Explore the Family Name Callahan
The meaning of Callahan
Irish (Munster): shortened Anglicized form of Gaelic Ó Ceallacháin ‘descendant of Ceallachán’, a diminutive of the personal name Ceallach, probably meaning ‘bright-headed’, from cen ‘head’ + lach ‘light’. This name was borne by a 10th-century king of Munster, from whom many present-day bearers of the surname claim descent. Some characteristic forenames: Irish Brendan, Aidan, Brennan, Bridie, Clancy, Connor, Conor, Delma, Eamon, Gearold, Keane, Kieran.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Callahan in the United States?
According to the Decennial U.S. Census, the popularity of the surname Callahan has seen some changes over time. In 2000, it ranked as the 617th most popular surname, but by 2010, its rank had fallen to 682, representing a decrease of 10.53%. Despite this drop in ranking, the actual count of individuals with the Callahan surname increased from 49,925 in 2000 to 50,524 in 2010, which is a rise of 1.2%. However, when we consider the proportion per 100k people, there was a decrease of 7.46%, with the figure falling from 18.51 in 2000 to 17.13 in 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #617 | #682 | -10.53% |
| Count | 49,925 | 50,524 | 1.2% |
| Proportion per 100k | 18.51 | 17.13 | -7.46% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Callahan
Shifting our focus to ethnic identity, the census data revealed changes in the ethnic distribution of individuals bearing the Callahan surname between 2000 and 2010. The percentage of those identifying as White decreased slightly by 1.63% from 91.29% to 89.80%. Meanwhile, the percentage of those identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander increased by 42.86% (from 0.42% to 0.60%), and those reporting two or more races rose by 28.10% (from 1.21% to 1.55%). There was also a significant increase in the percentage of those with Hispanic ethnicity, specifically a growth of 53.79% (from 1.45% to 2.23%). Black representation within the Callahan surname increased modestly by 3.53% (from 5.10% to 5.28%), and the American Indian and Alaskan Native category saw a slight increase of 1.92% (from 0.52% to 0.53%). This data is based on the Decennial U.S. Census.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 91.29% | 89.8% | -1.63% |
| Black | 5.1% | 5.28% | 3.53% |
| Hispanic | 1.45% | 2.23% | 53.79% |
| Two or More Races | 1.21% | 1.55% | 28.1% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.42% | 0.6% | 42.86% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.52% | 0.53% | 1.92% |
Callahan 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 Callahan is British & Irish, which comprises 58.3% of all ancestry found in people with the surname. The next two most common ancestries are French & German (18.8%) and Eastern European (5.0%). Additional ancestries include Italian, Scandinavian, Spanish & Portuguese, Ashkenazi Jewish, and Indigenous American.
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 | 58.3% |
| French & German | 18.8% |
| Eastern European | 5.0% |
| Other | 18.0% |
Possible origins of the surname Callahan
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 Callahan have recent ancestry locations in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Ireland.
| RECENT ANCESTRY Location | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Greater London, United Kingdom | 87.90% |
| Merseyside, United Kingdom | 87.80% |
| Greater Manchester, United Kingdom | 87.70% |
| Glasgow City, United Kingdom | 87.50% |
| West Midlands, United Kingdom | 87.50% |
What Callahan 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 Callahan is R-Y4010, which is predominantly found among people with European ancestry. Haplogroup R-Y4010 is descended from haplogroup R-M343. Other common haplogroups include R-L21 and R-CTS241, which are predominantly found among people with European and European ancestry. Other surnames with similar common haplogroups are: Carney, Obrien, Conner, Connors, Kelly, Kelley, O'Connor, Neal, Murray, Madden.
The most common maternal haplogroups of people with Callahan 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 Callahan 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.
"Callahan" Surname 45.4%
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.
"Callahan" Surname 24.8%
23andMe Users 27.9%
Habits
Sugary Drink
Drinks one or more sugary drinks per day.
"Callahan" Surname 21.9%
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.
"Callahan" Surname 19.2%
23andMe Users 16.4%
Are health conditions linked to the last name Callahan?
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 Callahan are shown below. Important Note: not everyone with a disease allele will develop these health condition