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

Gagner, 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 Gagner surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Gagner in America

Gagner is the 16909th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Gagner surname appeared 1,684 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Gagner.

We can also compare 2010 data for Gagner 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 Gagner

The surname GAGNER has its origins in France, dating back to the Middle Ages. The name is derived from the Old French word "gagner," which means "to earn" or "to win." It is believed that the name was originally given as a descriptive nickname to someone who was skilled at earning or acquiring wealth or possessions.

The earliest recorded instances of the GAGNER surname can be traced back to the 13th century in various regions of France, including Normandy, Brittany, and the Île-de-France region. Historical records from this period, such as tax rolls and parish registers, often list individuals with the surname GAGNER or similar spellings like Gagnerius, Gaigneur, or Gaignor.

One of the earliest documented references to the GAGNER surname can be found in the Livre des métiers, a 13th-century book that recorded the regulations and customs of various trades and professions in Paris. This record mentions a Guillaume GAGNER, who was a member of the guild of chandlers or candlemakers.

In the 14th century, the GAGNER surname appears in several medieval manuscripts and records, including the Armorial général de France, a collection of armorial bearings compiled under the reign of King Louis XIV. This armorial lists several noble families bearing the GAGNER name, suggesting that some branches of the family had achieved a degree of prominence and status.

During the Renaissance period, the GAGNER surname can be found in various historical documents and literary works. One notable figure from this time was Jean GAGNER (c. 1520-1588), a French scholar and humanist who was known for his translations of classical Greek and Latin texts.

In the 17th century, the GAGNER surname spread beyond France as individuals bearing this name migrated to other parts of Europe and the Americas. One example is Pierre GAGNER (c. 1630-1701), a French settler who established a homestead in what is now Quebec, Canada.

Throughout the centuries, the GAGNER surname has been associated with several notable individuals across various fields, including:

1. François GAGNER (1635-1688), a French painter and engraver known for his religious works.
2. Antoine GAGNER (1771-1849), a French general who served during the Napoleonic Wars.
3. Louis GAGNER (1832-1901), a French-Canadian politician and lawyer who served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Quebec.
4. Honoré GAGNER (1879-1957), a French-Canadian sculptor and artist known for his public monuments and religious sculptures.
5. Édouard GAGNER (1891-1967), a French-Canadian writer and journalist who was a prominent figure in the literary circles of Quebec.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Gagner

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

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

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

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