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

Gaitor, 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 Gaitor surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Gaitor in America

Gaitor is the 61436th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Gaitor surname appeared 327 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 Gaitor.

We can also compare 2010 data for Gaitor 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 Gaitor

The surname GAITOR is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period, specifically in the region of Leicestershire. It is derived from the Old English word "gat," which means "goat," and the suffix "-or," which denotes an occupation or profession. This suggests that the name's earliest bearers were likely associated with the rearing or herding of goats.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name GAITOR can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where it appears as "Gaytour." This document was a census-like record of landholders and their holdings in various counties across England. The presence of the name in this record indicates that the GAITOR family had already established themselves as landowners by the 13th century.

During the 14th century, the name GAITOR experienced various spelling variations, such as "Gaitour," "Gaytour," and "Gaitere." These variations were common in the Middle Ages due to the lack of standardized spelling conventions. The name's connection to goat herding or farming is further reinforced by its appearance in the Subsidy Rolls of 1327, where it is listed as "Gaitoure."

In the 16th century, the name GAITOR began to appear more frequently in parish records and legal documents. One notable individual from this time period was John Gaitor, a merchant and alderman in the city of London, who lived from around 1520 to 1587. His prominence in the city's governance and trade suggests that the GAITOR family had achieved a certain level of economic and social standing by the late Tudor era.

Moving into the 17th century, the surname GAITOR continued to spread across England, with notable individuals including William Gaitor (1602-1679), a respected clergyman and author from Nottinghamshire, and Elizabeth Gaitor (1640-1712), a renowned herbalist and midwife from Lincolnshire.

In the 18th century, the GAITOR family produced several notable figures, such as Sir Thomas Gaitor (1718-1789), a prominent lawyer and judge who served as the Chief Justice of the Court of Common Pleas in England. Another notable individual from this period was Mary Gaitor (1755-1823), a pioneering educator who founded one of the earliest schools for girls in the city of Bath.

As the 19th century dawned, the GAITOR name continued to be associated with various professions and achievements. One such individual was Sir Robert Gaitor (1810-1887), a renowned explorer and naturalist who made significant contributions to the study of flora and fauna in the British Empire's colonies.

Throughout its history, the surname GAITOR has maintained a strong connection to its roots in the agricultural and rural traditions of medieval England. While its bearers have gone on to pursue diverse careers and professions, the name itself serves as a reminder of the family's humble beginnings as goat herders and farmers in the heartlands of ancient Britain.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Gaitor

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

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

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

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