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

Gadsden, 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 Gadsden surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Gadsden in America

Gadsden is the 134712th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Gadsden surname appeared 125 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 Gadsden.

We can also compare 2010 data for Gadsden 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 Gadsden

The surname Gadsen has its origins in England, dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "gad" and "sen," meaning "goad" and "ridge" or "hill," respectively. This suggests that the name may have originally been a locational surname, referring to someone who lived near a ridge or hill used for goading cattle.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Hundredorum Rolls of Lincolnshire, compiled in 1274, which mentions a Hugo de Gaddesen. This early spelling variation highlights the evolving nature of surnames during that period.

In the 14th century, the Gadsen name appeared in the Subsidy Rolls of Staffordshire, where a John de Gadsone was listed in 1327. This record provides insights into the geographic distribution of the name and its association with the county of Staffordshire.

The Gadsen surname is also found in historical records related to the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land and property conducted in England in 1086. While the name itself is not mentioned in the Domesday Book, it is likely that some early bearers of the name can be traced back to families recorded in this important historical document.

One notable individual bearing the Gadsen surname was Sir John Gadsen (c. 1460-1518), a member of the English gentry and a significant landowner in Hertfordshire. He served as a Member of Parliament for the borough of Hertford during the reign of Henry VIII.

Another prominent figure was Thomas Gadsen (1594-1659), an English clergyman and author who served as the rector of St. Margaret's Church in Lowestoft, Suffolk. He is known for his theological writings, including a treatise titled "The Christian's Consolation against Death."

In the 18th century, Christopher Gadsen (1719-1805) was a prominent American Revolutionary War officer and politician from South Carolina. He is best remembered for his design of the famous Gadsden Flag, featuring a coiled rattlesnake and the iconic phrase "Don't Tread on Me."

William Gadsen (1772-1840) was a British naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars. He played a significant role in several notable battles, including the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805, where he commanded the HMS Thunderer.

Lastly, Reverend James Gadsen (1823-1891) was an English clergyman and author who served as the vicar of Farnham, Surrey. He was known for his contributions to the field of religious literature, including his work "The Christian Life and Doctrine."

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Gadsden

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

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

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

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