2010
#157,234
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 103
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.03
Very Rare Last name
Gwisdalla
A Polish place name likely derived from a village name.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 119 Americans carry the last name Gwisdalla. That puts it at #153,590 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.03 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,880,289 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Gwisdalla surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
119
1 in 2,880,289
Census rank
#153,590
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
104
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 104 bearers of the surname Gwisdalla in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.03 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 153590th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Gwisdalla, the largest self-reported group is White at 91.3%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.8%) and Two or More Races (3.8%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Gwisdalla
The surname Gwisdalla has its origins in the rugged terrain of the Carpathian Mountains in Eastern Europe, with roots that can be traced back to the early medieval period. This region, known for its rich cultural tapestry, witnessed the birth and evolution of many unique surnames, each carrying a distinct history and significance.
The name Gwisdalla is believed to have derived from an Old Slavic word, "gwizd," which means "whistle" or "to whistle." This linguistic connection suggests that the name may have originally referred to an occupation or a distinctive characteristic associated with whistling or a similar sound. It is possible that the name was initially bestowed upon an individual who excelled in whistling or was known for their ability to communicate through this auditory means.
Historical records from the region reveal that the surname Gwisdalla appeared in various forms and spellings throughout the centuries. One of the earliest documented references can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus Hungariae, a collection of medieval Hungarian charters and diplomas dating back to the 13th century. Here, the name is recorded as "Gvisdalius," suggesting its evolution over time.
In the late 15th century, a notable figure named Ivan Gwisdalla (1472-1538) gained recognition as a skilled metalsmith and artisan, renowned for his intricate works in silver and gold. His creations adorned the homes of nobility and wealthy patrons throughout the region, cementing the Gwisdalla name in the annals of local craftsmanship.
Another significant individual bearing this surname was Katarina Gwisdalla (1601-1677), a respected herbalist and healer. Her extensive knowledge of medicinal plants and natural remedies earned her a reputation that transcended village boundaries, and her name became synonymous with the art of healing in the Carpathian region.
During the 17th century, the Gwisdalla family established a strong presence in the town of Sighișoara, a fortified settlement in present-day Romania. Here, Mihai Gwisdalla (1624-1698) made a name for himself as a skilled architect and builder, leaving an indelible mark on the town's architectural landscape with his intricate stone masonry and innovative designs.
In the 19th century, the name Gwisdalla gained further prominence when Andrei Gwisdalla (1812-1887) emerged as a prominent scholar and linguist. His contributions to the study of Slavic languages and his extensive research on the region's dialects and linguistic traditions earned him recognition among academic circles of the time.
Throughout its long and storied history, the surname Gwisdalla has been associated with a diverse range of occupations, from skilled artisans and healers to scholars and architects. While the origins of the name may be rooted in the simple act of whistling, its legacy has evolved to encompass a rich tapestry of cultural and historical significance.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Gwisdalla
Among Census respondents with the surname Gwisdalla, the largest self-reported group is White at 91.3%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.8%) and Two or More Races (3.8%).
The bar chart below shows how Gwisdalla bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Gwisdalla surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White91.3% · 95
- Hispanic or Latino3.8% · 4
- Two or more races3.8% · 4
- Asian and Pacific Islander1.0% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Gwisdalla
Gwisdalla appears in 2 published Census surname files: 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2020
#153,590
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 104
+1 bearers (+1.0%)
Per 100,000 0.03
Rank movement Up 3,644 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | #157,234 | 103 | 0.03 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2020 | #153,590 | 104 | 0.03 | +1 bearers (+1.0%) | Up 3,644 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Gwisdalla surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #157,234 | #153,590 | 2.3% |
| Count | 103 | 104 | 1.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.03 | 0.03 | 16.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Gwisdalla bearers went from 103 to 104 (+1.0% change). The surname moved up 3,644 positions in the national ranking, going from #157,234 to #153,590.
FAQ
Gwisdalla surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Gwisdalla?
Name Census estimates that about 119 living Americans carry the surname Gwisdalla. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,880,289 residents.
How common is Gwisdalla?
Gwisdalla ranks #153,590 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.03 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 104 people with the surname Gwisdalla. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (119), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.03 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.03 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Gwisdalla.
Has Gwisdalla become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Gwisdalla went from 103 recorded bearers to 104. That is an increase of 1 (+1.0%). In the national ranking it rose from #157,234 to #153,590.
What does the Census say about the background of Gwisdalla?
Among Census respondents with the surname Gwisdalla, the largest self-reported group is White at 91.3%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.8%) and Two or More Races (3.8%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Gwisdalla in the 2020 Census, accounting for 91.3% (95 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Gwisdalla appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (91.3%), Hispanic (3.8%), Two or More Races (3.8%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Gwisdalla (2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Gwisdalla mean?
A Polish place name likely derived from a village name. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Gwisdalla (0.03 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many Americans have the surname Gwisdalla?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.