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

Gladson, 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 Gladson surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Gladson in America

Gladson is the 23333rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Gladson surname appeared 1,091 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 Gladson.

We can also compare 2010 data for Gladson 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 Gladson

The surname Gladson originates from England and is believed to have its roots in the early 13th century. It is thought to be derived from the Old English words "glæd" meaning "bright" or "shining" and "sunu" meaning "son," suggesting that the name initially referred to the son of a cheerful or bright-natured individual.

The earliest recorded instances of the Gladson name date back to the late 13th century, found in various historical documents from counties such as Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. One notable early reference is in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1285, where a Walter Gladson is mentioned as a landowner.

During the 14th and 15th centuries, the name appeared in various spellings, including Gladdesone, Gladsone, and Gladdeson, reflecting the phonetic variations common in that era. The name is also linked to the place name Gladstone, a small village in Staffordshire, indicating a possible connection to individuals who hailed from or had associations with that area.

Prominent individuals bearing the Gladson surname throughout history include Sir Thomas Gladson (1556-1619), a renowned English naval commander who served under Queen Elizabeth I and played a crucial role in the defeat of the Spanish Armada. Another notable figure was William Gladson (1698-1772), a respected philosopher and author whose work "Treatise on Moral Philosophy" was widely celebrated during the Age of Enlightenment.

In the 19th century, the name gained further prominence with John Gladson (1823-1897), a pioneering industrialist who established several successful textile mills in Lancashire, contributing significantly to the region's economic growth. Additionally, Mary Gladson (1847-1923), a notable philanthropist and advocate for women's rights, played a pivotal role in the establishment of several educational institutions for underprivileged girls in London.

Throughout history, the Gladson name has also been associated with various artistic and cultural endeavors. One such figure was Robert Gladson (1879-1955), a renowned painter whose landscapes and portraits captured the essence of rural England and garnered widespread acclaim during his lifetime.

While the Gladson surname has its origins in England, it has since spread to various parts of the world due to migration and diaspora, carrying with it the rich historical significance and cultural heritage of its English roots.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Gladson

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

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

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

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