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

Gavit, 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 Gavit surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Gavit in America

Gavit is the 138304th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Gavit surname appeared 121 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 Gavit.

We can also compare 2010 data for Gavit 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 Gavit

The surname Gavit has its origins in England, and can be traced back to the medieval period. It is believed to have originated from the Old English words "gafa" or "gafu," meaning "gift" or "offering," and the suffix "-it" or "-ite," which was often used to form surnames derived from personal names or characteristics.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Gavit can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landowners and property holdings commissioned in 1086 by William the Conqueror. The entry mentions a landowner named Gaufridus de Gavit, indicating that the name was already in use during the 11th century.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various forms such as Gaufit, Gaffit, and Gaffyt in historical records from counties like Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire. These variations suggest that the name may have been influenced by regional dialects or scribal errors during transcription.

One notable figure bearing the name Gavit was John Gavit, a prominent merchant and landowner who lived in the late 15th and early 16th centuries. He was born in Nottinghamshire around 1470 and is recorded as having owned substantial estates in the county.

Another individual of historical significance was Sir Robert Gavit, a military commander who fought in the English Civil War under the command of Oliver Cromwell. He was born in Lincolnshire in 1605 and played a crucial role in several battles, including the Battle of Marston Moor in 1644.

In the 17th century, the Gavit surname was also associated with the village of Gaving in Leicestershire, which may have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the name in that region.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Gavit name in North America dates back to the late 17th century, when a family bearing the surname settled in the colony of Rhode Island. This branch of the Gavit family went on to establish themselves as successful farmers and merchants in the region.

Throughout its history, the surname Gavit has produced several notable individuals, including the English poet and dramatist Philip Gavit (1692-1751), the American politician and jurist Benjamin Gavit (1786-1854), and the pioneering American educator and social reformer Anna Gavit (1819-1898).

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Gavit

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

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

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

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