Explore the Family Name Duffy
The meaning of Duffy
Irish: 1. shortened Anglicized form of Gaelic Ó Dubhthaigh ‘descendant of Dubhthach’, a byname derived from dubh ‘black’ (see Duff). This name was borne by a 6th-century Christian saint who was archbishop of Armagh. 2. shortened Anglicized form of Gaelic Mac Dhuibhshíthe ‘son of Duibhshíth’, a personal name composed of the elements dubh ‘black’ (see Duff) + síth ‘peace’. Some characteristic forenames: Irish Brendan, Seamus, Siobhan, Aidan, Brigid, Eamon, Kieran, Malachy, Aileen, Briana, Bridie, Caitlin.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Duffy in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the popularity of the surname Duffy has seen slight changes over a decade. In 2000, Duffy was ranked as the 827th most popular surname in America, but by 2010, it had dropped to the 892nd spot, marking a decrease in rank by 7.86%. However, the actual count of individuals with the Duffy surname increased from 37,962 to 38,835 during this period, indicating a mild surge of 2.3%. The proportion of Duffys per 100,000 individuals also experienced a decline of 6.4%, going from 14.07 in 2000 to 13.17 in 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #827 | #892 | -7.86% |
| Count | 37,962 | 38,835 | 2.3% |
| Proportion per 100k | 14.07 | 13.17 | -6.4% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Duffy
On the other hand, the ethnic identity associated with the Duffy surname saw some notable shifts between 2000 and 2010, according to the Decennial U.S. Census. The majority of individuals with the Duffy surname identified as White, though this percentage decreased slightly from 92.13% in 2000 to 90.71% in 2010. The Hispanic representation within the Duffy population experienced the largest growth of 50.00%, increasing from 1.50% to 2.25% in that same span. Those identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander, Black, and American Indian and Alaskan Native also saw increases of 8.06%, 2.91%, and 4.26%, respectively. Interestingly, those identifying with Two or more races under the Duffy surname saw a substantial increase of 40.52%, jumping from 1.16% in 2000 to 1.63% in 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 92.13% | 90.71% | -1.54% |
| Black | 4.13% | 4.25% | 2.91% |
| Hispanic | 1.5% | 2.25% | 50% |
| Two or More Races | 1.16% | 1.63% | 40.52% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.62% | 0.67% | 8.06% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.47% | 0.49% | 4.26% |
Duffy 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 Duffy is British & Irish, which comprises 62.2% of all ancestry found in people with the surname. The next two most common ancestries are French & German (14.9%) and Italian (5.7%). Additional ancestries include Eastern European, 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 | 62.2% |
| French & German | 14.9% |
| Italian | 5.7% |
| Other | 17.2% |
Possible origins of the surname Duffy
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 Duffy have recent ancestry locations in United Kingdom and Ireland.
| RECENT ANCESTRY Location | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Greater London, United Kingdom | 86.90% |
| Glasgow City, United Kingdom | 86.80% |
| Merseyside, United Kingdom | 86.60% |
| Greater Manchester, United Kingdom | 86.50% |
| West Midlands, United Kingdom | 86.30% |
What Duffy 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 Duffy is R-CTS241, which is predominantly found among people with European ancestry. Haplogroup R-CTS241 is descended from haplogroup R-M343. Other common haplogroups include R-L21 and R-Z16294, which are predominantly found among people with European and European ancestry. Other surnames with similar common haplogroups are: Keenan, Conley, Mccarthy, Cameron, Carroll, Devine, Brennan, Mcgowan, Connelly, Hughes.
The most common maternal haplogroups of people with Duffy 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 Duffy 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.
"Duffy" Surname 43.0%
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.
"Duffy" Surname 28.7%
23andMe Users 27.9%
Habits
Sugary Drink
Drinks one or more sugary drinks per day.
"Duffy" Surname 18.3%
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.
"Duffy" Surname 17.5%
23andMe Users 16.4%
Are health conditions linked to the last name Duffy?
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 Duffy are shown below. Important Note: not everyone with a disease allele will develop these health condition