Explore the Family Name Orr
The meaning of Orr
1. Scottish (southwestern): nickname from Scottish Gaelic odhar ‘dun, of sallow complexion’. This surname is also common in Ireland. It was brought to Ulster from Scotland in the 17th century. 2. English: from an unrecorded Middle English personal name Orre (Old Norse Orri, originally a byname meaning ‘black grouse’).
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Orr in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the popularity of the surname Orr has seen a shift between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, the surname ranked at 714 in terms of popularity but dropped to a rank of 774 by 2010, marking an 8.4% decrease in popularity. However, the actual count of people with the Orr surname increased slightly from 43,666 in 2000 to 44,388 in 2010, showing a growth of 1.65%. The proportion of individuals with this last name per 100k also decreased from 16.19 in 2000 to 15.05 in 2010, a drop of 7.04%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #714 | #774 | -8.4% |
| Count | 43,666 | 44,388 | 1.65% |
| Proportion per 100k | 16.19 | 15.05 | -7.04% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Orr
When examining the ethnic identity of those holding the surname Orr, based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, there have been some notable changes between 2000 and 2010. The percentage of Orrs identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander increased by 12.07%, and those reporting two or more races saw a significant increase of 39.01%. The majority of those with the Orr surname identified as White, although this group experienced a slight decrease from 81.82% in 2000 to 79.42% in 2010. The Hispanic population within the Orr surname increased by 47.65%, and the Black population rose by 7.22%. There was also a modest increase of 8.45% for those identifying as American Indian and Alaskan Native.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 81.82% | 79.42% | -2.93% |
| Black | 13.99% | 15% | 7.22% |
| Hispanic | 1.49% | 2.2% | 47.65% |
| Two or More Races | 1.41% | 1.96% | 39.01% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.71% | 0.77% | 8.45% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.58% | 0.65% | 12.07% |
Orr 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 Orr is British & Irish, which comprises 54.3% of all ancestry found in people with the surname. The next two most common ancestries are French & German (22.4%) and Eastern European (4.1%). Additional ancestries include Scandinavian, Italian, Ashkenazi Jewish, Spanish & Portuguese, and Nigerian.
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 | 54.3% |
| French & German | 22.4% |
| Eastern European | 4.1% |
| Other | 19.2% |
Possible origins of the surname Orr
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 Orr have recent ancestry locations in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Ireland.
| RECENT ANCESTRY Location | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Greater London, United Kingdom | 87.10% |
| Greater Manchester, United Kingdom | 87.00% |
| Merseyside, United Kingdom | 86.90% |
| Glasgow City, United Kingdom | 86.80% |
| West Midlands, United Kingdom | 86.70% |
What Orr 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 Orr is R-Z282, which is predominantly found among people with European ancestry. Haplogroup R-Z282 is descended from haplogroup R-M420. Other common haplogroups include R-M417 and R-P311, which are predominantly found among people with European and European ancestry. Other surnames with similar common haplogroups are: Ledford, Wasson, Sample, Morrill, Settle, Steelman, Cory, Hanks, Ellington, Garnett.
The most common maternal haplogroups of people with Orr surname are: H1, T2b, H. These most commonly trace back to individuals of European ancestry.
Paternal Haplogroup Origins R-M420Your 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 Orr 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.
"Orr" Surname 41.9%
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.
"Orr" Surname 24.1%
23andMe Users 27.9%
Habits
Sugary Drink
Drinks one or more sugary drinks per day.
"Orr" Surname 23.1%
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.
"Orr" Surname 17.8%
23andMe Users 16.4%
Are health conditions linked to the last name Orr?
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 Orr are shown below. Important Note: not everyone with a disease allele will develop these health condition