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

Gascon, 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 Gascon surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Gascon in America

Gascon is the 13806th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Gascon surname appeared 2,190 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Gascon.

We can also compare 2010 data for Gascon 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 Gascon

The surname Gascon originated in the Gascony region of southwestern France, an area historically known as Gascogne. The name can be traced back to the 11th century and is derived from the Old Gascon word "Gascon," meaning "a person from Gascony."

Gascony was once an independent duchy and later a province of France. The region has a rich cultural heritage, with its own language, customs, and traditions. The Gascon people were known for their distinct dialect and their involvement in the wine trade, which was a significant part of the local economy.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Gascon can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landowners in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. This suggests that individuals with this surname had already migrated from France to England by the late 11th century.

In the 12th century, a notable figure named Arnaud de Gascon (born around 1150) was a prominent knight and troubadour from Gascony. He was known for his literary contributions and his participation in the Third Crusade, where he fought alongside Richard the Lionheart.

During the 13th century, the surname Gascon appeared in various records throughout France and England. One notable individual was Pierre Gascon (c. 1210-1278), a French priest and scholar who served as the Archbishop of Bordeaux and played a significant role in the church's administration.

In the 14th century, the name Gascon gained prominence with the rise of the Gascon family in England. Sir John Gascon (c. 1320-1380) was a respected knight and landowner who held positions of authority under King Edward III. His son, Sir Thomas Gascon (c. 1350-1420), also served as a knight and held important military roles during the Hundred Years' War.

Another notable figure from this period was Arnaut de Gascon (c. 1360-1430), a French poet and composer who was celebrated for his contributions to the development of secular music. His works were widely appreciated and influenced the musical traditions of his time.

As the centuries passed, the surname Gascon continued to be found across Europe, with individuals bearing this name making their mark in various fields, including literature, politics, and the arts. Some examples include Jean-Baptiste Gascon (1592-1656), a French playwright and poet, and Amable Gascon (1776-1857), a Spanish soldier and military leader who fought in the Peninsular War against Napoleonic forces.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Gascon

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

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

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

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