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

Gregory, 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 Gregory surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Gregory in America

Gregory is the 339th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Gregory surname appeared 91,384 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 31 people would have the surname Gregory.

We can also compare 2010 data for Gregory 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 Gregory

The surname GREGORY is of English origin, and it is derived from the given name Gregory, which ultimately comes from the Greek name Gregorios, meaning "watchful" or "vigilant." The name was introduced to Britain by the Christian missionaries who brought Christianity to the country in the 6th century.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname GREGORY can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landowners and property holders commissioned by William the Conqueror after the Norman Conquest of England. The name appears in various forms, such as Gregor, Gregori, and Gregorie, reflecting the different spellings used at the time.

One of the earliest known bearers of the surname GREGORY was Walter Gregory, who lived in Buckinghamshire, England, in the 13th century. Another notable figure was John Gregory (1607-1646), an English clergyman and religious writer who served as the Dean of Hereford and the Dean of Christ Church, Oxford.

In the 17th century, the GREGORY surname was associated with several prominent individuals, including David Gregory (1659-1708), a Scottish mathematician and astronomer who made significant contributions to the development of calculus and the study of optics. Another notable bearer of the name was James Gregory (1638-1675), a Scottish philosopher, mathematician, and geometer who invented the first practical reflecting telescope.

The 18th century saw the rise of several influential figures with the surname GREGORY, such as John Gregory (1724-1773), a Scottish physician and writer who was a pioneer in the field of medical ethics. Another notable bearer of the name was Olinthus Gregory (1774-1841), an English mathematician and author who wrote several influential works on mathematics and science.

In more recent times, the GREGORY surname has been associated with individuals from various fields, including literature, politics, and sports. One prominent example is Dick Gregory (1932-2017), an American comedian, civil rights activist, and social critic who was a leading figure in the American Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s.

These examples illustrate the long and varied history of the surname GREGORY, which has been borne by individuals from diverse backgrounds and professions over the centuries. The name's Greek roots and its association with the spread of Christianity have contributed to its enduring presence and significance in English-speaking cultures.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Gregory

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

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

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

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