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

Gaylord, 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 Gaylord surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Gaylord in America

Gaylord is the 6567th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Gaylord surname appeared 5,159 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Gaylord.

We can also compare 2010 data for Gaylord 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 Gaylord

The surname Gaylord originated in England and is derived from the Old English words "gæl" meaning "to hinder" and "horde" meaning "guardian." Together, the words form the meaning "guardian of the hurdle or fence." This name likely referred to someone who guarded an enclosure or a gate.

The earliest known record of the surname Gaylord dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it was recorded as "Gailard." This entry suggests that the name was already in use by the time of the Norman Conquest in 1066.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various spellings, including "Gaylarde," "Gaylhard," and "Gailard." These variations reflect the different dialects and regional pronunciations of the time.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name was William Gaylord, who was recorded in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1273. Another early reference is found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, which mentions a John Gaylord.

The name Gaylord is also linked to several place names in England, such as Gaylord's Green in Buckinghamshire and Gaylord's Farm in Essex. These place names likely derived from individuals with the surname Gaylord who lived or owned land in those areas.

Historically, the Gaylord surname has been associated with several notable figures, including:

1. Walter Gaylord (c. 1550-1629), an English merchant and politician who served as an alderman and Sheriff of London.
2. Hugh Gaylord (1601-1657), an English clergyman and author who wrote several religious works.
3. John Gaylord (1636-1690), an early settler in Connecticut and one of the founders of Windsor, Connecticut.
4. William Gaylord (1784-1865), an English painter known for his landscapes and portraits.
5. Glaucia Gaylord (1896-1976), an American actress and dancer who appeared in several Broadway productions and films.

While the surname Gaylord has English origins, it has also been adopted by families in other countries, such as the United States and Canada, often through immigration or anglicization of similar-sounding names.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Gaylord

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

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

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

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