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

Guess, 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 Guess surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Guess in America

Guess is the 4507th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Guess surname appeared 7,871 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 3 people would have the surname Guess.

We can also compare 2010 data for Guess 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 Guess

The surname GUESS originated in England during the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old French word "guis," meaning "guide" or "leader." This occupation-based name was likely given to someone who worked as a guide or led travelers through unfamiliar territories.

One of the earliest records of the GUESS name appears in the Hundred Rolls of Huntingdonshire in 1273, where it was listed as "Guyse." Over time, the name evolved into various spellings, such as Guyss, Guyse, and eventually GUESS.

In the 14th century, the GUESS name was found in several historical documents, including the Poll Tax Returns of Yorkshire in 1379, where it was recorded as "Guyse." This suggests that the name was widespread across different regions of England during that period.

One notable individual with the GUESS surname was John Guess (c. 1592-1645), an English clergyman and author who served as the Rector of St. Helen's, Bishopsgate in London. His work, "The Whole Body of Modern Divinity," published in 1636, was widely read and influential in its time.

Another prominent figure was Robert Guess (1782-1856), an American Baptist minister and early settler in Missouri. He played a significant role in the establishment of several churches in the state and was known for his missionary work among Native American tribes.

In the 19th century, the GUESS name gained recognition through the accomplishments of George Guess (1834-1912), a British explorer and naturalist. He made significant contributions to the study of flora and fauna in various parts of the world, including Australia and South Africa.

Additionally, the GUESS surname was associated with notable literary figures, such as Philip Guess (1820-1892), an English poet and writer who published several volumes of poetry and prose during the Victorian era.

Another individual of note was Emma Guess (1878-1964), an American educator and civil rights activist. She dedicated her life to promoting equal educational opportunities for African American students and played a pivotal role in the desegregation movement in the United States.

The GUESS surname has a rich history spanning several centuries, with its origins rooted in medieval England. Despite variations in spelling over time, the name has been carried by individuals who have made remarkable contributions across various fields, including religion, exploration, literature, and civil rights.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Guess

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

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

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

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