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

Gandy, 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 Gandy surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Gandy in America

Gandy is the 3417th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Gandy surname appeared 10,444 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 4 people would have the surname Gandy.

We can also compare 2010 data for Gandy 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 Gandy

The surname Gandy is of English origin, derived from the Old English word "gang" meaning "to go" or "to walk." It was likely an occupational name given to a walker, messenger, or wanderer. The name is believed to have first appeared in the Norfolk and Suffolk regions of England during the 12th century.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Norfolk from 1194, where a Robert Gandy is mentioned. The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 also list a Walter Gandy in Norfolk. These early records suggest that the name was well-established in the region by the 13th century.

In the 14th century, the Gandy surname appeared in various spellings, such as Gandy, Gandey, and Gaundy, reflecting the variations in pronunciation and spelling at the time. The name is also linked to the village of Gandey in Norfolk, which may have influenced the spelling and spread of the surname.

Notable individuals with the surname Gandy include John Gandy (1615-1689), an English architect and surveyor who designed several churches in London, including St. Paul's Cathedral. Another prominent figure was James Gandey (1767-1834), an English violin maker and musician who worked in London and gained recognition for his exceptional craftsmanship.

During the 17th century, the Gandy family produced several notable clergymen, including Henry Gandy (1646-1714), an English clergyman and author who served as the rector of Toft in Cambridgeshire, and his son, John Gandy (1677-1737), who was also a clergyman and author.

In the 19th century, James Gandey (1790-1857) was an English artist and lithographer known for his landscape paintings and illustrations. Additionally, John Gandey (1814-1892) was a prominent circus proprietor and showman who established the Gandey Family Circus, which continues to operate today.

While the surname Gandy is not among the most common in England, it has a long and rich history, with records dating back to the 12th century and notable individuals spanning various professions, from architecture and religion to the arts and entertainment.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Gandy

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

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

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

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