2000
#12,698
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 2,234
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.83
Rare Last name
Gamblin
An English occupational surname for a person who operated or frequented a gambling establishment.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 2,485 Americans carry the last name Gamblin. That puts it at #13,438 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.72 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 137,929 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Gamblin surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
For British records, Name Census UK has a British surname profile for Gamblin with 1881 census detail, origin facts and modern UK distribution where available.
Bearers in the US
2.5K
1 in 137,929
Census rank
#13,438
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.7
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
2.2K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 2,167 bearers of the surname Gamblin in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.72 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 13438th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Gamblin, the largest self-reported group is White at 77.6%. The next largest groups are Black (12.6%) and Two or More Races (5.0%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Gamblin
The surname Gamblin has its origins in England, where it first emerged during the medieval period, specifically in the 12th century. It is derived from the Old French word "gambilloun," which means "to gambol" or "to frolic." This word traces its roots back to the Latin word "gambarius," referring to a person with bent or crooked legs.
The name Gamblin was initially used as a descriptive surname, likely assigned to someone who exhibited a lively or energetic demeanor or had a distinctive gait or stride. It is believed that the name originated in the county of Shropshire, a region known for its rich history and cultural diversity.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Gamblin can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1195, which mentions a William Gamblin. This historical document provides evidence of the name's existence during the late 12th century.
In the 13th century, the name Gamblin appeared in various forms, including Gamelyn, Gamelyne, and Gamelun, reflecting the variations in spelling and pronunciation that were common during that era. These variations were often influenced by regional dialects and scribal practices.
Notably, the name Gamblin has been associated with several historical figures throughout the centuries. One such figure was Sir John Gamblin (1525-1598), a prominent English soldier and military commander who served during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. He played a crucial role in the defense of England against the Spanish Armada in 1588.
Another notable individual with the surname Gamblin was Thomas Gamblin (1638-1692), an English clergyman and author who wrote extensively on religious subjects. His works, including "A Treatise on the Sacraments" and "A Discourse on the Lord's Supper," were widely read and influential during his time.
In the 18th century, the Gamblin name gained further prominence with the birth of William Gamblin (1742-1811), a successful merchant and landowner from Gloucestershire. He was known for his philanthropic endeavors and his support of local charities and educational institutions.
Moving into the 19th century, one cannot overlook the contributions of James Gamblin (1805-1878), a renowned English artist and inventor. He is credited with developing a process for producing moist watercolors, which revolutionized the art of watercolor painting.
Another notable figure with the Gamblin surname was Sir John Gamblin (1834-1920), a British military officer and colonial administrator. He served in various capacities, including as the Governor of the Bahamas and the Governor of the Leeward Islands, leaving a lasting impact on the governance of these territories.
While the history and origins of the Gamblin surname can be traced back to medieval England, it has since spread across the globe, with families bearing this name found in various parts of the world. However, the essence of its meaning and the legacy of those who carried this surname remain deeply rooted in the rich tapestry of English history.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Gamblin
Among Census respondents with the surname Gamblin, the largest self-reported group is White at 77.6%. The next largest groups are Black (12.6%) and Two or More Races (5.0%).
The bar chart below shows how Gamblin bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Gamblin surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White77.6% · 1,681
- Black or African American12.6% · 272
- Two or more races5.0% · 109
- Hispanic or Latino3.6% · 79
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.7% · 16
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.5% · 10
Timeline
Historical Census data for Gamblin
Gamblin appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#13,600
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 2,228
-6 bearers (-0.3%)
Per 100,000 0.76
Rank movement Down 902 places
2020
#13,438
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 2,167
-61 bearers (-2.7%)
Per 100,000 0.72
Rank movement Up 162 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #12,698 | 2,234 | 0.83 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #13,600 | 2,228 | 0.76 | -6 bearers (-0.3%) | Down 902 places |
| 2020 | #13,438 | 2,167 | 0.72 | -61 bearers (-2.7%) | Up 162 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Gamblin surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #13,600 | #13,438 | 1.2% |
| Count | 2,228 | 2,167 | -2.7% |
| Per 100K | 0.76 | 0.72 | -4.6% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Gamblin bearers went from 2,228 to 2,167 (-2.7% change). The surname moved up 162 positions in the national ranking, going from #13,600 to #13,438.
FAQ
Gamblin surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Gamblin?
Name Census estimates that about 2,485 living Americans carry the surname Gamblin. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 137,929 residents.
How common is Gamblin?
Gamblin ranks #13,438 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.72 per 100,000 residents, which is about 1 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 2,167 people with the surname Gamblin. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (2,485), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.72 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.72 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 1 of them to have the surname Gamblin.
Has Gamblin become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Gamblin went from 2,228 recorded bearers to 2,167. That is a decrease of 61 (-2.7%). In the national ranking it rose from #13,600 to #13,438.
What does the Census say about the background of Gamblin?
Among Census respondents with the surname Gamblin, the largest self-reported group is White at 77.6%. The next largest groups are Black (12.6%) and Two or More Races (5.0%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Gamblin in the 2020 Census, accounting for 77.6% (1,681 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Gamblin appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (77.6%), Black (12.6%), Two or More Races (5.0%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Gamblin (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Gamblin mean?
An English occupational surname for a person who operated or frequented a gambling establishment. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Gamblin (0.72 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people share the surname Gamblin?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.