland and was considered a sacred plant by ancient Celtic druids.

In the 16th century, the name SHAMROCK first appeared in records as a descriptive surname, likely given to someone who lived near a patch of clovers or had a particular affinity for the plant. The earliest known recorded example of the name is found in the Fiants of Ireland from 1585, which mentions a "Donogh Shamrock" from County Meath.

Throughout the centuries, the SHAMROCK surname has been associated with various notable figures in Irish history. One such figure was Patrick SHAMROCK, a prominent merchant and landowner in County Kildare during the 17th century (born c. 1620, died 1697). Another was Bridget SHAMROCK, a renowned herbalist and healer from County Cork, who lived in the late 18th century (born c. 1745, died c. 1825).

In the 19th century, the SHAMROCK name gained further recognition when James SHAMROCK (1825-1901), a noted Irish poet and writer, published his collection of poems titled "Emerald Isle Verse" in 1875. Additionally, the name was carried by Michael SHAMROCK (1842-1918), a prominent Irish political activist and advocate for Irish independence during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

The SHAMROCK surname has also been associated with various place names throughout Ireland. For instance, Shamrock Hill in County Donegal and Shamrock Bridge in County Westmeath are believed to have derived their names from individuals bearing the SHAMROCK surname who lived in those areas.

Other notable individuals with the SHAMROCK surname include Mary SHAMROCK (1878-1952), a celebrated Irish actress who performed on the stages of Dublin and London in the early 20th century, and John SHAMROCK (1910-1987), a renowned Irish architect whose works included the design of several churches and public buildings across Ireland in the mid-20th century.

While the SHAMROCK surname may not be among the most common in Ireland, it has a rich history deeply rooted in the country's cultural and literary traditions, reflecting the enduring significance of the clover plant in Irish folklore and symbolism.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Shamrock

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

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

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

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