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

Gaulke, 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 Gaulke surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Gaulke in America

Gaulke is the 23618th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Gaulke surname appeared 1,074 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 Gaulke.

We can also compare 2010 data for Gaulke 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 Gaulke

The surname GAULKE is of German origin, and it is believed to have originated in the region of Prussia during the medieval period. The name is thought to be derived from the German word "gaul," which means "horse" or "nag," indicating that the first bearers of this surname may have been horse traders, breeders, or individuals associated with horses in some way.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the GAULKE surname can be found in the Prussian village of Gaulke, which is located in the present-day Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship of Poland. This village, formerly known as Gaulkehmen, is believed to have been named after the GAULKE family, suggesting that they may have been among the earliest settlers in the area.

Historical records from the 16th century indicate that a family with the surname GAULKE resided in the town of Königsberg, which was then the capital of the Duchy of Prussia. One notable individual from this era was Hans GAULKE, a merchant and landowner who lived in Königsberg during the late 1500s.

In the 18th century, the GAULKE surname gained prominence in the region of East Prussia, with several families holding prominent positions in various towns and villages. One such individual was Johann GAULKE (1714-1782), a respected jurist and legal scholar who served as a judge in the city of Danzig (now Gdańsk, Poland).

As the GAULKE surname spread throughout Germany and neighboring regions, it also found its way into other parts of Europe. In the 19th century, a branch of the GAULKE family settled in the Russian Empire, with some members becoming influential landowners and businessmen. One notable figure from this period was Ivan GAULKE (1832-1901), a successful merchant and philanthropist based in St. Petersburg.

Another significant individual bearing the GAULKE surname was Friedrich GAULKE (1892-1957), a German philosopher and academic who taught at various universities in Germany and Switzerland. His works on existentialism and phenomenology earned him recognition in philosophical circles during the early 20th century.

While the GAULKE surname has its roots in Germany and Eastern Europe, it has since spread to other parts of the world due to migration and intermarriage. However, the historical records and accounts mentioned above provide insight into the origins and early bearers of this surname, which has a rich heritage dating back to medieval times.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Gaulke

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

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

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

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