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

Govan, 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 Govan surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Govan in America

Govan is the 10103rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Govan surname appeared 3,188 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Govan.

We can also compare 2010 data for Govan 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 Govan

The surname Govan is of Scottish origin, deriving from the town of Govan, located on the south bank of the River Clyde in Renfrewshire. The name is believed to have originated from the Brythonic word 'go-uan', meaning 'little meadow' or 'little plain'. Alternatively, it may stem from the Old Welsh 'gau-fann', signifying a place of refuge or sanctuary.

Records indicate that the name Govan has been present in Scotland since the 12th century. One of the earliest known references to the name is found in the Register of the Monastery of Paisley, dated 1163, which mentions a 'Robertus de Govan'. This suggests that the Govan family held lands in the area during this time.

The Domesday Book, a great survey of England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086, does not contain any direct mentions of the name Govan. However, it is possible that individuals with this surname were present in Scotland at the time, as the survey did not extend to that region.

Notable individuals bearing the surname Govan throughout history include:

1. John Govan (c. 1500 - c. 1570), a Scottish Protestant reformer and Presbyterian minister who served as the first Minister of Glasgow Cathedral.

2. William Govan (1625 - 1698), a Scottish merchant and provost of Glasgow from 1677 to 1680, known for his involvement in the city's trade and governance.

3. Archibald Govan (1804 - 1887), a Scottish-born Canadian engineer and shipbuilder who established the Govan shipyard in Glasgow, one of the largest shipyards in the world during the late 19th century.

4. Janet Govan (1854 - 1931), a Scottish author and feminist activist who campaigned for women's suffrage and wrote several novels and short stories.

5. William Govan (1908 - 1988), a Scottish footballer who played as a goalkeeper for Rangers F.C. and the Scotland national team in the 1930s.

While the name Govan is primarily associated with Scotland, it has also been found in other parts of the United Kingdom, as well as in countries with significant Scottish immigration, such as Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. The name has also been subject to various spelling variations over time, including Gowan, Gouane, and Govane.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Govan

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

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

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

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