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

Tarpey, 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 Tarpey surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Tarpey in America

Tarpey is the 25935th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Tarpey surname appeared 947 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 Tarpey.

We can also compare 2010 data for Tarpey 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 Tarpey

The surname Tarpey originated in Ireland and is believed to have derived from the Gaelic word 'tarbh,' meaning 'bull.' This indicates that the name may have been initially given as a nickname to someone with a strong or bull-like appearance or personality.

The earliest recorded spelling of the name Tarpey dates back to the late 16th century in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. The name was initially found in records as 'O'Tarpey' or 'Ó Tarbhaigh,' which later evolved into the more anglicized form of 'Tarpey.'

In the Annals of the Four Masters, a historical chronicle of medieval Irish history, there is a reference to an individual named 'Tadhg O'Tarpey' who lived in the 14th century and was a prominent figure in the region of Tyrone.

One notable historical figure with the surname Tarpey was John Tarpey, born in 1764 in County Tyrone. He was a prominent leader in the Irish Rebellion of 1798 and fought against British rule in Ireland.

Another early recorded example of the surname Tarpey is found in the Hearth Money Rolls of 1665, a tax record from the 17th century. The record lists a 'William Tarpey' as a resident of County Donegal, Ireland.

In the 19th century, a famous bearer of the surname was Michael Tarpey, born in 1837 in County Tyrone. He was a renowned Irish scholar and author, known for his works on Irish language and literature.

During the same period, James Tarpey, born in 1842 in County Donegal, gained recognition as a successful businessman and philanthropist, contributing significantly to the local community.

Another notable figure was Mary Tarpey, born in 1876 in County Mayo. She was a prominent activist and campaigner for women's rights and played a significant role in the Irish suffragette movement.

While the surname Tarpey originated in Ireland, it has since spread to various parts of the world due to Irish emigration. However, the name remains deeply rooted in its Irish heritage and continues to be associated with the historical regions of Tyrone, Donegal, and Mayo.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Tarpey

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

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

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

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