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

Gayer, 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 Gayer surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Gayer in America

Gayer is the 19731st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Gayer surname appeared 1,365 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 Gayer.

We can also compare 2010 data for Gayer 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 Gayer

The surname Gayer originated in France and has its roots in the Old French language. It is believed to have been derived from the word "gai," which means "joyful" or "merry." The name likely referred to someone with a cheerful or lively disposition.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Gayer can be traced back to the 13th century in the regions of Normandy and Brittany in northern France. In these areas, variations of the spelling, such as "Gaier" and "Gaÿer," were commonly found in historical records and documents.

During the Middle Ages, the name Gayer appeared in various medieval manuscripts and chronicles. For instance, a nobleman named Jehan Gayer was mentioned in a 14th-century text from the region of Picardy, indicating the presence of the surname in that area.

In the 15th century, the surname Gayer gained prominence with the rise of a notable family from the town of Dijon in the Burgundy region of eastern France. This family produced several distinguished members, including Jacques Gayer (c. 1420-1490), a prominent merchant and financier who served as a councilor to the Duke of Burgundy.

Another notable figure with the surname Gayer was François Gayer (1589-1670), a French prelate who served as the Bishop of Montauban in the 17th century. He was known for his role in the religious conflicts between Catholics and Protestants during that period.

In England, the name Gayer can be traced back to the Norman Conquest of 1066, when many French settlers brought their surnames to the British Isles. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name in England is found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which mentions a landowner named Radulfus Gayer in the county of Lincolnshire.

Throughout history, the surname Gayer has been associated with various place names and localities. For example, the village of Gayer in the department of Aisne in northern France is thought to have derived its name from the surname, reflecting the presence of families bearing this name in the area.

Other notable individuals with the surname Gayer include:

1. Sir John Gayer (1650-1726), an English merchant and governor of the East India Company's settlement in Bombay (now Mumbai), India.
2. Gaspard Gayer (1646-1701), a French artist and engraver known for his portraits and religious works.
3. Charles Gayer (1834-1908), a British architect and surveyor who designed several notable buildings in London.
4. Édouard Gayer (1819-1888), a French painter and illustrator known for his landscapes and genre scenes.
5. Julien Gayer (1832-1910), a French sculptor who specialized in portrait busts and statues.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Gayer

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

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

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

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