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

Gann, 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 Gann surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Gann in America

Gann is the 2780th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Gann surname appeared 12,972 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 Gann.

We can also compare 2010 data for Gann 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 Gann

The surname Gann is of English origin, with roots dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "ganne," which referred to a gap or opening, suggesting that the name may have initially been used to identify someone who lived near a gap in a hedge or fence.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Gann can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from the year 1191, where it appears as "Ganne." This historical record demonstrates the surname's long-standing presence in the region.

During the 13th century, the name underwent several spelling variations, including "Ganne," "Gann," and "Ganne." These variations were common due to the inconsistencies in literacy and record-keeping practices of the time.

In the 14th century, the surname Gann appeared in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire, indicating its spread across different counties in England. This period also saw the emergence of place names associated with the surname, such as Gannow in Lancashire and Gannow Green in Yorkshire.

One notable individual bearing the Gann surname was Sir John Gann (1573-1647), an English merchant and politician who served as the Lord Mayor of London in 1636. He played a significant role in the economic and political affairs of the city during the turbulent years leading up to the English Civil War.

Another prominent figure was Thomas Gann (1766-1838), a British naval officer and surveyor who is credited with mapping and charting significant portions of the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico. His contributions were instrumental in improving navigation and maritime safety in the region.

In the literary realm, the name Gann is associated with Ernest K. Gann (1910-1991), an American novelist and aviator. His works, such as "The High and the Mighty" and "Fate is the Hunter," drew inspiration from his experiences as a pilot and captured the excitement and dangers of aviation during its early years.

The Gann surname also gained recognition through the achievements of Lillian Gann (1876-1966), an American educator and civil rights activist. She played a pivotal role in desegregating schools in Virginia and advocating for equal educational opportunities for African American students.

Finally, it is worth mentioning Thomas Gann (1867-1938), a British archaeologist and explorer who conducted extensive excavations and investigations in British Honduras (now Belize). His work shed light on the ancient Maya civilization and contributed significantly to our understanding of their culture and history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Gann

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

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

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

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