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

Gacayan, 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 Gacayan surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Gacayan in America

Gacayan is the 99378th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Gacayan surname appeared 182 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 Gacayan.

We can also compare 2010 data for Gacayan 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 Gacayan

The surname Gacayan is believed to have originated in the Philippines during the Spanish colonial era, which lasted from the 16th to the 19th century. It is likely derived from the Tagalog word "gacay," meaning "to scratch" or "to scrape," combined with the Spanish suffix "-an," indicating a place or location. This suggests that the name may have referred to a place where the activity of scraping or scratching was prevalent, possibly related to an agricultural or trade practice.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Gacayan surname can be found in the Catalogo Alfabetico de Apellidos, a comprehensive catalog of surnames compiled during the Spanish colonial period in the Philippines. This document served as a valuable resource for tracking and documenting the diverse surnames that emerged during that time.

In the late 18th century, a prominent figure named Juan Gacayan (1742-1812) was documented as a leader in the Filipino resistance against Spanish colonial rule. He played a significant role in the Revolt of the Brotherhoods, a series of uprisings that challenged the authority of the Spanish authorities in the Philippines.

Another notable individual with the Gacayan surname was Pedro Gacayan (1867-1935), a Filipino painter and illustrator who gained recognition for his depictions of Filipino rural life and landscapes. His works captured the essence of the Philippine countryside and were celebrated for their attention to detail and vibrant colors.

In the field of education, Maria Gacayan (1892-1978) made significant contributions as a pioneering educator and advocate for women's rights in the Philippines. She founded the Gacayan College in Manila, which provided educational opportunities for underprivileged women and played a vital role in promoting gender equality.

During the 20th century, the Gacayan surname gained further prominence with the rise of Mariano Gacayan (1912-1998), a renowned Filipino lawyer and politician. He served as a member of the Philippine Senate and was instrumental in shaping various legal reforms and policies that impacted the country's governance and social justice initiatives.

While the Gacayan surname originated in the Philippines, it has since spread across the globe due to migration and the Filipino diaspora. Individuals bearing this name can be found in various countries, each carrying the rich cultural heritage and history associated with their ancestral roots.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Gacayan

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

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

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

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