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

Gwak, 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 Gwak surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Gwak in America

Gwak is the 131379th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Gwak surname appeared 129 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 Gwak.

The history of the last name Gwak

The surname GWAK originated in the Korean peninsula, with the earliest records dating back to the 7th century AD during the Silla Kingdom. It is believed to have derived from the Korean word "gwagi," which means "bracelet" or "armlet," suggesting that the name may have been associated with a family of artisans or craftsmen skilled in creating such ornaments.

GWAK is a relatively uncommon surname, primarily found in the southeastern regions of South Korea, particularly in the provinces of Gyeongsang and Jeolla. Historical documents from the Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392 AD) mention a prominent scholar and government official named GWAK Jeon, who served as a royal tutor during the reign of King Gongmin.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the GWAK surname can be found in the "Samguk Sagi," a historical record of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, which mentions a military commander named GWAK Beom-il who led the Silla forces against the Baekje Kingdom in the 7th century.

During the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1897 AD), the GWAK surname gained further prominence with the birth of GWAK Saeng (1553-1637), a renowned Confucian scholar and poet who served as a royal advisor to King Seonjo. His works, including the "Nongamjip," a collection of poems and essays, are still studied and revered today.

Another notable figure with the GWAK surname was GWAK Jae-gu (1566-1624), a prominent military leader who played a crucial role in defending Korea against the Japanese invasions of the late 16th century. His tactical strategies and bravery in battle earned him a place in Korean history as a national hero.

In the 19th century, GWAK Hae-won (1826-1898) gained recognition as a prominent calligrapher and artist, renowned for his unique style and mastery of traditional Korean brush techniques. His works are displayed in various museums and galleries across South Korea.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Gwak

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

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 Gwak 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.

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

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

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