Gleason
Anglicized form of the Irish surname Ó Glasáin, meaning "descendant of Glasán," derived from glas, meaning "green" or "gray."
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 29,545 Americans carry the last name Gleason. That puts it at #1,395 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 8.62 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 11,601 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Gleason surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
30K
1 in 11,601
Census rank
#1,395
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
8.6
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
25K
uncommon in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 25,416 bearers of the surname Gleason in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 8.62 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 1395th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Gleason, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.4%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.4%) and Black (1.9%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Gleason
The surname Gleason originated in Ireland and is derived from the Gaelic personal name 'Gíolla Iasachta', which means 'servant of Jesus'. It was first found in County Mayo, where the name is believed to have originated from the Gaelic 'O'Gillaisigh' sept.
The name Gleason has been anglicized and modified from its original Gaelic form over the centuries. Some of the earliest recorded spellings include Gyllyson, Gyllyshon, and Gillison, which were found in various medieval records and manuscripts from the 13th and 14th centuries.
One of the earliest documented references to the name Gleason can be found in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history compiled in the early 17th century. The annals mention a member of the Gleason family, Aodh O'Gillaisigh, who was a prominent figure in the Gaelic nobility of County Mayo in the 15th century.
In the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landowners in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086, there is no record of the name Gleason or its variants, suggesting that the name was not yet established in England at that time.
One of the most notable figures in history with the surname Gleason was Patrick Gleason (1856-1926), an American politician who served as the Mayor of Long Island City, New York, from 1898 to 1900. Another prominent Gleason was James Gleason (1886-1959), an American actor and writer who appeared in numerous films and television shows throughout his career.
Other notable individuals with the surname Gleason include:
1. Jackie Gleason (1916-1987), an American comedian, actor, and writer best known for his television series "The Honeymooners" and his film work.
2. Donald Gleason (1925-2010), an American baseball player who played for the Cleveland Indians and the St. Louis Cardinals in the 1950s.
3. Andrew Gleason (1921-2008), an American mathematician and professor at Harvard University, known for his contributions to the field of abstract algebra.
4. Kathleen Gleason (born 1950), an American actress and writer who has appeared in several films and television shows, including "The Incredible Hulk" and "The Silence of the Lambs".
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Gleason
Among Census respondents with the surname Gleason, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.4%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.4%) and Black (1.9%).
The bar chart below shows how Gleason bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Gleason surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White92.4%
- Hispanic or Latino2.4%
- Black or African American1.9%
- Two or more races1.6%
- American Indian and Alaska Native1.0%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.7%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Gleason surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #1,395 | #1,395 | 0.0% |
| Count | 25,416 | 25,416 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 8.62 | 8.62 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Gleason bearers went from 25,416 to 25,416 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #1,395 to #1,395.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Gleason
FAQ
Gleason surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Gleason?
The surname Gleason holds position #1,395 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 29,545 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 8.62 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Gleason surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Gleason, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.4%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.4%) and Black (1.9%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.