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

Guardian, 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 Guardian surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Guardian in America

Guardian is the 46219th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Guardian surname appeared 461 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Guardian.

We can also compare 2010 data for Guardian 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 Guardian

The surname Guardian is an occupational name of English origin, derived from the Old French "gardien" or the Middle English "gardein," meaning "keeper" or "guard." It traces its roots back to the 13th century in England.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Guardian can be found in medieval tax records and legal documents from various parts of England, such as the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1275, where a John le Gardein is mentioned. The name was also present in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1273, listing a Robert le Gardeyn.

During the medieval period, the Guardian surname was likely associated with individuals who held positions as guards, watchmen, or caretakers of properties, estates, or castles. The name may have been derived from the occupation of these individuals who were responsible for safeguarding and overseeing the well-being of a particular place or asset.

One notable early bearer of the surname was Sir Thomas Guardian, a prominent English soldier and landowner who lived in the 14th century. He served as a guardian of the Marches, a region along the border between England and Scotland, and played a crucial role in defending the area against Scottish raids.

Another historical figure with the surname Guardian was William Guardian, a merchant and alderman in the city of London during the 15th century. He is recorded as having participated in various civic affairs and served as a sheriff of London in 1468.

In the 16th century, the Guardian surname appeared in the parish records of St. Mary's Church in Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, where a John Guardian was listed as a resident in 1567.

During the 17th century, the surname gained prominence in the county of Gloucestershire, where a family of Guardians owned land and estates in the village of Longney. One notable member was Richard Guardian, who served as the High Sheriff of Gloucestershire in 1682.

Another prominent individual with the surname Guardian was Sir Thomas Guardian, a British naval officer who participated in the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. He was commended for his bravery and leadership during the famous naval engagement against the combined French and Spanish fleets.

The surname Guardian has been found in various historical records across England, including parish registers, tax rolls, and court documents, indicating its widespread presence throughout the centuries. While the name may have originated as an occupational descriptor, it has evolved into a well-established surname carried by individuals from diverse backgrounds and regions within England.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Guardian

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

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

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

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