Find out how popular the last name Gaalswyk is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Gaalswyk.

Gaalswyk, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Gaalswyk surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Gaalswyk in America

Gaalswyk is the 106570th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Gaalswyk surname appeared 167 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Gaalswyk.

We can also compare 2010 data for Gaalswyk to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Gaalswyk

The surname Gaalswyk has its origins in the Netherlands, dating back to the 16th century. It is believed to be derived from the Dutch words "gaal" meaning "barren" and "wyk" meaning "village" or "settlement." This suggests that the name may have originally referred to a barren or infertile area where a village or settlement was established.

One of the earliest recorded instances of this surname can be found in the Dutch census records of 1587, where a Willem van Gaalswyk is listed as residing in the town of Leiden. It is likely that this individual or his ancestors were among the first to adopt the surname as a means of identification.

In the 17th century, the name appears in various Dutch records, including church registers and legal documents. One notable individual from this period was Johannes Gaalswyk, a merchant and ship owner who lived in Amsterdam from 1632 to 1698.

As the Dutch explored and settled in other parts of the world, the surname Gaalswyk spread to other regions. In 1671, a man named Pieter Gaalswyk was recorded as one of the first Dutch settlers in the Cape Colony of South Africa.

The 18th century saw the name Gaalswyk appearing in various historical documents across Europe. In 1712, a German physician named Heinrich Gaalswyk published a treatise on the medical properties of certain herbs and plants. Around the same time, a Dutch artist named Adriaen Gaalswyk (1670-1737) gained recognition for his landscape paintings.

In the 19th century, the name Gaalswyk continued to be found in various parts of the world. One notable figure was Jan Gaalswyk (1815-1890), a Dutch engineer who played a significant role in the construction of the Suez Canal.

Another individual of note was Margaretha Gaalswyk (1841-1912), a Dutch-born writer and activist who championed women's rights and education in the United States.

As the centuries passed, the surname Gaalswyk has maintained its presence in various countries, particularly in the Netherlands, South Africa, and parts of North America. While the exact origins of the name may remain shrouded in mystery, it serves as a reminder of the rich cultural heritage and diverse histories that have shaped our modern world.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Gaalswyk

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Gaalswyk.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Gaalswyk was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Gaalswyk has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Gaalswyk was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Gaalswyk, please contact us.

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