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

Gatluak, 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 Gatluak surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Gatluak in America

Gatluak is the 153769th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Gatluak surname appeared 106 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 Gatluak.

The history of the last name Gatluak

The surname GATLUAK originates from South Sudan, an East African nation formed in 2011 after gaining independence from Sudan. It is a Nuer name, with the Nuer being one of the largest ethnic groups in South Sudan, primarily inhabiting the Greater Upper Nile region.

The name GATLUAK traces its roots back to the Nuer language, which is a Nilotic language spoken by the Nuer people. In the Nuer language, the word "gatluak" is believed to have derived from the combination of two words: "gat," meaning "to catch," and "luak," referring to a type of fish found in the region's rivers and streams.

Historical records and oral traditions suggest that the name GATLUAK was initially given to individuals who excelled in fishing or had a particular affinity for the activity. It may have been used as a nickname or descriptive name before becoming an established surname passed down through generations.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the GATLUAK name can be found in the accounts of British explorers and missionaries who visited the region in the late 19th century. Among these accounts is a reference to a Nuer chief named Gatluak Gatkuoth, who lived in the latter half of the 1800s and played a significant role in the resistance against Ottoman-Egyptian occupation.

Another notable figure with the GATLUAK surname was Gatluak Khot Thian (1919-1985), a prominent South Sudanese politician and military leader who served as the Vice President of the High Executive Council of the Autonomous Government of Southern Sudan in the 1970s.

Other historical figures bearing the GATLUAK name include Gatluak Deng (1920-2005), a South Sudanese educator and community leader; Gatluak Riak (1940-2018), a Nuer chief and peacemaker; and Gatluak Awan (1955-2020), a South Sudanese athlete who represented Sudan in the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich.

While the GATLUAK surname is predominantly found among the Nuer people of South Sudan, it has also spread to neighboring countries and regions due to migration and intermarriage. However, its origins and deep-rooted connection to the Nuer culture and language remain firmly established.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Gatluak

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

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

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

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