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

Gocaj, 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 Gocaj surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Gocaj in America

Gocaj is the 157234th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Gocaj surname appeared 103 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 Gocaj.

The history of the last name Gocaj

The surname Gocaj originates from Albania and can be traced back to the 15th century. It is derived from the Albanian word "goc," which means "a rocky hill" or "a steep and rugged terrain." This suggests that the name likely originated from a particular geographic location or region characterized by such rocky and hilly landscapes.

During the Ottoman rule in Albania, which lasted from the 15th to the early 20th century, many Albanians adopted surnames based on their place of origin, occupation, or physical characteristics. The Gocaj surname falls into the category of place-based surnames, indicating that the earliest bearers of this name may have resided in or near a rocky, hilly area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Gocaj surname can be found in the chronicles of the Skanderbeg era, which documented the Albanian resistance against the Ottoman Empire in the 15th century. A notable figure from this period was Gjergj Gocaj, a military commander who fought alongside the legendary Albanian hero, Skanderbeg.

In the 17th century, the Gocaj family played a significant role in the Albanian resistance against the Ottoman rule. Leka Gocaj, a prominent Albanian military leader and landowner, led a series of uprisings against the Ottoman authorities, fighting for the autonomy of Albanian territories.

During the 19th century, as the Albanian nationalist movement gained momentum, several members of the Gocaj family were actively involved in promoting Albanian culture and language. Naim Gocaj, born in 1848, was a renowned poet and writer who contributed significantly to the development of modern Albanian literature.

Another prominent figure with the Gocaj surname was Xhafer Gocaj, born in 1892. He was a prominent educator and political activist who advocated for the rights of Albanians living under the Ottoman Empire. His efforts played a crucial role in the eventual independence of Albania in 1912.

Throughout the 20th century, the Gocaj surname continued to be well-represented in various fields, including academia, politics, and the arts. Ismail Gocaj (1919-2003) was a distinguished Albanian writer and literary critic, renowned for his contributions to the development of Albanian literature and literary criticism.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Gocaj

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

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 Gocaj 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.

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

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

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