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

Giscombe, 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 Giscombe surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Giscombe in America

Giscombe is the 88020th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Giscombe surname appeared 211 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Giscombe.

We can also compare 2010 data for Giscombe 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 Giscombe

The surname Giscombe originated in England, specifically in the northern counties of Yorkshire and Lancashire, during the late medieval period. It is believed to be derived from an Old English place name, possibly "Gyscum" or a similar spelling, which may have referred to a valley or a ravine.

One of the earliest recorded references to the name Giscombe can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land ownership in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. This suggests that the name was already established in the region by the 11th century.

In the 13th century, records show a John de Giscombe who held lands near the village of Clitheroe in Lancashire. This indicates that the name had evolved from a place name to a hereditary surname by this time.

During the 14th and 15th centuries, the Giscombe family appears to have spread across Yorkshire and Lancashire, with various branches emerging in different towns and villages. Some notable individuals from this period include William Giscombe, a merchant and alderman in the city of York, who lived in the late 15th century.

In the 16th century, the name Giscombe continued to be prominent in northern England. One notable figure was Thomas Giscombe (1548-1625), a wealthy landowner and magistrate in the West Riding of Yorkshire. His descendants continued to hold significant estates in the region for several generations.

Over the centuries, the spelling of the name has varied slightly, with variations such as Giscome, Gyscombe, and Gisburn being recorded. However, the modern spelling of Giscombe has been the most consistent and widespread.

Other notable individuals with the surname Giscombe include:

• Sir John Giscombe (1680-1749), a Member of Parliament for the borough of Knaresborough in Yorkshire.
• Richard Giscombe (1735-1804), a renowned architect and surveyor who worked on several notable buildings in London.
• Elizabeth Giscombe (1810-1892), a philanthropist and advocate for women's education in Lancashire.
• Charles Giscombe (1856-1932), a pioneering industrialist and founder of the Giscombe Engineering Company in Yorkshire.
• David Giscombe (1895-1971), a decorated soldier who served in both World Wars and received the Military Cross for bravery.

While the name Giscombe is not among the most common surnames today, it has a rich history deeply rooted in the northern counties of England, with a lineage that can be traced back to the medieval period and beyond.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Giscombe

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

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

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

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