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

Golson, 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 Golson surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Golson in America

Golson is the 12378th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Golson surname appeared 2,513 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Golson.

We can also compare 2010 data for Golson 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 Golson

The surname Golson has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "golde" and "sunu," meaning "golden son" or "son of the golden one." This suggests that the name may have initially been a nickname or a descriptive name referring to someone with golden hair or a fair complexion.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Golson can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Wiltshire from the 12th century, where it is spelled as "Goldessune." This document, which recorded financial transactions and taxes owed to the Crown, provides a glimpse into the early use of the surname.

In the 13th century, the name appears in various records, including the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire, where it is spelled as "Goldeson." This variation in spelling was common during that time, as standardized spellings had not yet been established.

The Golson surname is also associated with several place names, such as Golson's Green in Warwickshire and Golson's Farm in Suffolk. These place names may have been derived from individuals bearing the Golson surname, suggesting their presence in these areas.

One notable individual with the Golson surname was William Golson (c. 1450-1520), a prominent merchant and landowner from Gloucestershire. He was known for his involvement in the wool trade and for his philanthropic efforts, including the establishment of a school in his hometown.

Another historical figure was John Golson (1567-1638), an English clergyman and author who served as the Rector of St. Margaret's Church in Westminster. He wrote several religious texts and sermons that were widely circulated during his lifetime.

In the 17th century, Thomas Golson (1620-1689) was a successful farmer and landowner in Oxfordshire. He played a significant role in the local community and left a lasting legacy through his endowments and charitable works.

Moving forward to the 18th century, we find Sarah Golson (1745-1812), a renowned author and poet from Yorkshire. Her collection of poems, titled "Reflections on Nature," was widely acclaimed and earned her recognition in literary circles of the time.

Finally, in the 19th century, there was Robert Golson (1825-1901), a prominent architect from London. He designed several notable buildings, including the Royal Opera House and the London Museum of Natural History, which are still standing today and celebrated for their architectural excellence.

These examples illustrate the rich history and diversity of individuals who have borne the Golson surname throughout the centuries, contributing to various fields and leaving their mark on English society and beyond.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Golson

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

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

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Golson, 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!