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

Gorman, 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 Gorman surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Gorman in America

Gorman is the 1100th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Gorman surname appeared 31,788 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 11 people would have the surname Gorman.

We can also compare 2010 data for Gorman 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 Gorman

The surname Gorman is of Irish origin, believed to have originated in the 9th or 10th century. It is derived from the Gaelic words "gobha" meaning "smith" and "muine" meaning "thicket" or "shrubbery". The name likely referred to a person who worked as a smith and lived near a thicket or wooded area.

The earliest known recording of the name is found in the Annals of Ulster, a chronicle of medieval Irish history, which mentions a "Gorman of Belach-abann" in 946 AD. This entry suggests that the name was already in use by the 10th century and may have its roots even further back.

In the 12th century, the surname appears in the Book of Leinster, a medieval Irish manuscript, where it is spelled "Gormán". This spelling variation highlights the fluidity of surnames in those early days, as they were often adapted based on local dialects and pronunciation.

The name Gorman has been associated with several notable figures throughout history. One of the earliest was Turlough Gorman, a 13th-century Irish chieftain who ruled over the territory of Ibrickan in County Clare. Another prominent bearer of the name was Miles Gorman, a 17th-century Catholic priest and historian who wrote extensively on the history of Ireland.

In the 18th century, John Gorman (1723-1804) was a British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the American Revolutionary War. He rose to the rank of Vice-Admiral and was known for his successful campaigns against French and Spanish naval forces in the West Indies.

The 19th century saw the rise of Arthur Pue Gorman (1839-1906), an American politician who served as a United States Senator from Maryland. He was a prominent figure in the Democratic Party and played a significant role in shaping the party's policies during his time in office.

Another notable Gorman was John Gorman (1923-2001), an American football coach who led the Denver Broncos from 1986 to 1992. He is credited with helping to build the team's defense and guiding them to several playoff appearances during his tenure.

These are just a few examples of the many individuals who have carried the surname Gorman throughout history, each contributing to the rich tapestry of this name's legacy across various fields and cultures.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Gorman

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

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

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

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