Explore the Family Name Kernaghan
The meaning of Kernaghan
Irish: Anglicized form of Gaelic Ó Cearnacháin ‘descendant of Cearnachán’, a personal name based on cearnach ‘victorious’ + the diminutive ending -án.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Kernaghan in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the surname Kernaghan has seen a rise in popularity between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, it was ranked 56,246th and by 2010, it had risen to 53,072nd place, marking a 5.64% increase. The count of people with this surname also increased from 340 in 2000 to 390 in 2010, representing a 14.71% rise. However, the proportion per 100,000 remained steady at 0.13.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #56,246 | #53,072 | 5.64% |
| Count | 340 | 390 | 14.71% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.13 | 0.13 | 0% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Kernaghan
As for the ethnic identity associated with the surname Kernaghan, there have been some notable changes between 2000 and 2010. The percentage of individuals identifying as White decreased from 95.29% to 87.95%, according to the Decennial U.S. Census. Meanwhile, the percentage of those reporting two or more races increased significantly by 111.65%. The percentages of those identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander fell to zero, while new categories emerged: Hispanic and Black, each accounting for 2.31% and 2.82% respectively in 2010. The American Indian and Alaskan Native category remained stationary with no reported change.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 95.29% | 87.95% | -7.7% |
| Two or More Races | 2.06% | 4.36% | 111.65% |
| Black | 0% | 2.82% | 0% |
| Hispanic | 0% | 2.31% | 0% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 1.47% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |