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

Goar, 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 Goar surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Goar in America

Goar is the 33316th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Goar surname appeared 686 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 Goar.

We can also compare 2010 data for Goar 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 Goar

The surname GOAR is believed to have originated in Germany, with earliest records dating back to the 12th century. The name is derived from the Old German word 'gor,' which means 'spear.' It is likely that the name was initially given to someone skilled in wielding a spear or involved in warfare during the medieval period.

One of the earliest documented instances of the GOAR surname can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus Saxoniae, a collection of Saxon historical records from the 12th century. The name appears in various spellings, such as 'Goor,' 'Goore,' and 'Gohre,' reflecting the fluidity of name transcription during that era.

In the 14th century, a notable figure named Heinrich GOAR (1290-1365) was a German clergyman and scholar renowned for his expertise in Greek and Latin literature. He is particularly known for his Latin translation of the ancient Greek work, "The Life of St. Basil the Great."

During the 16th century, the GOAR surname gained prominence in the town of Augsburg, Germany. Johannes GOAR (1512-1580) was a respected theologian and reformer who played a significant role in the Protestant Reformation. His writings and sermons influenced religious thought and practices in the region.

In the 17th century, a prominent figure named Jacob GOAR (1635-1701) was a Dutch cartographer and engraver. He is best known for his detailed maps of the Netherlands and surrounding areas, which were highly regarded for their accuracy and artistic quality.

Another notable individual bearing the GOAR surname was Johann Baptist GOAR (1766-1846), an Austrian composer and organist. He was renowned for his contributions to sacred music and his compositions for the church.

The GOAR name has also been associated with various place names throughout Germany, such as Goarshausen, a town located along the Rhine River, and Goarshof, a municipality in the state of Rhineland-Palatinate. These place names may have influenced the surname's spelling variations and regional distribution.

While the surname GOAR has its roots in Germany, it has since spread to other parts of Europe and beyond, carried by migrations and the diaspora of German-speaking communities over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Goar

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

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

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

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