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

Gaver, 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 Gaver surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Gaver in America

Gaver is the 24787th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Gaver surname appeared 1,005 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 Gaver.

We can also compare 2010 data for Gaver 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 Gaver

The surname Gaver originated in Germany, with the earliest known records dating back to the 16th century. It is believed to have derived from the German word "Geber," which means "giver" or "donor." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to a person who was known for their generosity or charitable acts.

In the early 1600s, the name Gaver appeared in various historical documents across parts of southern Germany, particularly in the regions of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg. Some of the earliest recorded spellings include Gäver, Gafer, and Gavere, which highlight the evolution of the name over time.

One notable historical reference involving the surname Gaver is found in the Kirchenbücher (church records) of the town of Lörrach, in the present-day state of Baden-Württemberg. These records, dating back to the late 16th century, mention several families with the surname Gaver residing in the area.

The oldest known bearer of the name Gaver is Johannes Gaver, who was born around 1560 in the town of Freiburg im Breisgau, located in the Black Forest region of Germany. He was a prominent merchant and landowner in the area.

Another notable figure was Hans Gaver (1620-1685), a respected artisan and craftsman from the town of Überlingen, situated on the shores of Lake Constance. He was renowned for his intricate woodcarvings and furniture designs, which were highly sought after by the local nobility.

In the 18th century, a branch of the Gaver family migrated to the United States, settling in the state of Pennsylvania. One of the earliest recorded American bearers of the name was Johann Gaver (1725-1798), who was a farmer and landowner in the town of Bethlehem.

The 19th century saw the rise of several prominent individuals with the surname Gaver, including Mary Gaver (1810-1888), a renowned educator and advocate for women's rights, who established one of the first schools for girls in Baltimore, Maryland.

Another notable figure was William Gaver (1845-1912), a successful businessman and entrepreneur from Philadelphia, who founded the Gaver Printing Company, which became one of the largest printing firms in the region.

Throughout its history, the surname Gaver has been associated with various professions and industries, from artisans and merchants to educators and entrepreneurs. While the name has evolved in spelling over time, its roots can be traced back to the German word "Geber," reflecting its origins as a descriptor of generosity and charitable acts.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Gaver

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!