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

Gassama, 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 Gassama surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Gassama in America

Gassama is the 78040th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Gassama surname appeared 245 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 Gassama.

The history of the last name Gassama

The surname Gassama originates from West Africa, particularly in the countries of Senegal and Mali. It can be traced back to the 14th century, when the Gassama clan ruled over parts of the Wolof Empire in present-day Senegal.

The name is believed to be derived from the Wolof word "gass," which means "warrior" or "soldier." This suggests that the Gassama clan likely held a prominent military role within the empire during that period.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the Gassama name can be found in the writings of Portuguese explorer Alvise Cadamosto, who visited the region in the 15th century. In his accounts, he described encountering a powerful ruler named Gassama, who controlled territories along the Gambia River.

In the 17th century, a notable figure named Ousmane Gassama played a significant role in the resistance against French colonial forces in Senegal. He led a rebellion against the French in the region of Cayor and is remembered as a symbol of the Wolof people's struggle for independence.

Another prominent individual with the Gassama surname was Mamadou Gassama, a Senegalese diplomat and politician who served as the Secretary-General of the Organization of African Unity (now the African Union) from 1964 to 1968.

In more recent history, Mamoudou Gassama (born 1996) gained international recognition in 2018 for his heroic act of scaling a building in Paris to rescue a child hanging from a balcony. His bravery was widely celebrated, and he was awarded French citizenship by President Emmanuel Macron.

Other notable individuals with the Gassama surname include Moussa Gassama (1940-1977), a Malian writer and filmmaker, and Fatou Gassama (born 1989), a Senegalese professional basketball player who has represented her country in international competitions.

Overall, the Gassama name has a rich history deeply rooted in the cultural traditions and struggles of West African nations, particularly Senegal and Mali. It has been carried by warriors, rulers, diplomats, artists, and everyday people throughout the centuries, reflecting the diverse experiences and resilience of the communities it represents.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Gassama

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

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 Gassama 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.

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

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

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