Gildon
An English surname derived from a placename meaning "hill valley".
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 651 Americans carry the last name Gildon. That puts it at #39,004 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.19 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 526,504 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Gildon surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, 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
651
1 in 526,504
Census rank
#39,004
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.2
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
565
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 565 bearers of the surname Gildon in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.19 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 39004th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Gildon, the largest self-reported group is Black at 58.6%. The next largest groups are White (35.2%) and Hispanic (3.4%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Gildon
The surname Gildon originated in the Brittany region of northwestern France during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old French word "gille," meaning a young man or servant. The name was initially an occupational surname given to young servants or workers.
In the early 13th century, the name appeared in various records from the Brittany region, with spellings such as "Gillon" and "Gyllon." One of the earliest known references is found in the cartulary of the Abbey of Saint-Aubin in Angers, dated 1218, which mentions a certain "Robertus Gildon."
The surname Gildon later spread to other parts of France and eventually to England, where it can be traced back to the 14th century. One notable early bearer of the name was John Gildon, a landowner from Suffolk, who was mentioned in the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield in 1327.
In the 16th century, the Gildon family established themselves in the county of Devon, England. A prominent figure from this branch was Edward Gildon (1550-1621), a wealthy merchant and landowner from Taunton, Devon.
Another notable individual with the surname was Charles Gildon (1665-1724), an English writer, critic, and playwright. He was born in Gillingham, Dorset, and is best known for his work "The Laws of Poetry," published in 1721.
During the 17th and 18th centuries, several Gildon families immigrated to the American colonies, particularly to Virginia and Maryland. One of the earliest recorded immigrants was John Gildon, who arrived in Virginia in 1635.
In the 19th century, a notable bearer of the Gildon name was William Gildon (1815-1892), a British architect and surveyor. He was responsible for designing several notable buildings in London, including the Royal College of Surgeons.
Another significant figure with the surname was Sir Henry Gildon (1838-1912), a British politician and businessman. He served as a Member of Parliament for Middlesbrough from 1885 to 1900 and was involved in various industrial and commercial ventures.
The name Gildon has also been found in other parts of the world, such as Australia and New Zealand, likely due to migration from Britain in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Gildon
Among Census respondents with the surname Gildon, the largest self-reported group is Black at 58.6%. The next largest groups are White (35.2%) and Hispanic (3.4%).
The bar chart below shows how Gildon bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 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.
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 Gildon surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Black or African American58.6%
- White35.2%
- Hispanic or Latino3.4%
- Two or more races1.8%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Gildon surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #39,004 | #39,004 | 0.0% |
| Count | 565 | 565 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.19 | 0.19 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Gildon bearers went from 565 to 565 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #39,004 to #39,004.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Gildon
FAQ
Gildon surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Gildon?
The surname Gildon holds position #39,004 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 651 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.19 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Gildon surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Gildon, the largest self-reported group is Black at 58.6%. The next largest groups are White (35.2%) and Hispanic (3.4%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.