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

Gemmell, 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 Gemmell surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Gemmell in America

Gemmell is the 21535th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Gemmell surname appeared 1,212 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 Gemmell.

We can also compare 2010 data for Gemmell 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 Gemmell

The surname Gemmell has its origins in Scotland, tracing back to the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "gemmill," meaning "twin mill" or "double mill." This suggests that the name may have originated from a place name or a descriptive term for someone who lived near or worked at a twin mill.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Gemmell can be found in the ancient Scottish records of Ayrshire, where a person named Willelmus de Gemmill is mentioned in 1296. This indicates that the name was already in use during the late 13th century in Scotland.

In the 15th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as Gemmill, Gemmel, and Gemmell, reflecting the different spellings and pronunciations that were common during that time. One notable individual from this period was John Gemmell, a Scottish landowner who held lands in Renfrewshire in the late 1400s.

The Gemmell surname is also closely associated with the Isle of Arran, an island off the west coast of Scotland. Records from the 16th century mention several Gemmells residing on the island, suggesting that the name may have had a strong presence there.

In the 17th century, the name gained further prominence with individuals like Robert Gemmell (1620-1678), a Scottish minister and writer who served as the minister of Carsphairn parish in Kirkcudbrightshire. Another notable figure was John Gemmell (1650-1715), a Scottish merchant and landowner who owned estates in Renfrewshire and Ayrshire.

During the 18th century, the Gemmell family continued to make their mark, with individuals like William Gemmell (1720-1794), a Scottish businessman and landowner who owned extensive properties in Renfrewshire and Glasgow. Additionally, John Gemmell (1760-1836) was a prominent Scottish architect who designed several notable buildings in Glasgow, including the Trades' House and the Hutchesons' Hospital.

In the 19th century, the Gemmell surname remained prevalent in Scotland, with individuals like William Gemmell (1819-1885), a Scottish engineer and inventor who contributed significantly to the development of hydraulic machinery. Another notable figure was James Gemmell (1835-1902), a Scottish businessman and philanthropist who founded the Gemmell Trust, which supported educational and charitable initiatives in Scotland.

Throughout its history, the Gemmell surname has been associated with various places in Scotland, including Renfrewshire, Ayrshire, Lanarkshire, and the Isle of Arran. While the exact origin of the name remains unclear, its Scottish roots and connections to mills, landowners, and prominent individuals have been well documented over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Gemmell

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

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

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

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