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

Gable, 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 Gable surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Gable in America

Gable is the 3634th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Gable surname appeared 9,779 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 3 people would have the surname Gable.

We can also compare 2010 data for Gable 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 Gable

The surname Gable originated in Germany and is derived from the Middle High German word "gebel," which means "gable" or the triangular section of a wall between the edges of a sloping roof. This suggests that the name may have been an occupational surname given to someone who worked as a roofer or builder of gables.

The earliest recorded instance of the surname Gable dates back to the 13th century in the region of Bavaria, Germany. In 1285, a document from the town of Regensburg mentioned a man named Chunrad Gebel, which is an early variation of the spelling.

Gable is also believed to have been derived from the German place name Gabel, which is a town in the state of Saxony-Anhalt. This place name itself is derived from the Slavic word "gabel," meaning "fork" or "branch," potentially referring to the forking of two rivers or roads.

In the famous Domesday Book of 1086, a survey of land and property commissioned by William the Conqueror after the Norman conquest of England, there are no recorded instances of the surname Gable. This suggests that the name did not establish a presence in England until after the 11th century.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Gable was Hans Gable, a German artist and woodcarver who lived in the 15th century. He is known for his intricate carvings adorning churches and castles throughout Bavaria.

In the 16th century, Johann Gable was a prominent Lutheran theologian and church reformer from Saxony. He played a significant role in the Protestant Reformation movement in Germany.

During the 18th century, Johann Peter Gable was a German immigrant to America who settled in Pennsylvania. He established a successful farm and mill in the region and became a prominent figure in the local German community.

In the 19th century, Clark Gable was an American actor best known for his roles in classic films such as "Gone with the Wind" and "The Hunchback of Notre Dame." He was born in 1901 and died in 1960, becoming one of the most famous individuals with the surname Gable.

Another notable person with the surname Gable was Walter Gable, an American musician and composer who lived from 1913 to 1989. He was renowned for his work in the big band and swing genres, contributing to the development of American jazz music.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Gable

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

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 Gable 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 Gable 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 Gable was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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