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

Gambrel, 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 Gambrel surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Gambrel in America

Gambrel is the 15541st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Gambrel surname appeared 1,883 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Gambrel.

We can also compare 2010 data for Gambrel 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 Gambrel

The surname Gambrel originates from England and is believed to have derived from the Old French term "gambrel" or "gamberel," which referred to a hocked leg or a bent piece of wood used in construction. The name likely emerged during the medieval period, potentially reflecting an occupation or a physical attribute associated with the bearer.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1273, where a certain Robert Gambrel is mentioned. This historical document provides valuable insights into the presence of the surname in England during the 13th century.

In the 14th century, the surname appears in various records, such as the Poll Tax Returns of Yorkshire in 1379, where a William Gambrell is listed. The spelling variations during this period, including Gambrell and Gamberell, highlight the evolution of the name over time.

Interestingly, the surname Gambrel has also been associated with place names in England. For instance, the village of Gamblesby in Cumbria is thought to have derived from a similar root, suggesting a potential connection between the surname and geographic locations.

Notable individuals bearing the Gambrel surname throughout history include:

1. John Gambrel (c. 1500 - 1570), an English merchant and landowner from Somerset, who played a significant role in the local community during the Tudor period.

2. Elizabeth Gambrel (1632 - 1705), a early settler in the British colonies of North America, who arrived in Virginia in the mid-17th century and established a family lineage in the New World.

3. Thomas Gambrel (1735 - 1810), a British naval officer who served during the American Revolutionary War and participated in several battles against the Continental Navy.

4. William Gambrel (1810 - 1876), a renowned architect and civil engineer from Yorkshire, who contributed to the design and construction of several notable buildings and infrastructure projects in the Victorian era.

5. Alice Gambrel (1867 - 1948), an English philanthropist and social reformer, who dedicated her life to improving the living conditions of underprivileged communities in London and advocating for women's rights.

Throughout its history, the surname Gambrel has maintained a consistent presence in various regions of England and later in the British colonies, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and contributions of those who bore this name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Gambrel

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

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

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

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