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

Gonyea, 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 Gonyea surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Gonyea in America

Gonyea is the 15734th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Gonyea surname appeared 1,853 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 Gonyea.

We can also compare 2010 data for Gonyea 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 Gonyea

The surname GONYEA is of French origin, with its roots tracing back to the Normandy region of northern France. It is believed to have emerged during the medieval period, possibly as early as the 11th or 12th century. The name is thought to be derived from the Old French term "gonnelle," which referred to a type of tunic or robe worn by both men and women during that era.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the GONYEA surname can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land and property commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The name appears as "Gonelle," which was likely a variant spelling at the time. This entry suggests that the name was already established in Normandy before the Norman conquest of England in 1066.

As the GONYEA family dispersed throughout France over the centuries, the spelling of the name evolved, with variations such as "Gonneau," "Gonnelle," and "Gonnelle" emerging in different regions. These variations often reflected local dialects and pronunciation patterns.

Notable individuals bearing the GONYEA surname include Jacques Gonyea (1602-1671), a prominent merchant and landowner in the French province of Poitou. Another notable figure was Marie-Anne Gonyea (1728-1803), a renowned seamstress and designer of women's clothing in Paris during the 18th century.

In the 19th century, the GONYEA name gained recognition with the exploits of François Gonyea (1821-1895), a French explorer and naturalist who traveled extensively in Africa and documented numerous species of flora and fauna. His contributions to the field of natural history were significant, and he was elected to the French Academy of Sciences in 1876.

Across the Atlantic, the GONYEA surname took root in Canada and the United States, where it was often anglicized to "Gonia" or "Gonyo." One notable figure was Pierre Gonyea (1847-1923), a French-Canadian architect who designed several landmark buildings in Montreal, including the iconic St. Joseph's Oratory.

While the GONYEA surname may not be among the most widespread, its historical roots and the notable individuals who have borne it reveal a rich tapestry of French cultural heritage and contribution to various fields over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Gonyea

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

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

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

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