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

Gauff, 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 Gauff surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Gauff in America

Gauff is the 86314th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Gauff surname appeared 216 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 Gauff.

We can also compare 2010 data for Gauff 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 Gauff

The surname GAUFF is believed to have originated in Germany, specifically in the region of Baden-Württemberg. It is thought to be derived from the Old German word "gauf," which means "district" or "region." This suggests that the name may have initially been used to identify someone who lived in a particular area or was associated with a specific district.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name GAUFF can be found in the Weingartner Liederhandschrift, a medieval manuscript dating back to the 13th century. This document contains a reference to a person named "Gaufridus," which is likely a variant spelling of the name.

In the 15th century, there are records of a family named GAUFF residing in the town of Esslingen, located in the present-day state of Baden-Württemberg. This family is mentioned in various historical documents, including tax records and land deeds, indicating that they were well-established in the area.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the name GAUFF appeared in several historical records across Germany. One notable example is Johannes Gauff, a Lutheran theologian and professor who lived from 1554 to 1622. He was known for his work in promoting the teachings of Martin Luther and was a respected figure in the academic circles of his time.

In the 18th century, the GAUFF name gained prominence with the birth of Johann Christian Gauff (1753-1817), a German poet and playwright. He was celebrated for his contributions to the literary world and is considered one of the most influential writers of the Sturm und Drang movement.

Another notable figure from this time period was Carl Gauff (1746-1788), a German architect and designer. He was responsible for the construction of several notable buildings in the city of Stuttgart, including the Württemberg State Theatre, which is still standing today.

As the GAUFF family spread throughout Germany and other parts of Europe, the name underwent various spelling variations, such as Gauf, Gauff, and Gauf. However, the core meaning and origin of the name remained rooted in its association with a specific region or district.

It is worth noting that while the surname GAUFF has a rich history and can be traced back to the Middle Ages, it is not currently among the most common surnames in Germany or other parts of the world. Nevertheless, it remains an important part of the cultural and genealogical heritage of those who bear this name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Gauff

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

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

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

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