2010
#149,395
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 110
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Gorelov
A Russian surname likely derived from the word "gorelyi" meaning "burned" or "fire-related."
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 141 Americans carry the last name Gorelov. That puts it at #139,785 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,430,882 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Gorelov surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
141
1 in 2,430,882
Census rank
#139,785
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
123
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 123 bearers of the surname Gorelov in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 139785th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Gorelov, the largest self-reported group is White at 91.1%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (4.9%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (1.6%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Gorelov
The surname Gorelov originated in Russia, with its earliest known records dating back to the 16th century. It is derived from the Russian word "gorelyi," meaning "burnt" or "scorched," suggesting that the name may have been given to someone who lived near a burnt or scorched area, such as a forest fire or a burned-out village.
One of the earliest known references to the Gorelov surname can be found in the Velvet Book, a compilation of genealogical records of Russian noble families from the 16th and 17th centuries. The Gorelov family is mentioned as being part of the nobility in the Novgorod region during this time period.
In the late 17th century, a prominent figure named Ivan Gorelov (1650-1725) served as a military commander under Peter the Great. He played a significant role in the Russo-Swedish War and was awarded the Order of St. Andrew for his bravery and service.
Another notable Gorelov was Nikolai Gorelov (1795-1868), a Russian writer and poet who contributed to the development of Russian literature in the 19th century. His works explored themes of nature, love, and patriotism, and he was praised for his lyrical style and vivid imagery.
In the early 20th century, Andrei Gorelov (1887-1962) was a renowned Russian artist and sculptor. He is best known for his monumental sculptures and public works, many of which can still be seen in cities across Russia.
A more recent figure bearing the Gorelov surname is Alexei Gorelov (1931-2005), a Soviet and Russian film director and screenwriter. He directed several popular movies during the Soviet era, including "The Adventures of Buratino" (1975) and "The Lost Letter" (1972).
While the Gorelov surname has its roots in Russia, it has also spread to other parts of the world through migration and intermarriage. However, its origins can be traced back to the Russian heartland, where it holds a rich history and cultural significance.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Gorelov
Among Census respondents with the surname Gorelov, the largest self-reported group is White at 91.1%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (4.9%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (1.6%).
The bar chart below shows how Gorelov bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Gorelov surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White91.1% · 112
- Two or more races4.9% · 6
- Asian and Pacific Islander1.6% · 2
- Black or African American0.8% · 1
- Hispanic or Latino0.8% · 1
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.8% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Gorelov
Gorelov appears in 2 published Census surname files: 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2020
#139,785
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 123
+13 bearers (+11.8%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Up 9,610 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | #149,395 | 110 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2020 | #139,785 | 123 | 0.04 | +13 bearers (+11.8%) | Up 9,610 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Gorelov surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #149,395 | #139,785 | 6.4% |
| Count | 110 | 123 | 11.8% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | 2.9% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Gorelov bearers went from 110 to 123 (+11.8% change). The surname moved up 9,610 positions in the national ranking, going from #149,395 to #139,785.
FAQ
Gorelov surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Gorelov?
Name Census estimates that about 141 living Americans carry the surname Gorelov. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,430,882 residents.
How common is Gorelov?
Gorelov ranks #139,785 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 123 people with the surname Gorelov. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (141), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.04 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.04 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Gorelov.
Has Gorelov become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Gorelov went from 110 recorded bearers to 123. That is an increase of 13 (+11.8%). In the national ranking it rose from #149,395 to #139,785.
What does the Census say about the background of Gorelov?
Among Census respondents with the surname Gorelov, the largest self-reported group is White at 91.1%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (4.9%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (1.6%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Gorelov in the 2020 Census, accounting for 91.1% (112 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Gorelov appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (91.1%), Two or More Races (4.9%), Asian/Pacific Islander (1.6%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Gorelov (2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Gorelov mean?
A Russian surname likely derived from the word "gorelyi" meaning "burned" or "fire-related." The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Gorelov (0.04 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people have the surname Gorelov?
HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, answers that with the living-bearer count in one glance.