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

Gayles, 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 Gayles surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Gayles in America

Gayles is the 20434th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Gayles surname appeared 1,300 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 Gayles.

We can also compare 2010 data for Gayles 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 Gayles

The surname GAYLES is believed to have originated in England, with the earliest recorded instances dating back to the 13th century. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "gal," which means "merry" or "joyful," and may have been used as a nickname for someone with a cheerful disposition.

One of the earliest known references to the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1273, where a person named Roger Gayles is mentioned. This suggests that the name was already in use by that time. Additionally, the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327 contain an entry for a William Gayles.

The GAYLES surname is also believed to have been influenced by various place names in England, such as the village of Gales in Northamptonshire or the town of Gale in Yorkshire. These place names may have contributed to the development and spelling variations of the surname over time.

During the 16th century, the GAYLES name appeared in various records, including the Feet of Fines for Essex from 1552, which mentions a John Gayles. In the same century, a prominent figure named William Gayles (c. 1535-1590) served as the Archdeacon of Winchester.

In the 17th century, the GAYLES surname continued to be present in various parts of England. One notable individual was John Gayles (1632-1701), a Member of Parliament for Midhurst in Sussex during the reign of King Charles II.

Moving into the 18th century, the name persisted, with records showing a Thomas Gayles (1712-1788) who was a notable landowner and philanthropist in Dorset. Additionally, a Samuel Gayles (1760-1831) was a renowned clockmaker and inventor from Northamptonshire.

As the centuries progressed, the GAYLES surname continued to be carried by individuals from various walks of life, including artists, musicians, scholars, and military personnel. Some notable figures include:

1. Edward Gayles (1819-1897), a British landscape painter known for his depictions of rural scenes.
2. Alice Gayles (1870-1945), an English suffragette and activist for women's rights.
3. Henry Gayles (1892-1967), a British Army officer who served in both World War I and World War II.
4. George Gayles (1913-1998), an American jazz pianist and composer known for his innovative style.
5. Margaret Gayles (1927-2015), a renowned English historian and author who specialized in medieval studies.

While the GAYLES surname may have evolved from various sources and influences, it has maintained a rich history spanning centuries, with bearers contributing to various fields and leaving their mark across different regions of England and beyond.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Gayles

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

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

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

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