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

Gabon, 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 Gabon surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Gabon in America

Gabon is the 156044th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Gabon surname appeared 104 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 Gabon.

The history of the last name Gabon

The surname "GABON" is of French origin, and it is believed to have derived from the name of the country Gabon, located in Central Africa. The name "Gabon" itself is thought to have originated from the Portuguese word "gabão," which means "coat" or "cloak," referring to the shape of the Gabon Estuary.

The earliest known record of the surname "GABON" dates back to the 17th century, when French explorers and traders began establishing settlements along the coast of West Africa. It is possible that the name was initially given to individuals who had some connection to the region or who had visited or traded in the area.

In the 18th and 19th centuries, as European colonization of Africa expanded, the surname "GABON" likely became more widespread, particularly among French colonists and administrators who were stationed in or had dealings with the region that is now known as the Republic of Gabon.

One notable individual with the surname "GABON" was Jean-Baptiste Gabon (1790-1855), a French sailor and explorer who is credited with being one of the first Europeans to extensively map and document the coastline of what is now Gabon. His detailed accounts and charts provided valuable information for future expeditions and settlements in the region.

Another prominent figure with the surname was Pierre-Marie Gabon (1825-1898), a French missionary who spent several decades in Gabon, where he established several Catholic missions and schools. He is recognized for his efforts in promoting education and evangelization among the local population.

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, a notable family with the surname "GABON" was the Gabon-Donge family, who were involved in the timber and logging industry in French Equatorial Africa (now Gabon, Republic of the Congo, Central African Republic, and Chad). Several members of this family, including Émile Gabon-Donge (1857-1922) and his sons, played a significant role in the development of the timber trade in the region.

During the colonial period, the surname "GABON" was also associated with various French administrators and officials who served in the region. For example, Pierre Gabon (1870-1940) was a French colonial administrator who held various positions in French Equatorial Africa, including serving as the Governor-General of the territory from 1927 to 1935.

It is worth noting that the surname "GABON" is not particularly common, and its usage is primarily concentrated in France and former French colonies or territories with historical connections to the region of Gabon.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Gabon

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

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 Gabon 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.

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

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

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