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

Golden, 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 Golden surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Golden in America

Golden is the 699th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Golden surname appeared 49,360 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 17 people would have the surname Golden.

We can also compare 2010 data for Golden 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 Golden

The surname Golden is of English origin, with roots dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "gylden," meaning "golden" or "gilded." This surname likely originated as a descriptive name, referring to someone with golden hair or a fair complexion.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Golden surname can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1166, where a certain Robert Golden is mentioned. This suggests that the name was already in use during the latter part of the 12th century.

In the 13th century, the Golden surname appeared in various records across England, including the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1273, where a William Golden is listed. This indicates that the name had spread to different regions of the country by that time.

During the 14th century, the Golden surname continued to be documented in various historical records. For instance, in 1379, a John Golden is mentioned in the Poll Tax Returns of Yorkshire. Additionally, the Cartularium Monasterij de Rameseia, a 14th-century manuscript from the Ramsey Abbey in Cambridgeshire, includes references to individuals with the Golden surname.

Prominent figures with the Golden surname throughout history include Sir Thomas Golden (1508-1586), an English politician and Member of Parliament during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. Another notable figure is Edward Golden (1624-1701), an English clergyman and academic who served as the Archdeacon of Sudbury.

The Golden surname also has connections to place names in England. For example, there is a village called Golden Green in Kent, which may have influenced the development of the surname in that region.

Other notable individuals with the Golden surname include John Golden (1875-1935), an American theatrical producer and manager who was instrumental in the development of Broadway theatre. Additionally, there is Harry Golden (1902-1981), an American humorist and author known for his satirical works on Jewish life in the American South.

It is worth noting that the Golden surname has undergone various spelling variations over time, such as Golding, Goulden, and Goulding, among others. These variations often reflect regional dialects or scribal errors in historical records.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Golden

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

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

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

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