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

Gaske, 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 Gaske surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Gaske in America

Gaske is the 130610th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Gaske surname appeared 130 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Gaske.

We can also compare 2010 data for Gaske 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 Gaske

The surname Gaske originated in England during the late medieval period, deriving from the Old English words "gasce" and "gæsca," meaning "to gash" or "to cut." This name likely referred to an ancestral occupation, such as a butcher, a soldier, or a hunter.

Records indicate that the Gaske surname first appeared in the county of Lincolnshire in the early 13th century. One of the earliest documented instances is found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which mention a John Gascok residing in the village of Grantham.

During the 14th century, the name spread to other regions of England, with variations in spelling including Gascoigne, Gascoin, and Gascoyne. These spellings reflect the influence of the Norman-French language, which was widely spoken among the nobility and clergy at the time.

The Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive survey of land ownership commissioned by William the Conqueror, does not contain any direct references to the Gaske surname. However, it does mention several place names that may have influenced the name's development, such as Gascogne in Yorkshire and Gascric in Hertfordshire.

One notable figure bearing the Gaske surname was William Gascoigne (c. 1350-1419), a renowned English jurist and Chief Justice of the King's Bench. He played a crucial role in establishing the principle of judicial independence and is remembered for his refusal to convict Archbishop Thomas Arundel on charges of treason.

Another historical figure was Thomas Gascoigne (c. 1404-1458), a theologian and Chancellor of the University of Oxford. He was a prolific writer and is best known for his works on ecclesiastical history and his defense of the Catholic faith against the Lollard heresy.

In the 16th century, the surname gained prominence with Sir John Gascoigne (c. 1537-1602), a member of Parliament and a prominent figure in the English Reformation. He served as a Member of the Privy Council under Queen Elizabeth I and played a role in the establishment of the Church of England.

During the English Civil War, Thomas Gascoigne (1609-1646) was a Royalist officer who fought for King Charles I against the Parliamentarian forces. He was captured and executed in 1646 for his role in the conflict.

Another notable individual was Bamber Gascoigne (1935-2022), an English writer, broadcaster, and television presenter. He is best known for creating and hosting the long-running quiz show "University Challenge" on BBC television.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Gaske

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

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

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

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