The Callaghan surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 6,191 people carried this name — #5,614 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 47,600 people counted. That is up 5% from 5,883 in 2000.

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Where the name comes from

The origin of the Callaghan surname

Variant of Callahan

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary (en.wiktionary.org) — entry «Callaghan» (English), by Wiktionary contributors · licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0) · excerpt, lightly adapted.

In Ireland’s birth registers, 1890

Ireland registered 250 births for the Callaghan name in 1890.

They were registered in all four provinces, most of all in Munster. By the Registrar-General’s own method — births multiplied by 44.38 — that is about 11,100 people bearing the name in Ireland at the time. 7 of them were indexed under other spellings of the name. The Registrar-General’s note on the name: “Cork, Kerry, and Dublin.”

Where it concentrates, on the map

Where they were born, 1890

Munster 133
Ulster 48
Leinster 40
Connacht 29

Registrar-General for Ireland, «Special Report on Surnames in Ireland» (R. E. Matheson, 1894), births index of 1890 — public domain.

In the Nordic population registers

23 people named Callaghan is counted in Sweden.

Sweden’s figure is from 31 December 2022, the last count Statistics Sweden published.

Counted, by country

Sweden (2022) 23

Own calculations based on data from Statistics Sweden (SCB), surnames with at least two bearers, 31 December 2022 — CC BY 4.0 (names with 20 or more bearers shown).

In Scotland’s registers today

Callaghan was recorded 78 times in Scotland’s registers of births, marriages and deaths in 2025.

That made it the 337th most common name in those registers, shared with others on the same count. In 1975, the first year of the series, the count was 103. Each birth counts the child’s surname, each marriage both partners’ and each death the surname of the person who died — a yearly count of registrations, not of the people who live in Scotland.

National Records of Scotland, «Most Common Surnames, 2025» (published 26 May 2026): every surname recorded 10 or more times in the 2025 registers, and the series from 1975 · different spellings are counted separately — © Crown copyright 2026. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

In print

Callaghan in American newspapers,
1877–1900.

Newspaper page from The Pioche Weekly Record carrying the name Callaghan
The Pioche Weekly Record 1877-02-03
Newspaper page from Frostburg Mining Journal carrying the name Callaghan
Frostburg Mining Journal 1895-01-26
Newspaper page from The Herald-Advance carrying the name Callaghan
The Herald-Advance 1900-11-23

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 55,261 pages in all carry the name.

In print

Callaghan in Australian newspapers,
1820s–2000s.

74,648 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Callaghan. The most, 10,821, date from the 1930s. New South Wales has the most articles, but weighed against how much of each state’s press from the same decades has been digitised, the name stands out most in the Australian Capital Territory, at 1.4 times its expected share.

Articles, by state

New South Wales 28,119
Victoria 17,226
Queensland 16,533
South Australia 4,032
Western Australia 3,822
Tasmania 2,898
ACT (Canberra) 1,691
Northern Territory 64

Trove, National Library of Australia (trove.nla.gov.au) · articles in its digitised newspapers that name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Callaghan.

Who carried it

People named Callaghan,
with a public archive behind them.

  • George Callaghan
    George Callaghan 1852–1920 · military officer
  • Daniel J. Callaghan
    Daniel J. Callaghan 1890–1942 · military officer
  • Frank Callaghan
    Frank Callaghan 1891–1980 · scientist
  • William M. Callaghan
    William M. Callaghan 1897–1991 · military officer
  • James Callaghan
    James Callaghan 1912–2005 · politician

Wikidata (CC0) · portraits via Wikimedia Commons, shown cropped — James Callaghan: Christian Lambiotte, CC BY 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0); the others are in the public domain or CC0 · 167 lives in all are documented under this name.

In the public record

People named Callaghan,
in the records of 8 countries.

Soldiers, farmers, migrants and neighbours who carried the name and left a trace in public archives. Everyone shown here died long ago or was born more than a century ago.

United States5,573 records

5,573 records of the Callaghan name in the United States
  • Passenger arrivals in the United States, 1820–1912 3,100
  • New York City birth, marriage and death certificates 955
  • Other U.S. records 1,518
  1. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record Joseph J. Callaghan

    Born 1911 in New York. Enlisted 1941 at Jamaica; driver from Queens County. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 1969, buried at Long Island National Cemetery, New York.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  2. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Catherine Callaghan

    Arrived at New York in 1865 aboard the American Union from Liverpool, aged 20; servant. From Meath, Ireland.

    U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted)
  3. Names engraved on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C.
    Example: U.S. war memorial
    War record James R. Callaghan

    Born 1931; from Cuyahoga County, Ohio. U.S. Army, light weapons infantryman; killed in action 1951 in South Korea.

    U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain)

Showing 3 of 5,573 records for Callaghan in the United States.

Counts: U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · U.S. National Archives, Famine Irish Passenger Records (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index · Sacramento County, Historic Burials (CC BY 4.0) · U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: U.S. Selective Service registration card, 1942 (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Vietnam Veterans Memorial, photo by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden, 2009 (public domain).

Australia2,510 records

2,510 records of the Callaghan name in Australia
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 1,044
  • Queensland State Archives indexes 437
  • Other Australian records 1,029
  1. An 1829 etching of convicts being rowed out to the prison ship York in Portsmouth Harbour
    Pictured: convicts going on board a prison ship, 1829
    Transportation record Bridget Callaghan

    Transported to Van Diemen's Land aboard the Kinnear, sailing from Dublin in 1848. Native of Kildare. Applied for permission to marry in Van Diemen's Land in 1850. Married 1850 in Bothwell, Tasmania, aged 24.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  2. An 1829 etching of convicts being rowed out to the prison ship York in Portsmouth Harbour
    Pictured: convicts going on board a prison ship, 1829
    Transportation record John Callaghan

    Transported to Van Diemen's Land aboard the Rodney, sailing from Queenstown in 1852. Native of Cork. Applied for permission to marry in Van Diemen's Land in 1855.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Stephen W. Callaghan

    Arrived in Queensland in 1878 aboard the Dilpussund, aged 4.

    Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 2,510 records for Callaghan in Australia.

Counts: Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0) · Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) · Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY) · State Library of Western Australia (CC BY 4.0) · ACT Government, Transport Canberra and City Services (CC BY 4.0) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Prison-ship in Portsmouth Harbour, with the convicts going on board, etching by Edward William Cooke, 1829, Royal Museums Greenwich (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

Canada202 records

202 records of the Callaghan name in Canada
  • Nova Scotia Archives name indexes 144
  • Mountain View Cemetery, Vancouver 17
  • Other Canadian records 41
  1. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Wm Callaghan

    Came to Ontario in 1882 aboard the Sardinian, landing at Quebec, bound for Bowmanville, Ontario; Irish.

    Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario.
  2. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Thomas R. Callaghan

    Died 1991, aged 70; buried at Transcona Cemetery, Winnipeg, Manitoba.

    City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg.
  3. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Leslie George Callaghan

    Buried in 1963 at Burnsland Cemetery, Calgary, Alberta, aged 56.

    City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary.

Showing 3 of 202 records for Callaghan in Canada.

Counts: Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. · City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver. · Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada. · City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary. · City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg. · Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario. · Halifax Regional Municipality. Contains information licenced under the Open Government Licence—Halifax. · City of Niagara Falls. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Niagara Falls. · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, photo by Edgar El (CC BY 3.0).

United Kingdom57 records

57 records of the Callaghan name in the United Kingdom
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 39
  • Stirling Council burial records 13
  • Other British records 5
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Helen Callaghan

    Died 1911, aged 62; buried at Bannockburn Cemetery, Stirling, Scotland.

    Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
  2. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Mary Callaghan

    Will proved in 1935; of Swansea, Glamorgan.

    National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0)
  3. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record L. Callaghan

    Driver, Royal Field Artillery. Listed among the dead in the War Office casualty list of 1919.

    National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain)

Showing 3 of 57 records for Callaghan in the United Kingdom.

Counts: National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. · MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. · National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain); C. & E. Morton Ltd roll of honour, 1914–1919, photo by Adrian S Pye via Geograph (CC BY-SA 2.0).

New Zealand49 records

49 records of the Callaghan name in New Zealand
  • Christchurch City cemetery records 39
  • Thames-Coromandel District cemetery records 6
  • Other New Zealand records 4
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Phoebe Ann Callaghan

    Died 1940, aged 75; buried at Bromley Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Reginald Leonard Callaghan

    Died 1989, aged 69; buried at Totara Memorial Park Cemetery, Thames-Coromandel District, Waikato.

    Thames-Coromandel District Council (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Joseph Henry Callaghan

    Died 1948, aged 66; buried at Omaka Cemetery, Marlborough.

    Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 49 records for Callaghan in New Zealand.

Counts: Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0) · Thames-Coromandel District Council (CC BY 4.0) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0) · Waimakariri District Council (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).

Ireland12 records

12 records of the Callaghan name in Ireland County Galway graveyard records
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Michael Callaghan

    Died 2000, aged 93; buried at Clontuskert, Co. Galway.

    Galway County Council (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Patrick Callaghan

    Died 1947; buried at Kilcummin, Co. Galway.

    Galway County Council (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record James Callaghan

    Died 1986, aged 74; buried at Clontuskert, Co. Galway.

    Galway County Council (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 12 records for Callaghan in Ireland.

Counts: Galway County Council (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).

France2 records

2 records of the Callaghan name in France France's national death register, 1970–2001
  1. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Annie Callaghan

    Born 1920 in the United Kingdom; died 1991 in Orléans (Loiret).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)

Showing 1 of 2 records for Callaghan in France.

Counts: Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Death register of Nice, 1930, Archives départementales des Alpes-Maritimes (public domain).

Netherlands2 records

2 records of the Callaghan name in the Netherlands Dutch civil registers (births, marriages, deaths)
  1. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Leo Callaghan

    Died 1954 in 's-Gravenhage, aged 60.

    Open Archives, Haags Gemeentearchief (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 1 of 2 records for Callaghan in the Netherlands.

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0).

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Callaghan.

When the index is not enough

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