Explore the Family Name Cahill
The meaning of Cahill
Irish: Anglicized form of Gaelic Mac Cathail or Ó Cathail ‘son (or descendant) of Cathal’, a personal name meaning ‘powerful in battle’. Some characteristic forenames: Irish Brendan, Liam, Donal, Conor, Eamon, Kieran, Ronan, Aidan, Aileen, Brigid, Colm, James Patrick.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Cahill in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the popularity of the surname Cahill saw a minor fluctuation between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, Cahill was ranked as the 1,625th most popular surname in the U.S. with 20,181 individuals sharing it. By 2010, the surname had slightly decreased in rank to the 1,737th position, despite a slight increase in count to 20,623 people. This translates to a decrease in popularity by about 6.89%, but an increase in count of approximately 2.19%. The proportion per 100,000 people also slightly declined from 7.48 in 2000 to 6.99 in 2010, indicating a drop of about 6.55%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #1,625 | #1,737 | -6.89% |
| Count | 20,181 | 20,623 | 2.19% |
| Proportion per 100k | 7.48 | 6.99 | -6.55% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Cahill
Discussing the ethnic identity associated with the surname Cahill, the Decennial U.S. Census data indicates that the majority of individuals with this surname identified as White in both 2000 and 2010, with percentages of 95.59% and 94.54% respectively. However, there were noticeable changes in other ethnic identities during the same period. While the percentage of those who identified as Black or Asian/Pacific Islander increased by 18.52% and decreased by 11.50% respectively, the ones identifying as Hispanic experienced the highest growth rate of 42.38%. Those identifying with two or more races also increased by 23.15%, while the American Indian and Alaskan Native category had a significant jump of 120.00%, though still remaining the least represented ethnicity.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 95.59% | 94.54% | -1.1% |
| Hispanic | 1.51% | 2.15% | 42.38% |
| Two or More Races | 1.08% | 1.33% | 23.15% |
| Black | 1.13% | 1% | -11.5% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.54% | 0.64% | 18.52% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.15% | 0.33% | 120% |
Cahill ancestry composition
23andMe computes an ancestry breakdown for each customer. People may have ancestry from just one population or they may have ancestry from several populations. The most commonly-observed ancestry found in people with the surname Cahill is British & Irish, which comprises 61.9% of all ancestry found in people with the surname. The next two most common ancestries are French & German (15.3%) and Eastern European (5.7%). Additional ancestries include Italian, Scandinavian, Spanish & Portuguese, Ashkenazi Jewish, and Greek & Balkan.
Ready to learn more about your ancestry? Get the most comprehensive ancestry breakdown on the market by taking our DNA test. Shop 23andMe
| ANCESTRY BREAKDOWN | COMPOSITION |
|---|---|
| British & Irish | 61.9% |
| French & German | 15.3% |
| Eastern European | 5.7% |
| Other | 17.1% |
Possible origins of the surname Cahill
Your DNA provides clues about where your recent ancestors may have lived. Having many distant relatives in the same location suggests that you may all share common ancestry there. Locations with many distant relatives can also be places where people have migrated recently, such as large cities. If a large number of individuals who share your surname have distant relatives in a specific area, it could indicate a connection between your surname and that location, stemming from either recent ancestral ties or migration.
Based on 23andMe data, people with last name Cahill have recent ancestry locations in United Kingdom and Ireland.
| RECENT ANCESTRY Location | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Greater London, United Kingdom | 90.20% |
| Merseyside, United Kingdom | 90.00% |
| Greater Manchester, United Kingdom | 89.80% |
| Glasgow City, United Kingdom | 89.50% |
| West Midlands, United Kingdom | 89.40% |
What Cahill haplogroups can tell you
Haplogroups are genetic population groups that share a common ancestor on either your paternal or maternal line. These paternal and maternal haplogroups shed light on your genetic ancestry and help tell the story of your family.
The top paternal haplogroup of people with the surname Cahill is R-L21, which is predominantly found among people with European ancestry. Haplogroup R-L21 is descended from haplogroup R-M343. Other common haplogroups include R-L1066.1 and R-L1336, which are predominantly found among people with European and European ancestry. Other surnames with similar common haplogroups are: Conner, Connors, Obrien, Kelley, Tierney, Kelly, Mckay, Carroll, O'Connor.
The most common maternal haplogroups of people with Cahill surname are: H1, T2b, H. These most commonly trace back to individuals of European ancestry.
Paternal Haplogroup Origins R-M343Your maternal lineage may be linked to Marie Antoinette
Because it is so dominant in the general European population, haplogroup H also appears quite frequently in the continent's royal houses. Marie Antoinette, an Austrian Hapsburg who married into the French royal family, inherited the haplogroup from her maternal ancestors. So did Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, whose recorded genealogy traces his female line to Bavaria. Scientists also discovered that famed 16th century astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus traced his maternal lineages to haplogroup H.
What do people with the surname Cahill have in common?
Spoiler alert: it's complicated. People with the same last name are usually no more genetically similar than a randomly sampled group of people from the same population. That said, people with the same surname are more likely to have similar ancestries than randomly sampled individuals. The reason is the tendency of people with similar cultural or geographical backgrounds to preferentially mate with one another. That's why people who share a surname may be more likely to share traits and tendencies in common than people within the general population. Check out the percentages below to see the prevalences of tastes, habits, and traits of people with your surname compared with prevalences among 23andMe users.
Preferences
Chocolate Ice Cream
Prefers chocolate flavored ice cream over other flavors.
"Cahill" Surname 37.0%
23andMe Users 41.3%
Traits
Misophonia
When sounds made by others, like the sound of chewing or yawning, provoke strong emotional reactions in an individual.
"Cahill" Surname 22.2%
23andMe Users 27.9%
Habits
Sugary Drink
Drinks one or more sugary drinks per day.
"Cahill" Surname 20.4%
23andMe Users 21.1%
Wellness
Migraine
A severe headache characterized by intense pain, sensitivity to light and sound, and often accompanied by nausea and vomiting.
"Cahill" Surname 18.3%
23andMe Users 16.4%
Are health conditions linked to the last name Cahill?
The short answer is that, if there is an association between surname and health, it's usually more about your ancestry than your name. Individuals with a given surname are no more genetically similar than the general population but often have similar ancestries. The populations of people associated with those shared ancestries often have sets of genetic variations, also known as alleles, in common. Some of those alleles are associated with a greater likelihood of developing certain diseases.
Disease variant frequency by ancestry
Disease allele frequencies in populations associated with the surname Cahill are shown below. Important Note: not everyone with a disease allele will develop these health condition