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

Gillenwater, 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 Gillenwater surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Gillenwater in America

Gillenwater is the 10545th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Gillenwater surname appeared 3,041 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 Gillenwater.

We can also compare 2010 data for Gillenwater 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 Gillenwater

The surname Gillenwater has its origins in the German language, derived from the older spelling "Gilgenwater" or "Gilgenwatre." It is believed to have originated in the late 12th or early 13th century in the region of Bavaria, which was then part of the Holy Roman Empire. The name is thought to be a combination of the German words "gilge," meaning "bell," and "watre," meaning "water" or "stream."

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name can be found in a medieval document from the town of Augsburg, dated around 1285. This document refers to a family by the name of "Gilgenwatre," who were landowners in the area. It is likely that the name was initially associated with a specific location or property near a body of water where bells could be heard, such as a church or monastery.

By the 16th century, the name had spread to other regions of Germany, as well as parts of Austria and Switzerland. Historical records from this period show variations in spelling, including "Gilgenwater," "Gilgenwaeter," and "Gillenwasser." One notable individual from this time was Hans Gilgenwater, a merchant and alderman in the city of Nuremberg, who lived from approximately 1520 to 1587.

As German settlers began to migrate to other parts of Europe and eventually to the Americas, the name Gillenwater traveled with them. In the early 18th century, a family by the name of Gillenwater settled in the colony of Pennsylvania, where they anglicized the spelling to its current form. One of the earliest known bearers of the name in America was Johann Gillenwater, who was born in 1712 and served as a soldier during the French and Indian War.

Throughout the centuries, the Gillenwater name has been associated with various notable individuals, including:

1. William Gillenwater (1768-1846), an American farmer and Revolutionary War veteran from Virginia.
2. Mary Gillenwater (1826-1908), a pioneer and midwife who helped establish the town of Gillenwater, Kansas.
3. Johann Gillenwater (1841-1912), a German-American artist and painter known for his landscapes and portraits.
4. Robert Gillenwater (1890-1968), a British author and historian who wrote extensively about the Norman conquest of England.
5. Anna Gillenwater (1920-2005), an Austrian opera singer and soprano who performed with the Vienna State Opera.

While the surname Gillenwater is not among the most common, it has a rich history that spans multiple countries and centuries, reflecting the diverse journeys and contributions of those who have borne this name over time.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Gillenwater

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

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

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

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