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

Gladney, 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 Gladney surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Gladney in America

Gladney is the 6729th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Gladney surname appeared 5,012 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Gladney.

We can also compare 2010 data for Gladney 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 Gladney

The surname Gladney has its origins in England, dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "glæd" or "glæde," meaning "bright" or "shining." This name was likely given as a nickname or descriptive name to someone with a cheerful or pleasant disposition.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Gladney name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1202, where it appears as "Gladwyn." This spelling variation suggests that the name may have initially been a combination of the Old English words "glæd" and "wine," meaning "bright friend."

The Gladney surname is also thought to have connections to the village of Gladney in Shropshire, England. This place name is derived from the Old English words "glæde" and "eg," meaning "bright island" or "bright meadow." It's possible that some individuals took their surnames from this location.

In the Domesday Book of 1086, a record of landowners in England commissioned by William the Conqueror, there are entries for individuals with similar surnames, such as "Glademan" and "Glademund." These names could be related to the modern-day Gladney.

Notable figures throughout history who bore the Gladney surname include:

1. William Gladney (c. 1500 - 1570), an English landowner and merchant from Gloucestershire.
2. John Gladney (1620 - 1689), a farmer and member of the Virginia House of Burgesses.
3. Elizabeth Gladney (1725 - 1798), a prominent Quaker minister and abolitionist from Pennsylvania.
4. Robert Gladney (1801 - 1876), a Scottish inventor and engineer known for his contributions to the development of the steam engine.
5. Mary Gladney (1870 - 1952), an American educator and suffragist who fought for women's right to vote.

The Gladney surname has a rich history spanning several centuries, with roots in Old English language and place names. Its evolution and the stories of individuals who bore this name contribute to the fascinating tapestry of English heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Gladney

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

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

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

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