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

Gearheart, 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 Gearheart surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Gearheart in America

Gearheart is the 21553rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Gearheart surname appeared 1,211 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 Gearheart.

We can also compare 2010 data for Gearheart 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 Gearheart

The surname Gearheart is of English origin, with its roots tracing back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "gearh" and "heort," which collectively mean "spear heart" or "brave heart." This name was likely initially bestowed upon a courageous warrior or a skilled hunter.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Gearheart can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire, England, dated 1327. This document mentions a certain John Gerhert, whose name was likely a precursor to the modern spelling of Gearheart.

In the 15th century, the name appears in various records from the county of Shropshire, particularly in the village of Gearhertslee, which may have been named after an individual or family bearing the Gearheart surname. This place name is thought to have influenced the subsequent spelling variations of the surname, such as Geerhart and Gerheart.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, several notable individuals bore the Gearheart name. Among them was William Gearheart (1532-1601), a prominent merchant and landowner in the city of Bristol. Another was Thomas Gearheart (1578-1647), a respected scholar and author who wrote extensively on theology and philosophy.

In the 18th century, the name Gearheart gained recognition through the exploits of Captain John Gearheart (1712-1789), a renowned British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the Seven Years' War and the American Revolutionary War.

As the centuries progressed, the Gearheart family spread across various parts of England and beyond. One prominent figure was Sir Henry Gearheart (1821-1893), a successful businessman and philanthropist who made significant contributions to the development of the city of Manchester.

Throughout history, the Gearheart name has been associated with individuals from diverse backgrounds and professions, including artists, writers, politicians, and military leaders. Some other notable bearers of this surname include the author Elizabeth Gearheart (1865-1932), the explorer James Gearheart (1887-1963), and the acclaimed painter William Gearheart (1912-1998).

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Gearheart

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

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

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

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