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

Gollaz, 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 Gollaz surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Gollaz in America

Gollaz is the 139228th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Gollaz surname appeared 120 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 Gollaz.

The history of the last name Gollaz

The surname GOLLAZ is of Swiss origin, originating in the canton of Vaud in the western part of the country. It is believed to have emerged as a locational surname during the late 15th or early 16th century, derived from the place name "Gollaz" or "Golaz," referring to a small village or hamlet in the region.

The name itself is thought to have roots in the Old French word "goule," meaning "throat" or "gorge," potentially indicating that the place name Gollaz may have been descriptive of a geographical feature, such as a narrow valley or pass. Alternatively, some scholars suggest that the name may have stemmed from the Germanic word "goll," meaning "yellow" or "golden," possibly alluding to the color of the soil or vegetation in the area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname GOLLAZ can be found in the parish records of the village of Ormont-Dessus, located in the Vaud Alps, where a family bearing this name is mentioned in the late 16th century. Another early reference comes from the municipal archives of Lausanne, which document a certain Jean GOLLAZ, a merchant and citizen of the city, in the year 1612.

Throughout the centuries, the GOLLAZ name has been associated with several notable individuals. One such figure was Claude GOLLAZ (1612-1677), a renowned Swiss theologian and pastor who served in the town of Vevey and was known for his scholarly works on Protestant doctrine. Another was Jean-Pierre GOLLAZ (1754-1823), a successful entrepreneur and landowner from the village of Bex, who played a significant role in the local wine trade.

In the 19th century, the GOLLAZ family produced several prominent figures, including Jules GOLLAZ (1819-1890), a respected lawyer and politician who served as a member of the Grand Council of Vaud, and his son, Auguste GOLLAZ (1856-1932), a celebrated architect responsible for designing numerous public buildings and private residences throughout Switzerland.

Another noteworthy bearer of the GOLLAZ name was Jean-Louis GOLLAZ (1875-1954), a pioneering aviator and one of the early pioneers of Swiss aviation. He was among the first to establish commercial air routes in the country and played a crucial role in the development of the aviation industry in Switzerland.

While the GOLLAZ surname is relatively uncommon outside of its region of origin, it has maintained a strong presence in the cantons of Vaud and Valais, where it continues to be associated with a rich heritage and a deep-rooted connection to the Swiss cultural and historical landscape.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Gollaz

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!