Gaskins
Derived from a medieval nickname for someone who wore gaskins, which were a type of loose breeches or hose.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 12,099 Americans carry the last name Gaskins. That puts it at #3,428 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 3.53 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 28,329 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Gaskins surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, 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
12K
1 in 28,329
Census rank
#3,428
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
3.5
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
10K
uncommon in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 10,414 bearers of the surname Gaskins in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 3.53 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 3428th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Gaskins, the largest self-reported group is White at 56.4%. The next largest groups are Black (38.2%) and Two or More Races (2.9%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Gaskins
The surname Gaskins has its origins in England, with the earliest records dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "gærs," meaning grass, and the suffix "-ing," indicating a place or location. This suggests that the name may have been initially used to refer to someone who lived near a grassy area or meadow.
One of the earliest known references to the name Gaskins can be found in the Hertfordshire county records from 1273, where it appears as "Garskyns." This spelling variation is likely indicative of the regional dialect and pronunciation of the time.
In the 14th century, the surname Gaskins began to appear in various manorial records and tax rolls across southern England, particularly in counties such as Surrey, Sussex, and Kent. This suggests that the name was well-established and possibly associated with specific locations or settlements in these areas.
The Domesday Book, the impressive survey of England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086, does not contain any direct references to the surname Gaskins. However, it does include mentions of places with similar names, such as "Gersinges" in Surrey, which could be related to the origin of the surname.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Gaskins was John Gaskins, who was born in Wiltshire, England, around 1520. He was a prominent landowner and is mentioned in several legal documents from the mid-16th century.
Another notable figure was Richard Gaskins, born in 1635 in Kent, England. He was a merchant and ship owner who played a significant role in the early colonial trade between England and the American colonies.
In the 17th century, the surname Gaskins began to spread beyond England, with several individuals bearing the name emigrating to the American colonies. One such individual was William Gaskins, born in 1650 in Norfolk, England, who settled in Virginia and became a successful tobacco farmer.
The Gaskins surname also has connections to place names in England. For example, the village of Gaskins in Hampshire is believed to have derived its name from the surname, rather than the other way around.
Throughout history, there have been several other notable individuals with the surname Gaskins, including:
1. Elizabeth Gaskins (1710-1789), an English author and poet from Sussex.
2. Robert Gaskins (1795-1872), a British soldier who served in the Napoleonic Wars.
3. John Gaskins (1828-1905), an American politician and lawyer from North Carolina.
4. Mary Gaskins (1892-1978), an Irish-born novelist and playwright.
5. Thomas Gaskins (1915-2001), an American jazz musician and bandleader from New Orleans.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Gaskins
Among Census respondents with the surname Gaskins, the largest self-reported group is White at 56.4%. The next largest groups are Black (38.2%) and Two or More Races (2.9%).
The bar chart below shows how Gaskins bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 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.
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 Gaskins surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White56.4%
- Black or African American38.2%
- Two or more races2.9%
- Hispanic or Latino1.8%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.5%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.4%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Gaskins surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #3,327 | #3,428 | -3.0% |
| Count | 9,869 | 10,414 | 5.5% |
| Per 100K | 3.66 | 3.53 | -3.6% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Gaskins bearers went from 9,869 to 10,414 (+5.5% change). The surname moved down 101 positions in the national ranking, going from #3,327 to #3,428.
FAQ
Gaskins surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Gaskins?
The surname Gaskins holds position #3,428 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 12,099 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 3.53 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Gaskins surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Gaskins, the largest self-reported group is White at 56.4%. The next largest groups are Black (38.2%) and Two or More Races (2.9%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.