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

Gehman, 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 Gehman surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Gehman in America

Gehman is the 13545th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Gehman surname appeared 2,238 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 Gehman.

We can also compare 2010 data for Gehman 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 Gehman

The surname "GEHMAN" is believed to have originated in Germany, dating back to the 16th century. It is derived from the German word "Gehmann," which means "a villager" or "a peasant." The name likely originated in rural areas of Germany where agriculture and farming were prevalent occupations.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name "GEHMAN" can be found in the records of the Palatinate region of Germany, which was a significant source of German immigration to North America in the 18th century. The Palatinate region was known for its rich farmland and agricultural communities, which aligns with the meaning of the name.

In the late 17th and early 18th centuries, many German families, including those with the surname "GEHMAN," immigrated to Pennsylvania in search of religious freedom and economic opportunities. The first recorded "GEHMAN" in America was Hans Gehman, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1732.

One notable figure with the surname "GEHMAN" was Jacob Gehman (1750-1832), a Mennonite minister and farmer in Pennsylvania. He played a significant role in the Mennonite community and was known for his leadership and dedication to his faith.

Another prominent individual with this surname was John Gehman (1823-1904), a renowned horticulturist and nurseryman in Pennsylvania. He introduced several new varieties of fruits and played a pivotal role in the development of the nursery industry in the region.

In the early 20th century, Abram Gehman (1875-1953) was a notable educator and author from Pennsylvania. He wrote several books on education and was a strong advocate for improving the quality of education in rural areas.

The surname "GEHMAN" can also be found in historical records from other parts of Europe, such as the Netherlands and Switzerland, where it may have been spelled slightly differently, such as "Gehmann" or "Gehrmann."

Overall, the surname "GEHMAN" has a rich history rooted in German agricultural communities, and its bearers have made significant contributions in various fields, including religion, horticulture, and education, throughout the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Gehman

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

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

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

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