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

Gatan, 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 Gatan surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Gatan in America

Gatan is the 113791st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Gatan surname appeared 154 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 Gatan.

We can also compare 2010 data for Gatan 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 Gatan

The surname GATAN is believed to have originated in France during the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old French word "gat," which means "cat." This suggests that the name may have been initially given as a nickname to someone who had a cat-like appearance or behavior.

The earliest recorded instance of the GATAN name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landowners and property holdings commissioned by William the Conqueror after the Norman conquest of England. The name appears as "Gatan," suggesting that it may have been brought to England by Norman settlers.

One notable historical figure with the GATAN surname was Jean Gatan, a French poet and playwright born in 1554. He was known for his satirical works that criticized the excesses of the French nobility and clergy during the late Renaissance period.

Another prominent individual with the GATAN surname was Sir Richard Gatan, an English merchant and explorer born in 1612. He is famous for his voyage to the East Indies in the 1640s, where he documented the customs and cultures of the regions he visited.

In the 18th century, a prominent GATAN family resided in the village of Gatton, Surrey, England. This place name is likely derived from the Old English words "gat" and "tun," meaning "goat town" or "goat enclosure." It is possible that the GATAN surname may have originated from this place name.

One notable GATAN from this era was Captain James Gatan, born in 1745, who served in the British Royal Navy during the American Revolutionary War. He was commended for his bravery and leadership during several naval battles against the French and American forces.

In the 19th century, a renowned GATAN was the French philosopher and writer, Auguste Gatan, born in 1826. He was a prominent figure in the Positivist movement and wrote extensively on the importance of scientific knowledge and social progress.

These examples illustrate the diverse historical figures and origins associated with the GATAN surname, which has roots in both France and England, and has been carried by individuals from various walks of life over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Gatan

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

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

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

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