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

Gagné, 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 Gagné surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Gagné in America

Gagné is the 3727th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Gagné surname appeared 9,507 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 Gagné.

We can also compare 2010 data for Gagné 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 Gagné

The surname GAGNE is of French origin, derived from the Old French word "gagner," meaning "to gain" or "to earn." It is believed to have originated in the region of Normandy, France, during the Middle Ages.

The earliest known recorded instance of the surname GAGNE dates back to the 13th century, appearing in various medieval documents and records from Normandy. It is likely that the name was initially given as a descriptive surname to individuals who were particularly skilled or successful in their trades or professions, hence the association with the word "gagner."

One notable historical reference to the surname GAGNE can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive record of landholders and their possessions commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The name appears in the records as a variant spelling, such as "Gagnon" or "Gagnard."

In the 14th century, a prominent figure bearing the surname GAGNE was Jacques Gagne (c. 1320-1390), a renowned merchant and landowner from the town of Rouen, Normandy. Records indicate that he was a respected member of the local community and played a significant role in the region's economic affairs.

Another notable individual with the surname GAGNE was Pierre Gagne (1505-1572), a French Catholic priest and scholar who served as the rector of the University of Paris during the mid-16th century. He was known for his writings on theology and his contributions to the intellectual discourse of the time.

During the 17th century, the surname GAGNE was also associated with the settlement of New France (present-day Canada). One of the earliest settlers bearing this name was Jean Gagne (1625-1695), who arrived in Quebec in 1648 and went on to establish a successful farming community in the region.

In more recent history, the surname GAGNE has been carried by several notable figures, such as Maurice Gagne (1892-1963), a Canadian politician and lawyer who served as a member of the House of Commons of Canada, and Yvon Gagne (1934-2008), a renowned French Canadian singer and actor who gained popularity in the 1960s and 1970s.

Throughout its history, the surname GAGNE has also been associated with various place names and locations, particularly in France and Canada. For example, the town of Gagné in Quebec, Canada, is named after an early settler with the surname GAGNE who established a homestead in the area.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Gagné

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

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

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

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