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

Gard, 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 Gard surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Gard in America

Gard is the 7080th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Gard surname appeared 4,729 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Gard.

We can also compare 2010 data for Gard 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 Gard

The surname Gard has its origins in the Old French language, derived from the word "gard," meaning "guard" or "watchman." This name likely emerged in the regions of northern France during the medieval period, possibly indicating that the original bearers of the name held occupations related to guarding or protecting properties or communities.

One of the earliest records of the name Gard can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landholdings in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The entry mentions a landowner named Radulfus Gard, indicating the presence of this surname in the region during the Norman conquest of England.

In the 12th century, a notable figure named Robert Gard was recorded as a prominent landowner in Normandy, France. His descendants continued to hold significant estates in the region for several generations, contributing to the widespread use of the name Gard among the Norman nobility.

During the 13th century, the name Gard appeared in various English records, suggesting that individuals bearing this surname had migrated from northern France to England. One such example is William Gard, a merchant from London who was documented in the city's guild records in 1275.

In the 14th century, a prominent English knight named Sir John Gard distinguished himself in the Hundred Years' War against France. He was renowned for his bravery and military prowess, and his exploits were recorded in numerous chronicles of the time.

Over the centuries, the Gard surname has been associated with several notable individuals, including:

1. Thomas Gard (1516-1586), an English churchman and theologian who served as the Bishop of Salisbury.
2. Sir Ralph Gard (1628-1693), an English politician and landowner who served as a member of Parliament for Wiltshire.
3. Marie-Anne Gard (1738-1819), a French painter and portrait artist who gained recognition for her works during the Rococo period.
4. Robert Gard (1910-1992), an American playwright and academic, best known for his works exploring rural life in the American Midwest.
5. Roger Gard (1925-2010), a British actor and director who had a prolific career in theater, film, and television.

The Gard surname has also been associated with various place names throughout history, particularly in regions of northern France and England. Examples include the village of Gardes in Normandy, France, and the town of Gard in Somerset, England, both of which likely contributed to the widespread use and recognition of this surname.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Gard

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

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

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

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