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

Gadson, 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 Gadson surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Gadson in America

Gadson is the 6422nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Gadson surname appeared 5,291 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Gadson.

We can also compare 2010 data for Gadson 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 Gadson

The surname Gadson has its origins in England, with the earliest records dating back to the late 16th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "gad," which means "goad" or "spike." This suggests that the surname may have initially referred to someone who worked with goads, such as a cattle herder or farmer.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Gadson surname can be found in the parish records of St. Mary's Church in Chelmsford, Essex, where a John Gadson was listed as a resident in 1598. Another early reference is in the Yorkshire parish registers, which mention a Thomas Gadson in 1612.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, the Gadson surname appeared in various historical documents across England. Notably, a Richard Gadson was recorded as a landowner in the Hertfordshire Hearth Tax records of 1673. In 1712, a William Gadson was listed as a freeman of the City of London.

The Gadson surname has also been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. John Gadson (1812-1892) was a prominent English architect who designed several churches and public buildings in London and the surrounding areas. Another notable figure was Mary Gadson (1839-1923), a pioneering educator who founded one of the first schools for girls in Birmingham.

Other historical figures with the Gadson surname include:

1. Thomas Gadson (1765-1846), an English mathematician and astronomer who made significant contributions to the study of celestial mechanics.
2. Elizabeth Gadson (1802-1878), a British philanthropist and social reformer, known for her efforts in improving the living conditions of factory workers in Manchester.
3. James Gadson (1845-1912), a British explorer and naturalist who led several expeditions to the African continent and documented its flora and fauna.
4. Robert Gadson (1887-1957), a British military officer who served in both World War I and World War II, earning numerous decorations for his bravery and leadership.
5. Margaret Gadson (1920-2005), a renowned British author and poet, whose works explored themes of identity, love, and the human condition.

While the Gadson surname has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, including the United States, Canada, and Australia, carried by immigrants and their descendants.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Gadson

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

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

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

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