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

Gilbreath, 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 Gilbreath surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Gilbreath in America

Gilbreath is the 6980th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Gilbreath surname appeared 4,804 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Gilbreath.

We can also compare 2010 data for Gilbreath 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 Gilbreath

The surname GILBREATH has its origins in England, dating back to the Middle Ages. It is believed to be a locational name, derived from the village of Gilbreath or Gilbright in Lancashire, England. This place name is thought to be a combination of the Old English words "gil," meaning a ravine or deep valley, and "brycg," meaning a bridge or causeway.

The earliest recorded mention of the GILBREATH name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Lancashire from the year 1212, where a Robert de Gilbright is listed as a landowner. This suggests that the name was well-established in the region by the early 13th century.

In the Hundred Rolls of 1274, a survey of landowners in England, there are several entries for individuals with the surname GILBREATH or variations such as Gilbright and Gilbryth. This further solidifies the name's presence in Lancashire during the medieval period.

One notable bearer of the GILBREATH name was Sir Richard Gilbreath, a knight who fought alongside King Edward III in the Battle of Crécy during the Hundred Years' War in 1346. He was renowned for his bravery and was awarded lands in recognition of his service.

Another distinguished figure was John Gilbreath (1585-1655), an English clergyman who served as the Dean of Arches, one of the highest ecclesiastical courts in England, during the reign of King Charles I.

In the 17th century, the GILBREATH family had established branches in other parts of England, including Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. One prominent member was William Gilbreath (1610-1682), a successful merchant and landowner in the town of Doncaster, Yorkshire.

As the GILBREATH name spread across England, variations in spelling emerged, such as Gilbraith, Gilbrath, and Gilbreth. These variations were often influenced by regional dialects and the preferences of individual families.

During the late 18th and early 19th centuries, several members of the GILBREATH family made significant contributions to various fields. Notable among them was Robert Gilbreath (1775-1842), a renowned architect who designed several churches and public buildings in London.

Another prominent figure was Elizabeth Gilbreath (1790-1868), a pioneering educator who established one of the first schools for girls in the city of Bristol, advocating for equal educational opportunities for women.

While the GILBREATH surname has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and immigration. However, its origins can be traced back to the medieval village of Gilbreath in Lancashire, where it first emerged as a locational name reflecting the unique geographical features of the area.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Gilbreath

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!