Explore the Family Name Merrigan
The meaning of Merrigan
Irish: Anglicized form of Gaelic Ó Muireagáin ‘descendant of Muireagán’ a personal name derived from muir ‘sea’. Compare Morgan, with which this name has been confused. Some characteristic forenames: Irish Eamon.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Merrigan in the United States?
According to data from the Decennial U.S. Census, the popularity of the surname Merrigan witnessed a significant decrease between 2000 and 2010. Ranked 22,174th in 2000, it fell to 34,574th position in 2010, marking a drop of 55.92%. The count of individuals with this name also decreased from 1,087 to 654 during this period, a decline of nearly 39.83%. Consequently, the proportion of people named Merrigan per 100,000 reduced by 45%, from 0.4 to 0.22.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #22,174 | #34,574 | -55.92% |
| Count | 1,087 | 654 | -39.83% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.4 | 0.22 | -45% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Merrigan
The ethnic identity associated with the surname Merrigan experienced some shifts over the same decade, as indicated by the Decennial U.S. Census data. A notable increase was seen in Asian/Pacific Islander representation, which rose by 106.76% from 0.74% to 1.53%. Individuals identifying with two or more races also increased slightly, rising from 1.56% to 1.68%. Conversely, those identifying as White showed a small decrease, falling from 97.06% to 95.57%. The Hispanic representation doubled from 0.46% to 0.92%, while there was no change reported for Black, American Indian and Alaskan Native ethnic identities.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 97.06% | 95.57% | -1.54% |
| Two or More Races | 1.56% | 1.68% | 7.69% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.74% | 1.53% | 106.76% |
| Hispanic | 0.46% | 0.92% | 100% |
| Black | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |