2000
#143,847
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 106
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Ganssle
A German surname possibly referring to a goose farmer or breeder.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 116 Americans carry the last name Ganssle. That puts it at #155,270 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.03 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,954,779 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Ganssle 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
116
1 in 2,954,779
Census rank
#155,270
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
101
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 101 bearers of the surname Ganssle in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.03 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 155270th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Ganssle, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.0%. The next largest groups are Black (2.0%) and Hispanic (2.0%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Ganssle
The surname Ganssle is of German origin, tracing its roots back to the Middle Ages. It is believed to have originated in the southern regions of Germany, particularly in the areas around Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg.
The name Ganssle is thought to be derived from the German word "Gans," meaning "goose." This suggests that the earliest bearers of this surname may have been associated with the rearing or trading of geese, or perhaps they resided in an area known for its abundance of these fowl.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Ganssle can be found in the Grimm Brothers' collection of German folktales, where a character named Hans Ganssle is mentioned. This reference dates back to the early 19th century, highlighting the name's longstanding presence in German culture.
During the 16th century, a notable figure named Johann Ganssle (1522-1591) gained prominence as a Lutheran theologian and reformer in the city of Nuremberg. His writings and teachings played a significant role in shaping the Protestant Reformation in that region.
In the 18th century, a German artist and engraver named Christian Ganssle (1727-1788) gained recognition for his intricate woodcut illustrations, which adorned numerous books and publications of the time.
Another individual of note was Friedrich Ganssle (1845-1912), a German industrialist and entrepreneur who established a successful textile manufacturing company in the city of Stuttgart. His business acumen and innovative approach to textile production left a lasting impact on the local economy.
Moving into the 20th century, the name Ganssle is associated with Karl Ganssle (1905-1989), a German architect renowned for his modernist designs and his contributions to the reconstruction efforts in Germany following World War II.
While these examples provide glimpses into the historical prominence of the Ganssle surname, it is important to note that the name's origins and evolution span centuries, with many more individuals bearing this name making their mark across various fields and regions.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Ganssle
Among Census respondents with the surname Ganssle, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.0%. The next largest groups are Black (2.0%) and Hispanic (2.0%).
The bar chart below shows how Ganssle 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 Ganssle surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White95.0% · 96
- Black or African American2.0% · 2
- Hispanic or Latino2.0% · 2
- American Indian and Alaska Native1.0% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Ganssle
Ganssle 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
#144,141
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 115
+9 bearers (+8.5%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 294 places
2020
#155,270
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 101
-14 bearers (-12.2%)
Per 100,000 0.03
Rank movement Down 11,129 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #143,847 | 106 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #144,141 | 115 | 0.04 | +9 bearers (+8.5%) | Down 294 places |
| 2020 | #155,270 | 101 | 0.03 | -14 bearers (-12.2%) | Down 11,129 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 Ganssle 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 | #144,141 | #155,270 | -7.7% |
| Count | 115 | 101 | -12.2% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.03 | -15.5% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Ganssle bearers went from 115 to 101 (-12.2% change). The surname moved down 11,129 positions in the national ranking, going from #144,141 to #155,270.
FAQ
Ganssle surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Ganssle?
Name Census estimates that about 116 living Americans carry the surname Ganssle. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,954,779 residents.
How common is Ganssle?
Ganssle ranks #155,270 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.03 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 101 people with the surname Ganssle. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (116), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.03 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.03 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 Ganssle.
Has Ganssle become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Ganssle went from 115 recorded bearers to 101. That is a decrease of 14 (-12.2%). In the national ranking it fell from #144,141 to #155,270.
What does the Census say about the background of Ganssle?
Among Census respondents with the surname Ganssle, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.0%. The next largest groups are Black (2.0%) and Hispanic (2.0%). 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 Ganssle in the 2020 Census, accounting for 95.0% (96 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Ganssle appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (95.0%), Black (2.0%), Hispanic (2.0%). 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 Ganssle (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 Ganssle mean?
A German surname possibly referring to a goose farmer or breeder. 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 Ganssle (0.03 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 many people are called Ganssle?
You can see how many Americans have the surname Ganssle on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — same data roots, lighter UI.