2000
#28,028
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 805
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.30
Very Rare Last name
Geathers
A variant spelling of Gathers, an occupational surname referring to someone who gathers crops.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 949 Americans carry the last name Geathers. That puts it at #30,247 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.28 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 361,174 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Geathers surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
949
1 in 361,174
Census rank
#30,247
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.3
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
828
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 828 bearers of the surname Geathers in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.28 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 30247th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Geathers, the largest self-reported group is Black at 91.9%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (4.2%) and Hispanic (2.7%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Geathers
The surname Geathers is of English origin, tracing its roots back to the Anglo-Saxon era before the Norman Conquest of 1066. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "geat," which referred to a gate or passage. The name likely originated as a descriptive term for someone who lived near a prominent gate or passageway.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Geathere." This historical record was commissioned by William the Conqueror to survey the landholdings and resources across much of England and parts of Wales.
In the 13th century, the surname Geathers appeared in various forms, including "Geatere" and "Gethere," reflecting regional variations in spelling and pronunciation. Some of these variations were influenced by place names, as the surname was often locational, referring to specific towns or villages.
One notable individual bearing the name Geathers was Sir John Geathers, a prominent landowner and knight who lived in the late 14th century. Records indicate that he owned substantial estates in the county of Oxfordshire and served as a member of the King's Council during the reign of Richard II.
Another historical figure with the surname Geathers was William Geathers, a merchant and trader who lived in the city of Bristol during the 16th century. He was known for his successful ventures in the wool trade and his involvement in the city's merchant guilds.
In the 17th century, the Geathers family established a presence in the county of Gloucestershire, where they were landowners and influential members of the local gentry. One member of the family, Thomas Geathers (1621-1692), was a prominent figure in the local community and served as a Justice of the Peace.
During the 18th century, the surname Geathers spread more widely across England, with individuals bearing the name found in various regions. One notable figure from this period was John Geathers (1724-1802), a clergyman and author who published several works on theology and philosophy.
Throughout its history, the surname Geathers has been associated with various professions, including landowners, merchants, clergy, and members of the gentry. While its origins can be traced back to the Anglo-Saxon era, the name has endured and evolved over the centuries, reflecting the rich tapestry of English history and heritage.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Geathers
Among Census respondents with the surname Geathers, the largest self-reported group is Black at 91.9%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (4.2%) and Hispanic (2.7%).
The bar chart below shows how Geathers bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Geathers surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Black or African American91.9% · 761
- Two or more races4.2% · 35
- Hispanic or Latino2.7% · 22
- White1.2% · 10
Timeline
Historical Census data for Geathers
Geathers appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#30,701
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 759
-46 bearers (-5.7%)
Per 100,000 0.26
Rank movement Down 2,673 places
2020
#30,247
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 828
+69 bearers (+9.1%)
Per 100,000 0.28
Rank movement Up 454 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #28,028 | 805 | 0.30 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #30,701 | 759 | 0.26 | -46 bearers (-5.7%) | Down 2,673 places |
| 2020 | #30,247 | 828 | 0.28 | +69 bearers (+9.1%) | Up 454 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Geathers surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #30,701 | #30,247 | 1.5% |
| Count | 759 | 828 | 9.1% |
| Per 100K | 0.26 | 0.28 | 6.5% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Geathers bearers went from 759 to 828 (+9.1% change). The surname moved up 454 positions in the national ranking, going from #30,701 to #30,247.
FAQ
Geathers surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Geathers?
Name Census estimates that about 949 living Americans carry the surname Geathers. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 361,174 residents.
How common is Geathers?
Geathers ranks #30,247 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.28 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 828 people with the surname Geathers. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (949), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.28 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.28 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Geathers.
Has Geathers become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Geathers went from 759 recorded bearers to 828. That is an increase of 69 (+9.1%). In the national ranking it rose from #30,701 to #30,247.
What does the Census say about the background of Geathers?
Among Census respondents with the surname Geathers, the largest self-reported group is Black at 91.9%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (4.2%) and Hispanic (2.7%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
Black is the largest self-reported group for the surname Geathers in the 2020 Census, accounting for 91.9% (761 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Geathers appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are Black (91.9%), Two or More Races (4.2%), Hispanic (2.7%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Geathers (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Geathers mean?
A variant spelling of Gathers, an occupational surname referring to someone who gathers crops. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Geathers (0.28 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people have the last name Geathers?
For a quick modern take, check how many people have the surname Geathers on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org.