2000
#144,908
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 105
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Ganeles
A Polish surname derived from the name "Gabriel" and transliterated from Cyrillic.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 128 Americans carry the last name Ganeles. That puts it at #147,954 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,677,768 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Ganeles 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.
Bearers in the US
128
1 in 2,677,768
Census rank
#147,954
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
112
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 112 bearers of the surname Ganeles in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 147954th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Ganeles, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.0%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (5.4%) and American Indian/Alaska Native (1.8%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Ganeles
The surname GANELES has its origins in Spain, dating back to the 16th century. It is believed to have derived from the Spanish word "ganela," which referred to a type of woolen cloth or fabric. This suggests that the name may have been initially associated with individuals involved in the textile trade or industry.
During the medieval period, the GANELES name appeared in various historical records and documents from the region of Andalusia in southern Spain. One notable reference is found in the municipal archives of the city of Seville, where a merchant named Juan GANELES is mentioned in a trade agreement dated 1532.
In the 17th century, the GANELES family expanded their reach and influence, with several members holding prominent positions in local governments and trade guilds. One such individual was Rodrigo GANELES (1612-1678), who served as a councilman in the town of Jerez de la Frontera and was also a respected member of the local textile merchants' guild.
As the GANELES family continued to grow and disperse across Spain, variations in the spelling of the name emerged, including GANELAS, GANELLES, and GANELAS. These variations were often influenced by regional dialects and local scribes' interpretations.
In the 18th century, a branch of the GANELES family settled in the Canary Islands, where they established themselves as successful merchants and landowners. One notable figure from this period was María GANELES (1726-1792), who inherited a substantial estate and became known for her philanthropic efforts in supporting local orphanages and schools.
Another prominent GANELES was Pedro GANELES (1785-1842), a Spanish military officer who fought in the Peninsular War against the French forces of Napoleon. He rose to the rank of colonel and was awarded several honors for his bravery and leadership on the battlefield.
As the GANELES name spread beyond Spain, it also gained a foothold in other parts of Europe and the Americas. In the 19th century, a prominent figure was José GANELES (1832-1904), a Cuban-born artist and painter who gained recognition for his landscapes and portraits depicting the vibrant culture of the Caribbean.
Throughout its history, the GANELES surname has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, ranging from merchants and landowners to military officers and artists. While its origins can be traced back to the textile industry of medieval Spain, the name has since become a part of the rich tapestry of diverse cultures and societies around the world.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Ganeles
Among Census respondents with the surname Ganeles, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.0%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (5.4%) and American Indian/Alaska Native (1.8%).
The bar chart below shows how Ganeles 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 Ganeles surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White92.0% · 103
- Hispanic or Latino5.4% · 6
- American Indian and Alaska Native1.8% · 2
- Two or more races0.9% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Ganeles
Ganeles 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
#152,628
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 107
+2 bearers (+1.9%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 7,720 places
2020
#147,954
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 112
+5 bearers (+4.7%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Up 4,674 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #144,908 | 105 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #152,628 | 107 | 0.04 | +2 bearers (+1.9%) | Down 7,720 places |
| 2020 | #147,954 | 112 | 0.04 | +5 bearers (+4.7%) | Up 4,674 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 Ganeles 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 | #152,628 | #147,954 | 3.1% |
| Count | 107 | 112 | 4.7% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | -6.3% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Ganeles bearers went from 107 to 112 (+4.7% change). The surname moved up 4,674 positions in the national ranking, going from #152,628 to #147,954.
FAQ
Ganeles surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Ganeles?
Name Census estimates that about 128 living Americans carry the surname Ganeles. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,677,768 residents.
How common is Ganeles?
Ganeles ranks #147,954 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 112 people with the surname Ganeles. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (128), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.04 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.04 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Ganeles.
Has Ganeles become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Ganeles went from 107 recorded bearers to 112. That is an increase of 5 (+4.7%). In the national ranking it rose from #152,628 to #147,954.
What does the Census say about the background of Ganeles?
Among Census respondents with the surname Ganeles, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.0%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (5.4%) and American Indian/Alaska Native (1.8%). 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 Ganeles in the 2020 Census, accounting for 92.0% (103 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Ganeles appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (92.0%), Hispanic (5.4%), American Indian/Alaska Native (1.8%). 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 Ganeles (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 Ganeles mean?
A Polish surname derived from the name "Gabriel" and transliterated from Cyrillic. 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 Ganeles (0.04 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 common is the surname Ganeles?
You can see how many people have the surname Ganeles on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — same data roots, lighter UI.