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

Goss, 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 Goss surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Goss in America

Goss is the 1349th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Goss surname appeared 26,179 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 9 people would have the surname Goss.

We can also compare 2010 data for Goss 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 Goss

The surname Goss has its origins in England, dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "gors," meaning a marsh or swampy area. This suggests that the name may have originated as a topographic surname, referring to someone who lived near or in a marshy region.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Goss can be found in the Hundredorum Rolls of Norfolk, dating back to 1275. This record lists a certain "Willelmus Gors," indicating the presence of the surname in medieval England.

During the 16th century, the name appeared in various spellings, such as Gorse, Gorsse, and Goss, reflecting the lack of standardized spelling conventions at the time. The Goss surname was particularly prevalent in the county of Devon, where several notable individuals bearing this name emerged.

One noteworthy individual was Sir John Goss (c. 1538-1627), a member of the English gentry and a prominent landowner in Devon. He served as a Member of Parliament and was appointed High Sheriff of Devon in 1599.

Another notable figure was John Goss (1800-1880), a distinguished English organist and composer. Born in Fareham, Hampshire, he composed numerous sacred works, including oratorios and anthems, and served as an organist at several prestigious churches in London.

The surname Goss can also be traced back to the village of Goss, located in the county of Wiltshire. This place name likely originated from the Old English word "goers," meaning a triangular piece of land or a wedge-shaped area.

In the 17th century, the name Goss appeared in various legal documents and records, such as the Hearth Tax Rolls of Devon and Somerset, further solidifying its presence in these regions.

Another notable figure bearing the Goss surname was Sir John Goss (1758-1838), a British naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars. He distinguished himself in several battles and was knighted for his bravery and leadership.

The Goss surname has also been associated with other notable individuals throughout history, including William Goss (1838-1885), an English cricketer who played for Surrey County Cricket Club, and Robert Goss (1888-1957), a Canadian politician who served as a member of the House of Commons of Canada.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Goss

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

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

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

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