2010
#144,141
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 115
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Gilzene
A variant spelling of the French surname Gilzene, derived from a place name possibly related to the French word "giles" meaning a miser or stingy person.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 182 Americans carry the last name Gilzene. That puts it at #116,252 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.05 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 1,883,266 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Gilzene surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, 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
182
1 in 1,883,266
Census rank
#116,252
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
159
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 159 bearers of the surname Gilzene in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.05 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 116252nd position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Gilzene, the largest self-reported group is Black at 89.3%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (4.4%) and White (3.1%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Gilzene
The surname GILZENE has its roots in France, originating during the Middle Ages. It is believed to have derived from the Old French word "gille," meaning a youth or a servant, combined with the suffix "-zene," potentially indicating a place of origin or occupation.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname GILZENE can be traced back to the 13th century in the region of Normandy, France. Historical records from that era suggest that the name may have been associated with a specific village or hamlet, as it was common practice at the time for surnames to be derived from place names.
In the 15th century, the GILZENE surname appears in various municipal records and legal documents in the northern regions of France, such as Picardy and Artois. This suggests that the family had spread and established roots in different parts of the country.
During the 16th and 17th centuries, the GILZENE name gained prominence in certain areas of France. Jean GILZENE, born in 1542 in Amiens, was a notable figure known for his contributions to the local community and his involvement in civic affairs.
As the centuries progressed, the GILZENE surname traveled beyond the borders of France. In the late 18th century, Jacques GILZENE, born in 1768 in Calais, became a merchant and eventually settled in England, establishing a branch of the family in the British Isles.
Another notable individual with the GILZENE surname was Marie GILZENE, born in 1812 in Paris. She was a renowned artist and painter whose works were exhibited in several prestigious salons and galleries across Europe during the 19th century.
While the GILZENE surname remains relatively uncommon compared to other French surnames, it has left its mark on history through various individuals over the centuries. From humble beginnings in medieval France to its spread across regions and borders, the name GILZENE has a rich legacy that spans multiple generations.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Gilzene
Among Census respondents with the surname Gilzene, the largest self-reported group is Black at 89.3%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (4.4%) and White (3.1%).
The bar chart below shows how Gilzene bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 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.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
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 Gilzene surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Black or African American89.3% · 142
- Hispanic or Latino4.4% · 7
- White3.1% · 5
- Two or more races3.1% · 5
Timeline
Historical Census data for Gilzene
Gilzene appears in 2 published Census surname files: 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2020
#116,252
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 159
+44 bearers (+38.3%)
Per 100,000 0.05
Rank movement Up 27,889 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | #144,141 | 115 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2020 | #116,252 | 159 | 0.05 | +44 bearers (+38.3%) | Up 27,889 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Gilzene surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #144,141 | #116,252 | 19.3% |
| Count | 115 | 159 | 38.3% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.05 | 33.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Gilzene bearers went from 115 to 159 (+38.3% change). The surname moved up 27,889 positions in the national ranking, going from #144,141 to #116,252.
FAQ
Gilzene surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Gilzene?
Name Census estimates that about 182 living Americans carry the surname Gilzene. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 1,883,266 residents.
How common is Gilzene?
Gilzene ranks #116,252 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.05 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 159 people with the surname Gilzene. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (182), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.05 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.05 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Gilzene.
Has Gilzene become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Gilzene went from 115 recorded bearers to 159. That is an increase of 44 (+38.3%). In the national ranking it rose from #144,141 to #116,252.
What does the Census say about the background of Gilzene?
Among Census respondents with the surname Gilzene, the largest self-reported group is Black at 89.3%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (4.4%) and White (3.1%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
Black is the largest self-reported group for the surname Gilzene in the 2020 Census, accounting for 89.3% (142 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Gilzene appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are Black (89.3%), Hispanic (4.4%), White (3.1%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Gilzene (2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Gilzene mean?
A variant spelling of the French surname Gilzene, derived from a place name possibly related to the French word "giles" meaning a miser or stingy person. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Gilzene (0.05 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people share the surname Gilzene?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.