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

Gul, 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 Gul surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Gul in America

Gul is the 26492nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Gul surname appeared 921 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 Gul.

We can also compare 2010 data for Gul 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 Gul

The surname Gul has its origins in the Persian language, and it is believed to have emerged in the region of modern-day Iran during the medieval period. The word "gul" in Persian translates to "rose" or "flower," suggesting that the name may have been initially given to individuals associated with horticulture or the cultivation of roses.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Gul can be found in the "Shahnameh," an epic poem composed by the renowned Persian poet Ferdowsi in the late 10th and early 11th centuries. In this literary masterpiece, Gul is mentioned as the name of a character, indicating the name's usage and recognition during that time.

During the Seljuk Empire, which ruled over a vast territory spanning parts of Central Asia, the Middle East, and the Iranian Plateau from the 11th to the 13th centuries, the name Gul gained prominence. Several historical figures bearing this surname were mentioned in chronicles and records from that era, such as Gul Bahadur, a military commander who served under the Seljuk Sultan Alp Arslan.

As the Persian language and culture spread across various regions through trade, conquest, and cultural exchange, the name Gul also found its way into other parts of the world. In India, for instance, the name gained popularity during the Mughal Empire, which had strong Persian influences. One notable figure was Gul Khan, a military leader and governor who served under the Mughal Emperor Akbar in the 16th century.

In Central Asia, particularly in present-day Afghanistan and Pakistan, the name Gul has been prevalent for centuries. One prominent example is Gul Khan Naseeb, a renowned Pashtun poet and warrior who lived in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. His poetry and literary works are still celebrated in the region.

Another notable figure with the surname Gul is Gul Hayder, a 19th-century Afghan ruler and emir who played a significant role in the country's history during a period of political turmoil and power struggles.

While the name Gul has its roots in the Persian language and culture, it has also been adopted and used by various ethnic groups and communities across different regions, particularly in Central and South Asia. The name's association with beauty, nature, and poetry has contributed to its enduring popularity throughout history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Gul

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

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

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

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