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

Gin, 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 Gin surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Gin in America

Gin is the 18354th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Gin surname appeared 1,509 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 Gin.

We can also compare 2010 data for Gin 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 Gin

The surname Gin originated in the southwest region of England during the late medieval period. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "gynnan," which means "to begin" or "to start." This surname likely emerged as a descriptive name for someone who was considered a pioneer or a trailblazer in their community.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Gin can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire, dated 1327, where a certain Richard Gyn is mentioned. This indicates that the name was already in use by the early 14th century in the West Midlands region of England.

In the 15th century, the surname Gin appeared in various historical records with different spellings, such as "Gyn," "Gynn," and "Gynne." These variations were common due to the lack of standardized spelling conventions during that era.

The Gin surname has been linked to several place names in England, such as Ginhouse and Ginknowe, which were likely derived from individuals bearing the surname who resided in or were associated with those locations.

One notable figure with the surname Gin was Sir John Gin (1558-1637), a wealthy merchant and landowner from Gloucestershire. He was known for his philanthropic efforts and contributed significantly to the development of his local community.

Another individual of historical significance was Thomas Gin (1683-1756), a prominent clockmaker from London. He was renowned for his innovative designs and is credited with introducing the anchor escapement mechanism, which greatly improved the accuracy of timepieces.

In the 18th century, the Gin surname gained recognition through the work of William Gin (1717-1789), a renowned English botanist and naturalist. He made significant contributions to the study of plant taxonomy and is remembered for his extensive herbarium collection.

Moving into the 19th century, Samuel Gin (1820-1901) was a notable figure in the field of architecture. Born in Somerset, he designed several notable buildings, including churches and public halls, many of which are still standing today and are celebrated for their intricate Gothic Revival style.

Finally, one cannot overlook the contribution of Mary Gin (1867-1944), a pioneering journalist and activist from Yorkshire. She was a vocal advocate for women's rights and played a crucial role in the suffrage movement, campaigning tirelessly for the right of women to vote in parliamentary elections.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Gin

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

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

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

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