Explore the Family Name Gad
The meaning of Gad
1. Danish: nickname meaning ‘sting, point’. Alternatively, from the Biblical personal name Gad (see 5 below). 2. Polish: nickname from gad ‘reptile’, metaphorically also ‘mean individual’. Alternatively, a derivative of gadać ‘to talk, to chatter’. 3. English (Middlesex and Surrey): variant of Gadd. 4. Arabic (mainly Egypt): from a personal name based on Arabic jād ‘serious, earnest’. Bearers of this surname are both Muslims and Christians. 5. Jewish (Israeli): from the Biblical personal name Gad, borne by one of the sons of Jacob (Genesis 30:11). As a surname it was taken instead of some original Ashkenazic or Sephardic surname. Some characteristic forenames: Arabic/Muslim Ahmed, Mostafa, Said, Sarwat, Amera, Ashraf, Ehab, Emad, Fadel, Hassan, Khadiga, Mohamed.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Gad in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the popularity of the surname Gad has significantly increased from 2000 to 2010. In 2000, Gad ranked 40,019 in terms of prevalence, but by 2010 it had moved up to 27,950, marking a substantial increase of 30.16%. In sheer numbers, there were 516 individuals with the surname Gad recorded in the 2000 census, but by 2010 this count had risen to 858, indicating a remarkable growth of 66.28%. The proportion of people with this surname per 100,000 also saw an upward trend, growing by 52.63% over the decade from 0.19 to 0.29.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #40,019 | #27,950 | 30.16% |
| Count | 516 | 858 | 66.28% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.19 | 0.29 | 52.63% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Gad
The ethnic identity associated with the surname Gad has seen notable shifts between 2000 and 2010, according to the Decennial U.S. Census. Individuals identifying as White made up the majority, with their representation increasing from 69.19% in 2000 to 81% in 2010. The number of individuals identifying as Asian or Pacific Islander decreased by 21.54%, going from 13.37% to 10.49%. There was a more dramatic decrease amongst those identifying as two or more races, falling by 63.08% from 11.05% to just 4.08%. Interestingly, the 2010 census recorded individuals with the surname Gad identifying as Black for the first time, while no individuals identified as Hispanic or American Indian and Alaskan Native in either year.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 69.19% | 81% | 17.07% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 13.37% | 10.49% | -21.54% |
| Two or More Races | 11.05% | 4.08% | -63.08% |
| Black | 0% | 2.33% | 0% |
| Hispanic | 3.29% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |