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

Gongwer, 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 Gongwer surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Gongwer in America

Gongwer is the 70403rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Gongwer surname appeared 278 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 Gongwer.

We can also compare 2010 data for Gongwer 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 Gongwer

The surname Gongwer has its origins in Germany, with records dating back to the 16th century. It is believed to have derived from the German word "gong," meaning "path" or "way," and "wer," meaning "person." This suggests that the name may have referred to someone who lived along a particular path or route.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the village of Hesse, where a family by the name of Gongwer resided in the late 1500s. Historical records from this period often spelled the name as "Gongvere" or "Gongvehr," reflecting the variations in spelling that were common at the time.

In the 17th century, the Gongwer family spread to other regions of Germany, including Bavaria and Saxony. During this time, the name appeared in various local records, such as church registers and land deeds. Notable individuals from this period include Johann Gongwer (1612-1679), a prominent merchant in the city of Nuremberg.

As the Gongwer family continued to expand throughout Europe, some members migrated to other countries, including the United States. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name in America dates back to the late 18th century, when a man named Michael Gongwer (1748-1821) settled in Pennsylvania after emigrating from Germany.

Another notable figure in the history of the Gongwer surname was Wilhelm Gongwer (1794-1872), a German-born soldier who fought in the Napoleonic Wars. After the wars, he settled in France and became a respected member of the local community.

In the 19th century, the Gongwer name appeared in various records across Europe and North America. One notable individual from this period was Elizabeth Gongwer (1822-1901), a writer and educator who founded one of the first schools for girls in Ohio.

As the centuries passed, the Gongwer surname continued to spread across the world, with families bearing the name residing in countries such as Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. While the name may have evolved and adapted to different cultures, its origins can be traced back to the paths and routes of Germany.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Gongwer

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

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

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

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