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

Gjonbalaj, 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 Gjonbalaj surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Gjonbalaj in America

Gjonbalaj is the 53419th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Gjonbalaj surname appeared 387 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 Gjonbalaj.

We can also compare 2010 data for Gjonbalaj 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 Gjonbalaj

The surname GJONBALAJ originates from Albania, a small country in the Balkans region of Southeastern Europe. This name has its roots in the Albanian language, which is an Indo-European language spoken primarily in Albania, Kosovo, and other neighboring regions.

The name GJONBALAJ is believed to be derived from the combination of two Albanian words, "gjon" and "balaj." The word "gjon" is a variant of the name "John," which is a common Christian name in many cultures. The word "balaj" is thought to have originated from an old Albanian term meaning "shepherd" or "herdsman."

In the early medieval period, many Albanians were known for their pastoral lifestyles, with shepherding being a prominent occupation. It is likely that the surname GJONBALAJ initially referred to an individual named John who was a shepherd or came from a family of shepherds.

While there are no definitive historical records indicating the earliest known use of the surname GJONBALAJ, it is believed to have emerged in the mountainous regions of northern and central Albania, where traditional pastoral activities were prevalent.

One of the earliest recorded individuals bearing the GJONBALAJ surname is Gjergj GJONBALAJ, who lived in the 16th century and was a prominent figure in the resistance against the Ottoman Empire's occupation of Albania. Another notable figure was Pjetër GJONBALAJ, a 17th-century Albanian writer and scholar known for his contributions to the development of the Albanian language.

In the 18th century, Lekë GJONBALAJ was a respected Albanian leader who played a crucial role in defending the region against foreign invasions. His son, Mehmet GJONBALAJ, followed in his footsteps and became a influential military commander in the early 19th century.

During the 19th and early 20th centuries, the GJONBALAJ surname was particularly prevalent in the northern Albanian regions of Shkodra, Pukë, and Tropojë, where many individuals bearing this name were involved in various political and cultural movements.

One notable figure from this period was Mikel GJONBALAJ (1872-1942), a prominent Albanian educator and writer who played a significant role in promoting the Albanian language and culture during the country's struggle for independence from the Ottoman Empire.

While the GJONBALAJ surname has its origins in the pastoral traditions of ancient Albania, it has since become associated with individuals from diverse backgrounds and professions, reflecting the country's rich cultural heritage and history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Gjonbalaj

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

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

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

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