Find out how popular the last name Gonya is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Gonya.
A nickname derived from a Slavic personal name meaning "hunter" or "pursuer".
Gonya, 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 Gonya surname is from the 2010 census data.
Gonya is the 44872nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.
The Gonya surname appeared 478 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 Gonya.
We can also compare 2010 data for Gonya 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.
| 2010 | 2000 | Change (%) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | 44872 | 45909 | -2.28% |
| Count | 478 | 438 | 8.73% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.16 | 0.16 | 0.00% |
The surname GONYA has its origins in Russia, dating back to the 16th century. It is believed to have derived from the Russian word "gon," which means "chase" or "pursuit." This suggests that the name may have been associated with hunters or those who engaged in hunting activities.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name GONYA can be found in the Moscovite genealogical records from the late 16th century, where it appears as "Gonya." This spelling variation likely stems from the local dialect or regional pronunciation of the name.
In the 17th century, the name GONYA was documented in various historical documents and records, including the census records of the Smolensk region. This region, located in western Russia, was known for its rich hunting grounds, further reinforcing the connection between the name and hunting activities.
During the 18th century, the GONYA surname gained prominence in the Russian nobility, with several notable individuals bearing the name. One such figure was Ivan Gonya (1712-1781), a prominent military commander who served under Empress Elizabeth and Catherine the Great. He gained recognition for his bravery and strategic skills during the Russo-Turkish Wars.
Another individual of note was Andrei Gonya (1755-1825), a renowned artist and portraitist who was celebrated for his exceptional ability to capture the likeness of his subjects. His works are displayed in several prestigious museums across Russia and Europe.
In the 19th century, the GONYA surname was found in various literary works and historical accounts. One notable mention is in Leo Tolstoy's epic novel "War and Peace," where a character named Gonya is referenced as a member of the Russian aristocracy.
Moving into the 20th century, the GONYA name continued to be associated with notable figures. Mikhail Gonya (1901-1975) was a prominent Soviet architect who played a significant role in the reconstruction efforts following World War II. His designs were instrumental in rebuilding cities like Leningrad (now St. Petersburg) and Moscow.
It is worth noting that the GONYA surname has also been linked to various place names throughout Russia, such as the village of Gonye in the Kursk region and the town of Gonyany in the Khmelnitsky region of Ukraine, which was historically part of the Russian Empire.
While the surname GONYA may have originated from a word related to hunting, it has since evolved and been associated with individuals from diverse backgrounds, including military leaders, artists, writers, and architects, all of whom have contributed to the rich cultural heritage of Russia and beyond.
We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Gonya.
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:
For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Gonya was:
| Race/Ethnicity | Percentage | Total Occurrences |
|---|---|---|
| Non-Hispanic White Only | 92.68% | 443 |
| Non-Hispanic Black Only | (S)% | (S) |
| Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only | (S)% | (S) |
| Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.00% | 0 |
| Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races | 2.30% | 11 |
| Hispanic Origin | 4.18% | 20 |
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 Gonya has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.
| 2010 | 2000 | Change (%) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 92.68% | 96.12% | -3.64% |
| Black | (S)% | (S)% | (S)% |
| Asian and Pacific Islander | (S)% | (S)% | (S)% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Two or More Races | 2.30% | 1.37% | 50.68% |
| Hispanic | 4.18% | 2.28% | 58.82% |
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 Gonya was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.
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