2000
#132,259
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 118
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Gradias
An occupational surname derived from the Latin "gradus" meaning step or degree.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 114 Americans carry the last name Gradias. That puts it at #156,005 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.03 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 3,006,617 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Gradias 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
114
1 in 3,006,617
Census rank
#156,005
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
99
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 99 bearers of the surname Gradias in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.03 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 156005th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Gradias, the largest self-reported group is Hispanic at 64.6%. The next largest groups are White (20.2%) and American Indian/Alaska Native (8.1%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Gradias
The surname GRADIAS originated in the Iberian Peninsula, specifically in the region of Andalusia, Spain, during the 8th century. It is believed to have derived from the Arabic word "qard," meaning "garden" or "orchard," reflecting the agricultural heritage of the area.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in a document from the year 1214, where a certain Pedro GRADIAS was mentioned as a landowner in the city of Seville. This document is housed in the archives of the Cathedral of Seville.
During the Moorish occupation of the Iberian Peninsula, the GRADIAS surname was relatively common among those of Arabic descent or those who had adopted the Arabic language and culture. As the Reconquista progressed, many families with this surname embraced Christianity and assimilated into the Spanish society.
In the 15th century, a notable figure bearing the GRADIAS surname was Juan GRADIAS, a prominent merchant and trader who established trade routes between Seville and the newly discovered lands of the Americas. His legacy is documented in the archives of the Casa de Contratación in Seville.
Another individual of historical significance was María GRADIAS, a philanthropist and benefactor who lived in Granada during the 16th century. She is renowned for her contributions to the establishment of several schools and hospitals in the region, as documented in the records of the Archdiocese of Granada.
In the 17th century, the GRADIAS surname gained prominence in the literary world with the birth of Manuel GRADIAS (1623-1687), a renowned poet and playwright whose works were widely celebrated during the Spanish Golden Age.
During the 18th century, a military leader named Antonio GRADIAS (1712-1785) gained recognition for his role in the Spanish conquest of the Balearic Islands. His exploits are recorded in the archives of the Spanish Army.
As the Spanish Empire expanded across the globe, the GRADIAS surname was carried to various regions, including the Americas and the Philippines. In the 19th century, a prominent figure named Javier GRADIAS (1821-1899) became a respected businessman and landowner in the Philippines, where he established several successful plantations.
Throughout its history, the GRADIAS surname has been associated with various occupations, including agriculture, trade, literature, and military service, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and contributions of those who have carried this name across generations.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Gradias
Among Census respondents with the surname Gradias, the largest self-reported group is Hispanic at 64.6%. The next largest groups are White (20.2%) and American Indian/Alaska Native (8.1%).
The bar chart below shows how Gradias 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 Gradias surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Hispanic or Latino64.6% · 64
- White20.2% · 20
- American Indian and Alaska Native8.1% · 8
- Two or more races6.1% · 6
- Black or African American1.0% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Gradias
Gradias appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#146,201
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 113
-5 bearers (-4.2%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 13,942 places
2020
#156,005
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 99
-14 bearers (-12.4%)
Per 100,000 0.03
Rank movement Down 9,804 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #132,259 | 118 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #146,201 | 113 | 0.04 | -5 bearers (-4.2%) | Down 13,942 places |
| 2020 | #156,005 | 99 | 0.03 | -14 bearers (-12.4%) | Down 9,804 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 Gradias 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 | #146,201 | #156,005 | -6.7% |
| Count | 113 | 99 | -12.4% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.03 | -17.2% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Gradias bearers went from 113 to 99 (-12.4% change). The surname moved down 9,804 positions in the national ranking, going from #146,201 to #156,005.
FAQ
Gradias surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Gradias?
Name Census estimates that about 114 living Americans carry the surname Gradias. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 3,006,617 residents.
How common is Gradias?
Gradias ranks #156,005 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.03 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 99 people with the surname Gradias. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (114), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.03 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.03 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 Gradias.
Has Gradias become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Gradias went from 113 recorded bearers to 99. That is a decrease of 14 (-12.4%). In the national ranking it fell from #146,201 to #156,005.
What does the Census say about the background of Gradias?
Among Census respondents with the surname Gradias, the largest self-reported group is Hispanic at 64.6%. The next largest groups are White (20.2%) and American Indian/Alaska Native (8.1%). 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?
Hispanic is the largest self-reported group for the surname Gradias in the 2020 Census, accounting for 64.6% (64 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Gradias appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are Hispanic (64.6%), White (20.2%), American Indian/Alaska Native (8.1%). 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 Gradias (2000, 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 Gradias mean?
An occupational surname derived from the Latin "gradus" meaning step or degree. 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 Gradias (0.03 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 common is the surname Gradias?
For a quick modern take, check how common the surname Gradias is on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org.