Origin of the Irish Surname
The Irish surname is of European origin (European). In the 2010 U.S. Census it ranked #4,813 with 7,336 Americans (2.49 per 100K people).
What the name meant to the first families who bore it — and how Irish traveled across regions and centuries — is written out in the full Heritage Report.
Quick Facts
| Surname | Irish |
|---|---|
| Meaning | Full etymology in the Heritage Report |
| Origin | European |
| Language | European |
| US Rank (2010) | #4,813 |
| US Count (2010) | 7,336 |
| Per 100K People | 2.49 |
| First Letter | I |
Ethnic Distribution of Irish
Among 7,336 Americans named Irish, the largest self-reported group is White (88.69%).
The full multi-group chart (every percentage, print-ready) is inside the Heritage Report — not repeated here.
Popularity of Irish Over Time
Between the 2000 and 2010 U.S. Census, the national rank of Irish moved down. Exact counts for both years — print-ready — are in the Heritage Report.
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The Complete Story of the Irish Family
What you’ve read above is just the overview. Your full Irish Heritage Report goes far deeper — and it’s yours to keep, print & share with your family.
- ✓ The true origin & meaning of Irish
- ✓ The Irish coat of arms & heraldry
- ✓ Migration journey across the world
- ✓ Where Irish families live today
- ✓ Notable Irish bearers in history
- ✓ Name variations & spellings worldwide
- ✓ A step-by-step guide to start tracing your own family tree
🎁 A heritage keepsake to pass down — perfect as a gift.
Get one Irish fact most families never hear by email — a teaser, not the full etymology (that’s in the report).
Similar Surnames to Irish
These surnames share similar popularity, spelling, or cultural background with Irish.
Other European Surnames
Explore more surnames with European roots. There are 162,254 surnames in our database — here are some that share the same European origin as Irish.
Frequently Asked Questions About Irish
Top Surnames Starting with I
The most common American surnames that begin with the letter I, ranked by population.
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