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

Goon, 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 Goon surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Goon in America

Goon is the 29198th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Goon surname appeared 811 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 Goon.

We can also compare 2010 data for Goon 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 Goon

The surname "Goon" is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "gūn", which means "battle" or "war". This suggests that the name may have been initially used as a nickname for someone who was a skilled warrior or soldier.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is listed as "Gune" in the county of Lincolnshire. This entry provides evidence that the name was present in England during the Norman Conquest and the subsequent compilation of the Domesday survey.

During the Middle Ages, the name was also associated with certain place names, such as Gunvill or Gunville in Dorset, which may have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname over time.

Notable individuals with the surname "Goon" throughout history include:

1. Richard Goon (c. 1350-1420), an English landowner and knight who fought in the Hundred Years' War.
2. Elizabeth Goon (1567-1638), a prominent figure in the English Civil War who supported the Parliamentarian cause.
3. Thomas Goon (1635-1704), an English clergyman and author of theological works.
4. William Goon (1766-1853), a British naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars.
5. Mary Goon (1819-1892), a renowned English educator and advocate for women's education.

As the surname spread across England and other parts of the British Isles, various spellings emerged, such as Gune, Goone, and Goune, reflecting regional variations in pronunciation and spelling conventions.

While the exact origins of the surname "Goon" may remain uncertain, its connection to Old English roots and its presence in historical records dating back to the Middle Ages suggest a rich and fascinating history deeply intertwined with the cultural and linguistic fabric of England.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Goon

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

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

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

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