Gregorian
A surname derived from the medieval given name "Gregory", derived from the Greek meaning "watchful" or "vigilant".
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 446 Americans carry the last name Gregorian. That puts it at #54,752 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.13 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 768,507 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Gregorian surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, 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
446
1 in 768,507
Census rank
#54,752
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
376
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 376 bearers of the surname Gregorian in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.13 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 54752nd position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Gregorian, the largest self-reported group is White at 91.5%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (5.0%) and Two or More Races (2.9%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Gregorian
The surname Gregorian originated from the Medieval Latin name Gregorius, which was derived from the Greek name Gregorios meaning "watchful" or "vigilant". It is believed to have first emerged in Italy during the late Roman and early Byzantine periods, particularly in regions like Rome, Naples, and Sicily.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the Gregorian surname can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus Cavensis, a collection of medieval documents from the Monastery of Cava in southern Italy, dating back to the 11th century. The name is also mentioned in various other Italian manuscripts and records from the 12th and 13th centuries.
The Gregorian surname gained prominence during the Renaissance period, particularly in the 16th and 17th centuries. Notable individuals with this surname include Pope Gregory XIII (1502-1585), who introduced the Gregorian calendar in 1582, and Fernan Perez de Oliva Gregorian (1494-1530), a Spanish humanist and philosopher.
In the 18th century, the Gregorian surname spread across Europe and beyond. One notable bearer was Johann Gottfried Gregorian (1688-1770), a German composer and organist. Another was John Gregorian (1713-1791), an English mathematician and astronomer who made significant contributions to the study of celestial mechanics.
As the centuries progressed, the Gregorian surname continued to be associated with individuals from various fields, including the arts, sciences, and literature. Some notable examples include the British painter John Gregorian (1778-1853), the Russian poet and translator Apollon Gregorian (1822-1892), and the American author and journalist Khalil Gregorian (1916-2000).
It is worth noting that the Gregorian surname has also undergone various spelling variations over time, such as Gregorius, Gregorio, and Gregori, reflecting its diverse linguistic and cultural origins. Additionally, the name has been associated with certain place names, such as the village of Gregorio in Italy, which may have contributed to the surname's development and spread.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Gregorian
Among Census respondents with the surname Gregorian, the largest self-reported group is White at 91.5%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (5.0%) and Two or More Races (2.9%).
The bar chart below shows how Gregorian bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 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.
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 Gregorian surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White91.5%
- Hispanic or Latino5.0%
- Two or more races2.9%
- Unknown or suppressed0.5%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Gregorian surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #54,269 | #54,752 | -0.9% |
| Count | 356 | 376 | 5.6% |
| Per 100K | 0.13 | 0.13 | 0.0% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Gregorian bearers went from 356 to 376 (+5.6% change). The surname moved down 483 positions in the national ranking, going from #54,269 to #54,752.
FAQ
Gregorian surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Gregorian?
The surname Gregorian holds position #54,752 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 446 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.13 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Gregorian surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Gregorian, the largest self-reported group is White at 91.5%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (5.0%) and Two or More Races (2.9%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.