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

Gaddis, 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 Gaddis surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Gaddis in America

Gaddis is the 3877th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Gaddis surname appeared 9,142 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 Gaddis.

We can also compare 2010 data for Gaddis 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 Gaddis

The surname Gaddis is believed to have originated in the British Isles, specifically in England. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "gad," which meant "a goad or spike." This suggests that the name may have originally referred to someone who worked as a herder or farmer, using a goad to guide livestock.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Gaddis." This ancient record provides valuable insight into the distribution and prevalence of surnames in medieval England.

In the 13th century, the name appears in various records with slightly different spellings, such as "Gaddys" and "Gaddyes." These variations were common in the Middle Ages, as spelling conventions were not yet standardized.

During the 16th century, the surname Gaddis began to spread beyond its roots in England. Records from this period show the name appearing in Scotland and Ireland, possibly due to migration and intermarriage between these neighboring regions.

One notable figure bearing the Gaddis surname was John Gaddis, a Welsh poet and translator who lived in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. His work helped preserve and promote Welsh literature during a time of cultural upheaval.

In the 18th century, the name Gaddis can be found in connection with several place names in England, such as Gaddis Green in Leicestershire and Gaddis Farm in Wiltshire. These place names likely derived from individuals or families with the Gaddis surname who once resided or owned land in those areas.

Another prominent individual with the Gaddis surname was William Gaddis, an American novelist born in 1922. He is best known for his complex and experimental novels, such as "The Recognitions" and "JR," which explored themes of capitalism, art, and modern society.

Over the centuries, the Gaddis surname has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including writers, poets, farmers, and tradesmen. While its origins may be humble, the name has left a lasting imprint on the history and culture of the British Isles and beyond.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Gaddis

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

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

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

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