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

Golston, 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 Golston surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Golston in America

Golston is the 17142nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Golston surname appeared 1,653 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 Golston.

We can also compare 2010 data for Golston 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 Golston

The surname Golston has its origins in England, dating back to the early medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "gol" meaning "yellow" and "tun" meaning "enclosure" or "settlement," suggesting that the name may have originated from a place name referring to a settlement with a yellowish tint or color.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive record of land holdings and property ownership in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appears as "Golestune," referring to a settlement or village located in the county of Gloucestershire.

During the 13th century, the name Golston began to appear more frequently in various historical records and documents. In 1274, a William de Golston was mentioned in the Hundred Rolls, a census-like survey of landholders in England. This reference suggests that the Golston family may have held lands or properties in the area where the name originated.

In the 14th century, the name Golston underwent several spelling variations, including Golestun, Goloston, and Goulston. One notable individual from this era was John Goulston (c. 1310-1378), a wealthy merchant and alderman in the City of London. He was known for his philanthropic contributions and the founding of the Goulston Almshouses, a charitable housing complex for the poor.

The 16th century saw the emergence of another notable Golston, Sir Edward Golston (c. 1520-1592). He was a prominent lawyer and member of the English gentry, serving as a Member of Parliament for Northamptonshire in 1559 and later as a Justice of the Peace.

In the 17th century, the name gained further recognition with the birth of Richard Golston (1635-1693), an English clergyman and academic. He served as the Rector of Stoke Bruerne in Northamptonshire and was also a fellow of Wadham College, Oxford.

Another prominent figure bearing the Golston surname was Sir William Golston (1680-1744), a British naval officer who played a significant role in the War of the Spanish Succession. He commanded several ships during the conflict and was knighted for his distinguished service.

The 18th century saw the birth of Thomas Golston (1745-1823), a renowned architect and surveyor. He designed several notable buildings in London and was also responsible for the construction of the iconic Sion Hill Tunnel, a major engineering feat of its time.

Throughout its history, the surname Golston has maintained a presence across various regions of England, particularly in the counties of Gloucestershire, Northamptonshire, and London. While not among the most common surnames, it has left a lasting impact through the accomplishments and contributions of individuals who bore this distinctive name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Golston

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

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

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

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