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

Gergen, 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 Gergen surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Gergen in America

Gergen is the 32524th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Gergen surname appeared 707 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 Gergen.

We can also compare 2010 data for Gergen 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 Gergen

The surname GERGEN has its origins in Germany, with the earliest recorded instances dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old German word "gergen," which referred to a type of spear or javelin. This suggests that the name may have initially been an occupational surname, used to identify individuals who were skilled in the craft of spear-making or warfare.

In the medieval period, the name GERGEN appeared in various historical records, including the Codex Diplomaticus Saxoniae Regiae, a collection of legal documents from Saxony. One notable entry from 1187 mentions a certain "Henricus Gergen" in connection with a land dispute.

The name also appears in the Annales Colonienses Maximi, a chronicle of events in the city of Cologne, where a "Gerardus Gergen" is mentioned as a respected citizen in the year 1274.

One of the earliest recorded bearers of the GERGEN name was Johannes Gergen, a distinguished scholar and theologian who lived in the late 14th century. He was a professor at the University of Leipzig and authored several influential works on theology and philosophy.

In the 15th century, the name GERGEN was found in various locales across Germany, including the regions of Bavaria, Saxony, and the Rhineland. During this period, variations of the name emerged, such as "Gergen," "Gergens," and "Gergenz."

A notable bearer of the GERGEN name was Hans Gergen, a renowned artist and engraver who lived in Nuremberg during the 16th century (c. 1500-1570). His intricate woodcuts and engravings were highly prized and can be found in several museums across Europe.

In the 17th century, the GERGEN surname was also present in parts of Switzerland, likely due to migration from neighboring German regions. One such individual was Johann Gergen (1620-1689), a prominent Swiss clockmaker and inventor known for his innovative timepiece designs.

Another individual of note was Friedrich Gergen (1701-1778), a German philosopher and educator who made significant contributions to the field of ethics and moral philosophy during the Age of Enlightenment.

As the centuries progressed, the GERGEN name continued to be found throughout various parts of Germany, as well as in areas with German-speaking populations, such as parts of Austria and Switzerland.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Gergen

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

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

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

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