Explore the Family Name Gahan
The meaning of Gahan
Irish: 1. shortened form of McGahan, from Mac Eacháin or Mag Eocháin. 2. from Ó Gaoithín ‘descendant of Gaoithín’, a personal name from a diminutive of gaoth, an adjective meaning ‘wise’ (probably the sense here), or a noun meaning ‘wind’. This name has been mistranslated as both Wynne and Wyndham in Connacht (see Wynne). It may also be a shortened Anglicized form of the Ulster name Mac Gaoithín, see McGeehan. Some characteristic forenames: Irish Brendan.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Gahan in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the surname "Gahan" experienced a slight decrease in popularity between 2000 and 2010. The rank of the surname fell from 21,605 to 23,432, indicating a drop by 8.46%. Similarly, the number of individuals carrying the "Gahan" surname also declined from 1,125 to 1,085, a change of -3.56%. Consequently, the proportion of the surname per 100,000 people witnessed an 11.9% reduction, shifting from 0.42 in 2000 to 0.37 in 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #21,605 | #23,432 | -8.46% |
| Count | 1,125 | 1,085 | -3.56% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.42 | 0.37 | -11.9% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Gahan
Turning to ethnicity, still based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, there were some notable shifts in the ethnic identity associated with the surname "Gahan" from 2000 to 2010. The proportion of individuals identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander doubled, increasing by 100.75%, and those identifying as Hispanic saw a 50% increase. Individuals reporting two or more races dropped by 32.35%, while the proportion of white individuals decreased slightly by 1.67%. There were no recorded changes for people identifying as Black or American Indian and Alaskan Native.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 94.76% | 93.18% | -1.67% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 1.33% | 2.67% | 100.75% |
| Hispanic | 1.6% | 2.4% | 50% |
| Two or More Races | 2.04% | 1.38% | -32.35% |
| Black | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |