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

Gainwell, 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 Gainwell surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Gainwell in America

Gainwell is the 159712th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Gainwell surname appeared 101 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 Gainwell.

The history of the last name Gainwell

The surname GAINWELL is believed to have originated in England during the Middle Ages. It is thought to be a locational name derived from a place called Gainwell or Gainswell, which may have referred to a prosperous or thriving spring or well. The prefix "gain" likely comes from the Old English word "gænan," meaning "to make prosperous or productive."

The earliest recorded instance of the name GAINWELL dates back to the 13th century in the county of Lincolnshire. In 1275, a man named Robert de Gayneswell was mentioned in the Hundred Rolls of Lincolnshire, an ancient legal record documenting landowners and their holdings.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as Gaynwell and Gainswell, in several regions of England, including Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire. It is possible that the name was associated with different locations bearing similar names.

One notable historical figure with the surname GAINWELL was Sir Richard Gainwell, a prominent English landowner and knight who lived during the reign of King Edward III in the 14th century. He was known for his military service and his involvement in the Hundred Years' War against France.

Another individual of note was John Gainwell, a scholar and clergyman who lived in the 16th century. He served as the rector of St. Mary's Church in Lincolnshire and was renowned for his works on theology and religious studies.

In the 17th century, the name GAINWELL was found in various parts of England, including London and the counties of Derbyshire and Gloucestershire. One notable bearer of the name was Thomas Gainwell, a successful merchant and trader who lived in London during the reign of King Charles II.

During the 18th century, a branch of the GAINWELL family settled in the county of Yorkshire, where they established themselves as landed gentry. One prominent member of this branch was William Gainwell, a respected landowner and justice of the peace who lived from 1725 to 1798.

Another notable figure was Elizabeth Gainwell, a renowned author and poet who lived in the late 18th century. She published several collections of poetry and was highly regarded in literary circles of her time.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Gainwell

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

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 Gainwell 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.

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

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

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