Explore the Family Name Taaffe
The meaning of Taaffe
Irish (of Welsh origin; chiefly Louth): topographic name from the River Taff (Glamorgan) or the River Taf (Pembrokeshire). The river names are Celtic or pre-Celtic in origin, and may mean ‘dark’ or ‘stream’. It may also derive from a pet form of the Welsh personal name Dafydd, the Welsh form of David, although this derivation is highly improbable. History: An Irish family of this name held the earldom of Carlingford (Louth) in the 17th century, which they were granted as a reward for their support of the House of Stuart. Some characteristic forenames: Irish Declan, Padraic.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Taaffe in the United States?
According to the Popularity data from the Decennial U.S. Census, the surname Taaffe ranked 35,053 in 2000 but dropped slightly to rank 35,537 in 2010, representing a decrease of 1.38%. However, the count of individuals bearing this surname increased modestly from 609 to 633 during the same period, marking an increase of 3.94%. The proportion per 100k people declined by 8.7%, shifting from 0.23 in 2000 to 0.21 in 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #35,053 | #35,537 | -1.38% |
| Count | 609 | 633 | 3.94% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.23 | 0.21 | -8.7% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Taaffe
Turning to the Ethnicity data from the Decennial U.S. Census, the majority of individuals with the Taaffe surname identified as White, comprising 93.43% in 2000 and 91.94% in 2010, depicting a decrease of 1.59%. There was a notable increase of 79.67% in Hispanic identification over the decade, moving from 2.46% to 4.42%. Meanwhile, the percentage of those identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander rose from 0% to 1.26% between 2000 and 2010. Those who identified with two or more races saw a drop of 47.51%, moving from 1.81% to 0.95%. Both Black and American Indian and Alaskan Native ethnic identities held steady at 0% for both census years.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 93.43% | 91.94% | -1.59% |
| Hispanic | 2.46% | 4.42% | 79.67% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 1.26% | 0% |
| Two or More Races | 1.81% | 0.95% | -47.51% |
| Black | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 1.64% | 0% | 0% |