Explore the Family Name Gai
The meaning of Gai
1. Chinese: Mandarin form of the surname 蓋, meaning ‘lid’ or ‘build’ in Chinese: (i) from the placename Gai (蓋), the name of a fief (located in Shandong province) granted to an official in the state of Qi during the Warring States period (475–221 BC). (ii) adopted as the surname by the Ge Lou (蓋樓) family from the Xianbei ethnic group in northern China during the Northern Wei dynasty (386–534 AD). 2. Italian (Piedmont): from French surname Gai, Gay literally ‘cheerful’; in some cases it is possible a nickname from dialect word gai ‘jay’. 3. Italian (Tuscany): patronymic or plural form of Gaio, Gaia.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Gai in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the popularity of the surname Gai has increased significantly from 2000 to 2010. In 2000, the surname ranked 51,809 in popularity and rose to a rank of 42,163 by 2010, which is an increase of 18.62%. The number of people carrying this surname also saw a substantial growth during this period. The count increased from 377 in 2000 to 515 in 2010, marking a leap of 36.6%. The proportion per 100k also rose by 21.43%, signifying the growing prevalence of this surname.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #51,809 | #42,163 | 18.62% |
| Count | 377 | 515 | 36.6% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.14 | 0.17 | 21.43% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Gai
The ethnic identity associated with the surname Gai also saw some shifts between 2000 and 2010, as per the Decennial U.S. Census data. During this decade, the percentage of Gai surname bearers identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander increased slightly by 5.26%, reaching 26.80% in 2010. Conversely, those identifying as White saw a decrease from 50.93% to 41.36%, a drop of 18.79%. Those identifying as Hispanic also decreased, from 5.57% to 4.85%. Notably, there was a significant increase in the percentage of individuals identifying as Black, surging from 13.53% in 2000 to 25.83% in 2010, a jump of 90.91%. There were no changes recorded for those identifying as belonging to two or more races, or American Indian and Alaskan Native.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 50.93% | 41.36% | -18.79% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 25.46% | 26.8% | 5.26% |
| Black | 13.53% | 25.83% | 90.91% |
| Hispanic | 5.57% | 4.85% | -12.93% |
| Two or More Races | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |