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

Gazaway, 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 Gazaway surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Gazaway in America

Gazaway is the 17951st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Gazaway surname appeared 1,557 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Gazaway.

We can also compare 2010 data for Gazaway 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 Gazaway

The surname Gazaway is believed to have originated in England during the Middle Ages, specifically in the county of Sussex. It is derived from the Old English words "gærs" meaning grass or pasture, and "weg" meaning road or way. This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived near a grassy path or road.

One of the earliest recorded references to the surname Gazaway can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex, dated 1296. This historical record mentions a John Garesweye, who was likely an early bearer of the name. Additionally, the Feet of Fines for Essex in 1333 includes a reference to a William Garsway.

The Gazaway surname has undergone various spelling variations throughout history, including Garsway, Garsweye, Garzway, and Garzaway. These variations reflect the regional dialects and the lack of standardized spelling conventions during the Middle Ages.

In the 16th century, the Gazaway surname appears in the parish records of St. Mary's Church in Horsham, Sussex. One notable entry from 1548 mentions the baptism of Thomas Garsway, the son of William and Alice Garsway.

While the Gazaway surname is not particularly common, there have been several notable individuals bearing this name throughout history:

1. John Gazaway (1592-1658), an English merchant and landowner who was involved in the Virginia Company and the colonization of Virginia.
2. William Gazaway (1634-1701), an English clergyman and author who published several religious works, including "The Christian's Guide to Eternal Life" in 1683.
3. Elizabeth Gazaway (1720-1795), an English artist renowned for her intricate needlework and embroidery, some of which can be found in museums and private collections.
4. Thomas Gazaway (1786-1862), an American farmer and politician who served as a member of the Virginia House of Delegates in the early 19th century.
5. Mary Gazaway (1832-1912), an American educator and philanthropist who founded several schools for underprivileged children in the Southern United States during the Reconstruction era.

The history of the Gazaway surname spans centuries, with its roots firmly planted in the rural landscapes of Sussex, England. While not a widely distributed name, it has been carried by individuals from diverse backgrounds and professions, contributing to the rich tapestry of human history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Gazaway

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

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

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

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