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

Gaik, 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 Gaik surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Gaik in America

Gaik is the 118853rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Gaik surname appeared 146 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 Gaik.

We can also compare 2010 data for Gaik 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 Gaik

The surname GAIK is believed to have originated in Germany during the Middle Ages, deriving from the Old German word "gaiki," which means "swift" or "agile." This name was likely given as a descriptive nickname to someone who was known for their speed or nimble movements.

The earliest recorded instances of the name GAIK can be traced back to the 13th century in the region of Bavaria, where it was initially spelled "Gaicker" or "Gaicke." It is possible that the name was associated with a specific place or village, as many surnames during that time were derived from the names of settlements or geographical features.

In the 14th century, a record in the Codex Diplomaticus Saxoniae mentions a certain "Johannes Gaicke" from the town of Meissen, suggesting that the name had spread beyond its initial Bavarian roots. Additionally, the Nürnberger Kammerbücher, a collection of administrative documents from the city of Nuremberg, contains references to individuals with the surname GAIK during the late 15th century.

One notable bearer of the GAIK surname was Hans Gaik, a German painter and printmaker who lived in Nuremberg between 1490 and 1557. His woodcut illustrations for various religious texts and literary works are considered significant contributions to the art of the Renaissance era.

Another figure of historical significance was Johann Philipp Gaik (1681-1745), a German jurist and legal scholar who served as a magistrate in the city of Frankfurt. His published works on civil and criminal law were widely respected and influential during his time.

In the 19th century, the GAIK surname made its way to other parts of Europe, including the Czech Republic and Poland. One notable individual from this period was Karel Gaik (1815-1892), a Czech painter and art teacher who played a significant role in the development of the Czech national art movement.

While the GAIK surname may have originated in Germany, it eventually spread to other regions and countries, likely due to migration and intermarriage. Over time, the spelling of the name may have undergone slight variations, such as "Gaigg" or "Gayk," but its roots can be traced back to the Old German word "gaiki" and its connotations of swiftness and agility.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Gaik

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

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

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

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