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

Gass, 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 Gass surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Gass in America

Gass is the 5133rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Gass surname appeared 6,818 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 Gass.

We can also compare 2010 data for Gass 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 Gass

The surname GASS has its origins in the German language, with its earliest known records dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old German word "gast," which meant "guest" or "stranger." This name was likely given to someone who had settled in a new area or was considered a newcomer.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the surname GASS can be found in a document from the German town of Esslingen, dated 1285. The document refers to a certain "Conradus dictus Gast," which translates to "Conrad, called Guest." This suggests that the name was initially used as a descriptive nickname before becoming a hereditary surname.

In the 14th century, the surname GASS appeared in various forms, such as "Gast," "Gest," and "Geste," in various regions of Germany, including Bavaria, Saxony, and Swabia. The variations in spelling were common during this period, as standardized spellings were not yet established.

A notable early bearer of the surname was Johann Gass, a German theologian and philosopher who lived from 1498 to 1552. He was a prominent figure in the Protestant Reformation and authored several influential works on theology and ethics.

Another significant figure was Johann Gass, a German composer and organist who lived from 1674 to 1737. He is remembered for his contributions to the development of the organ concerto and his works for the Lutheran church.

In the 18th century, the surname GASS spread beyond Germany to other parts of Europe and eventually to the Americas. One notable bearer was Joachim Gass, a German-American pioneer and fur trader who lived from 1766 to 1835. He played a significant role in the exploration and settlement of the American West.

In the 19th century, the surname GASS was found in various regions of the United States, particularly in areas with significant German immigration. One notable figure from this period was Patrick Gass, an American soldier and explorer who lived from 1771 to 1870. He was a member of the famous Lewis and Clark Expedition and kept a detailed journal of their journey across the western United States.

As the GASS surname spread across different regions and cultures, its spelling and pronunciation evolved. However, its origins can be traced back to the German word "gast," which served as a descriptive nickname for those who were considered newcomers or guests in a particular area.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Gass

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

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

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

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