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Irish Family History

Irish Surname Meaning

English and Irish (Kilkenny): ethnic name for someone of Irish origin from Old French Ireis or Middle English Irish ‘Irish’ Latinized as Hiberniens(is).

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Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: 

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Irish family from?

You can see how Irish families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Irish family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Irish families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 187 Irish families living in Devon. This was about 23% of all the recorded Irish's in United Kingdom. Devon had the highest population of Irish families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Irish surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Irish ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Irish. 10% of Irish men worked as a General Labourer and 73% of Irish women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Irish were House Painter and Incapacitated.

View Census Data for Irish | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • General Labourer
    10%
  • Bricklayer
    9%
  • Cowman
    9%
  • House Painter
    7%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    73%
  • Housekeeper
    3%
  • Housewife
    3%
  • Incapacitated
    3%

What Irish family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 61,000 census records available for the last name Irish. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Irish census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Irish

Passenger Lists

There are 7,000 immigration records available for the last name Irish. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Irish immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 21,000 military records available for the last name Irish. For the veterans among your Irish ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Irish military records

You've only scratched the surface of Irish family history

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What is the average Irish lifespan?

Between 1943 and 2004, in the United States, Irish life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1943, and highest in 2004. The average life expectancy for Irish in 1943 was 38, and 80 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Irish

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Irish ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Irish family tree

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