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

Gallatin, 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 Gallatin surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Gallatin in America

Gallatin is the 22592nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Gallatin surname appeared 1,137 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 Gallatin.

We can also compare 2010 data for Gallatin 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 Gallatin

The surname Gallatin has its origins in France, with its earliest records dating back to the 16th century. It is believed to be derived from the French word "gallée," which means "path" or "road," suggesting that the name may have been associated with those who lived near or worked on roads or pathways.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the Gallatin surname can be found in the Parisian tax records of 1592, where a certain Jean Gallatin is listed as a resident of the city. This early reference indicates that the name was already established in the French capital during the late Renaissance period.

In the 17th century, the Gallatin family appears to have spread across various regions of France, with several branches emerging in different provinces. One notable figure from this time was Pierre Gallatin, a prominent merchant and landowner who lived in the town of Châlons-en-Champagne from 1635 to 1712.

As the Gallatin name gained prominence, it also found its way into the annals of French literature. In the 18th century, the writer and philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau made mention of a certain Monsieur Gallatin in his famous work "Les Confessions," although the exact identity of this individual remains unclear.

The 19th century saw the Gallatin surname cross the Atlantic, with several notable individuals bearing the name making their mark in the United States. Among them was Albert Gallatin (1761-1849), a Swiss-born American politician and diplomat who served as the 4th United States Secretary of the Treasury under Presidents Thomas Jefferson and James Madison.

Another prominent Gallatin was Abraham Alphonso Albert Gallatin (1837-1919), a noted American anthropologist and ethnologist who conducted extensive research on Native American tribes and languages. His work significantly contributed to the understanding of indigenous cultures in North America.

In the realm of art and literature, the Gallatin name was carried by Albert Eugene Gallatin (1881-1952), an American artist and collector who founded the Gallatin Collection of Modern Art, which later became a part of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

While the Gallatin surname has its roots in France, it has since spread across the globe, with families bearing this name found in various countries and cultures. The name's enduring presence throughout history serves as a testament to its rich heritage and the diverse paths taken by those who have carried it.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Gallatin

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

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

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

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