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

Ganal, 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 Ganal surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ganal in America

Ganal is the 69392nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ganal surname appeared 283 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 Ganal.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ganal 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 Ganal

The surname GANAL is of Spanish origin, tracing its roots back to the 15th century in the region of Catalonia. It is believed to derive from the Catalan word "gana," meaning "desire" or "appetite." This suggests that the name may have initially been a descriptive surname, perhaps referring to someone with a hearty appetite or a strong desire for something.

During the medieval period, the name GANAL can be found in various historical records from the Catalonian region. One notable early reference is in the parish records of the town of Girona, where a family by the name of GANAL is mentioned in the year 1457.

The earliest documented bearer of the surname GANAL is Joan GANAL, born around 1420 in Barcelona. He was a merchant who traded in various goods, including textiles and spices, and is recorded as having traveled extensively throughout the Mediterranean region.

In the 16th century, the name GANAL spread beyond Catalonia as individuals bearing the surname migrated to other parts of Spain. One significant figure was Pedro GANAL (1532-1601), a renowned architect who was responsible for the design and construction of several churches and public buildings in the city of Seville.

During the 17th century, the GANAL surname made its way to the Americas as Spain expanded its colonial empire. Notable individuals from this period include Juana GANAL (1624-1689), a landowner and entrepreneur who established a successful cattle ranch in present-day Argentina.

As the GANAL name continued to spread throughout the Spanish-speaking world, it underwent various spelling variations, such as GANALL, GANALE, and GANAL-SÁNCHEZ. One prominent figure from the 18th century was Francisco GANAL y Gómez (1712-1786), a military officer who served in the Spanish army and participated in various campaigns against the British in the Caribbean.

In the 19th century, the GANAL surname gained recognition in the field of literature with the birth of Mariano GANAL (1842-1911), a celebrated poet and playwright from Madrid. His works often explored themes of love, loss, and the human condition, earning him widespread acclaim throughout Spain and Latin America.

Throughout its history, the GANAL surname has been borne by individuals from diverse walks of life, including artists, politicians, scholars, and entrepreneurs. While the origins of the name remain rooted in the Catalonian region, its legacy has spread far beyond its humble beginnings, leaving an indelible mark on the cultural and historical tapestry of the Spanish-speaking world.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ganal

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

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

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

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