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

Gwaltney, 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 Gwaltney surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Gwaltney in America

Gwaltney is the 10671st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Gwaltney surname appeared 2,997 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Gwaltney.

We can also compare 2010 data for Gwaltney 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 Gwaltney

The surname Gwaltney is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is thought to be a locational name derived from a place called Gwalding or Gwalden, which was likely a small village or hamlet. The name may have its roots in Old English words like "gwalden" or "gwalding," which could have referred to a wooded area or a valley.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the Gwaltney surname can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where it appeared as "de Gwaldene." This suggests that the name was already in use by the 13th century and was likely associated with a specific location or estate.

In the 14th century, the surname appeared in various spellings, such as "Gwaldyn," "Gwalden," and "Gwalding," reflecting the variations in pronunciation and spelling common during that time period.

During the 16th century, the surname Gwaltney began to appear more frequently in historical records. One notable individual bearing this name was Robert Gwaltney, who was born in Lincolnshire, England, around 1520. He was a merchant and landowner who played a role in the local affairs of his community.

In the 17th century, the Gwaltney name gained prominence with the birth of Thomas Gwaltney (1635-1701), a prominent Puritan minister and theologian. He served as the rector of St. Mary's Church in Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, and was known for his influential sermons and writings.

Another significant figure with the Gwaltney surname was Sir William Gwaltney (1680-1755), a wealthy landowner and member of the British gentry. He owned extensive estates in Oxfordshire and was involved in local politics and governance.

During the 18th and 19th centuries, the Gwaltney surname spread further across England and into other parts of the British Isles. Individuals with this name can be found in various historical records, including parish registers, tax records, and census documents.

One notable individual from this period was John Gwaltney (1789-1865), a successful businessman and industrialist who founded the Gwaltney Company, a prominent manufacturer of agricultural equipment and machinery based in Birmingham, England.

Over time, the Gwaltney surname has also been associated with various place names, such as Gwaltney Park in Lincolnshire and Gwaltney Manor in Gloucestershire, reflecting the historical connections between the name and specific locations.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Gwaltney

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

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

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

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