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

Gamez, 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 Gamez surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Gamez in America

Gamez is the 1472nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Gamez surname appeared 24,256 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 8 people would have the surname Gamez.

We can also compare 2010 data for Gamez 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 Gamez

The surname Gamez originated in Spain during the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Spanish word "gama," which means "deer" or "antelope." The name likely referred to someone who hunted these animals or lived near an area where they were found.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Gamez can be found in the Cartulario de San Millán de la Cogolla, a 10th-century manuscript from the Monastery of San Millán de la Cogolla in La Rioja, Spain. The name appears as "Gamiz," which was likely an earlier spelling variation.

In the 13th century, the name Gamez was associated with several noble families in Spain, particularly in the regions of Andalusia and Extremadura. One notable individual was Fernán Gómez de Sandoval (1265-1314), a prominent nobleman who served as the Governor of Andalusia and played a crucial role in the Reconquista, the protracted struggle between Christian and Moorish forces for control of the Iberian Peninsula.

During the 15th century, the surname Gamez gained prominence in the Americas as Spanish explorers and settlers brought the name to the New World. One such individual was Juan García de Gámez (c. 1450-1505), a Spanish explorer who accompanied Christopher Columbus on his second voyage to the Americas in 1493.

Another notable figure was Gonzalo Gómez de Espinosa (c. 1490-1536), a Spanish conquistador who participated in the conquest of Mexico alongside Hernán Cortés. He is best known for his role in the Spanish expedition to the Yucatán Peninsula and the subsequent founding of the city of Campeche.

In the 16th century, the surname Gamez was also found in Portugal, where it was sometimes spelled "Gomes" or "Gomez." One prominent individual with this name was Estêvão Gomes (c. 1520-1579), a Portuguese explorer and navigator who made significant contributions to the exploration of the Indian Ocean and the East Indies.

Over time, the surname Gamez has spread to various parts of the world, including Latin America, the United States, and other countries with Spanish and Portuguese influences. While the name retains its roots in the Iberian Peninsula, it has become a part of the rich tapestry of global cultural diversity.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Gamez

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

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

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

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