Explore the Family Name Keary
The meaning of Keary
Irish: 1. Anglicized form of Gaelic Ó Ciardha (from a personal name based on ciar ‘black’), sometimes Anglicized as Carey. 2. Anglicized form of Gaelic Mac Giolla Chéire, a widespread name meaning ‘son of Giolla Céire’ or ‘the servant of Saint Ciar’. Ciar ‘dusky’ was the name of a female saint, of Kilkeary (Cill Chéire ‘Ciar’s church’), Tipperary. A longer form of the surname was Kilkeary. See also Carr. Some characteristic forenames: Irish Dermot.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Keary in the United States?
According to data extrapolated from the Decennial U.S. Census, the surname 'Keary' grew slightly in popularity between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, it ranked 53,659th most common surname with a count of 361 bearers. However, a decade later, in 2010, its rank rose slightly to 53,419 with an increase in bearers to 387. This indicates a growth change of about 0.45% in rank and a 7.2% increase in the count of individuals bearing the surname 'Keary'. The proportion per 100k people remained constant at 0.13 during this ten-year period.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #53,659 | #53,419 | 0.45% |
| Count | 361 | 387 | 7.2% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.13 | 0.13 | 0% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Keary
The ethnic identity associated with the surname 'Keary' also showed some changes according to the Decennial U.S. Census data. In 2000, 94.46% of those carrying the 'Keary' surname identified as White, which decreased to 90.70% by 2010. At the same time, there was a notable increase in those identifying as Black, from 3.05% in 2000 to 5.17% in 2010. Additionally, the percentage of those identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander increased from 1.39% to 1.55%. Interestingly, a new category emerged in 2010, with 1.81% of 'Keary' bearers identifying with two or more races. The census reported no people with the Keary surname identifying as Hispanic or American Indian and Alaskan Native in both years.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 94.46% | 90.7% | -3.98% |
| Black | 3.05% | 5.17% | 69.51% |
| Two or More Races | 0% | 1.81% | 0% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 1.39% | 1.55% | 11.51% |
| Hispanic | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |