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

Gosnell, 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 Gosnell surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Gosnell in America

Gosnell is the 5060th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Gosnell surname appeared 6,931 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Gosnell.

We can also compare 2010 data for Gosnell 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 Gosnell

The surname Gosnell is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period, with roots tracing back to the 12th century. The name is thought to have derived from the Old English words "gos" meaning goose and "nell" meaning a small valley or stream, suggesting that the original bearers of this name may have resided near a stream frequented by geese.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1195, where a person named Roger de Gosenhulle is mentioned. This spelling variation, "Gosenhulle," provides insight into the name's evolution over time.

The Gosnell surname is also associated with various place names across England, such as Gosnell's Leys in Bedfordshire and Gosnell's Green in Hertfordshire. These place names may have influenced the spelling and spread of the surname.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the Gosnell surname. One such person was John Gosnell (1625-1696), an English painter known for his still-life and portrait works. Another was Thomas Gosnell (1676-1742), a renowned maker of musical instruments, particularly violins, in London.

In the 18th century, William Gosnell (1756-1832) made a name for himself as a successful chemist and soap manufacturer in London. His company, Gosnell & Co., became renowned for its high-quality products and innovative techniques.

Moving into the 19th century, Reverend Peter Gosnell (1796-1869) was a respected Anglican clergyman and author, serving as the Vicar of St. Peter's Church in Wolverhampton.

Across the Atlantic, one of the earliest recorded instances of the Gosnell surname in America dates back to the late 17th century, when Thomas Gosnell (1660-1720) settled in Virginia and became a prominent landowner and planter.

While the Gosnell surname may have varied in spelling and distribution over the centuries, its origins can be traced back to the English countryside, where the name's meaning and history were deeply rooted in the landscape and occupations of its earliest bearers.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Gosnell

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

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

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

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