Explore the Family Name Gaines
The meaning of Gaines
English (of Norman origin): variant of Gain, with post-medieval excrescent -s. In North America, this surname has also assimilated several surnames of Welsh origin, such as Gainous, derived from Gurganus.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Gaines in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the surname Gaines has seen a slight change in popularity. In 2000, it ranked as the 739th most popular surname, but by 2010, it had slipped to the 788th position, representing a decrease of about 6.63%. However, the actual count of individuals with this name increased from around 42,369 in 2000 to approximately 43,821 in 2010, a growth rate of 3.43%. The proportion per 100k people also dropped slightly from 15.71 in 2000 to 14.86 in 2010, marking a decline of about 5.41%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #739 | #788 | -6.63% |
| Count | 42,369 | 43,821 | 3.43% |
| Proportion per 100k | 15.71 | 14.86 | -5.41% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Gaines
As for ethnic identity, the Gaines surname is associated with various communities, according to the Decennial U.S. Census data. Over the decade from 2000 to 2010, there was a small increase in people of Asian/Pacific Islander and American Indian and Alaskan Native descent. The percentage went up from 0.32% to 0.33% and from 0.56% to 0.58%, respectively. Individuals identifying as two or more races saw a substantial rise from 2.06% to 3.06%. Moreover, the Hispanic community experienced an increase from 1.67% to 2.37%. The name is predominantly found among the Black community, holding relatively steady at 50.27% in 2000 and 50.72% in 2010. Conversely, the White community witnessed a slight decrease from 45.12% in 2000 to 42.93% in 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black | 50.27% | 50.72% | 0.9% |
| White | 45.12% | 42.93% | -4.85% |
| Two or More Races | 2.06% | 3.06% | 48.54% |
| Hispanic | 1.67% | 2.37% | 41.92% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.56% | 0.58% | 3.57% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.32% | 0.33% | 3.13% |
Gaines ancestry composition
23andMe computes an ancestry breakdown for each customer. People may have ancestry from just one population or they may have ancestry from several populations. The most commonly-observed ancestry found in people with the surname Gaines is British & Irish, which comprises 45.3% of all ancestry found in people with the surname. The next two most common ancestries are French & German (17.9%) and Nigerian (9.8%). Additional ancestries include Ghanaian, Liberian & Sierra Leonean, Ashkenazi Jewish, Angolan & Congolese, Scandinavian, and Eastern European.
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| ANCESTRY BREAKDOWN | COMPOSITION |
|---|---|
| British & Irish | 45.3% |
| French & German | 17.9% |
| Nigerian | 9.8% |
| Other | 27.0% |
Possible origins of the surname Gaines
Your DNA provides clues about where your recent ancestors may have lived. Having many distant relatives in the same location suggests that you may all share common ancestry there. Locations with many distant relatives can also be places where people have migrated recently, such as large cities. If a large number of individuals who share your surname have distant relatives in a specific area, it could indicate a connection between your surname and that location, stemming from either recent ancestral ties or migration.
Based on 23andMe data, people with last name Gaines have recent ancestry locations all within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
| RECENT ANCESTRY Location | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Greater London, United Kingdom | 71.50% |
| West Midlands, United Kingdom | 70.90% |
| Glasgow City, United Kingdom | 70.90% |
| Greater Manchester, United Kingdom | 70.60% |
| Merseyside, United Kingdom | 70.50% |
What Gaines haplogroups can tell you
Haplogroups are genetic population groups that share a common ancestor on either your paternal or maternal line. These paternal and maternal haplogroups shed light on your genetic ancestry and help tell the story of your family.
The top paternal haplogroup of people with the surname Gaines is R-P311, which is predominantly found among people with European ancestry. Haplogroup R-P311 is descended from haplogroup R-M343. Other common haplogroups include E-P252 and R-CTS241, which are predominantly found among people with Sub-Saharan African and European ancestry. Other surnames with similar common haplogroups are: Wynn, Mims, Armstrong, Boston, Plummer, Gary, Quarles, O'Neal, Sexton, Chamberlain.
The most common maternal haplogroups of people with Gaines surname are: H1, T2b, H. These most commonly trace back to individuals of European ancestry.
Paternal Haplogroup Origins R-M343Your maternal lineage may be linked to Marie Antoinette
Because it is so dominant in the general European population, haplogroup H also appears quite frequently in the continent's royal houses. Marie Antoinette, an Austrian Hapsburg who married into the French royal family, inherited the haplogroup from her maternal ancestors. So did Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, whose recorded genealogy traces his female line to Bavaria. Scientists also discovered that famed 16th century astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus traced his maternal lineages to haplogroup H.
What do people with the surname Gaines have in common?
Spoiler alert: it's complicated. People with the same last name are usually no more genetically similar than a randomly sampled group of people from the same population. That said, people with the same surname are more likely to have similar ancestries than randomly sampled individuals. The reason is the tendency of people with similar cultural or geographical backgrounds to preferentially mate with one another. That's why people who share a surname may be more likely to share traits and tendencies in common than people within the general population. Check out the percentages below to see the prevalences of tastes, habits, and traits of people with your surname compared with prevalences among 23andMe users.
Preferences
Chocolate Ice Cream
Prefers chocolate flavored ice cream over other flavors.
"Gaines" Surname 41.8%
23andMe Users 41.3%
Traits
Misophonia
When sounds made by others, like the sound of chewing or yawning, provoke strong emotional reactions in an individual.
"Gaines" Surname 29.4%
23andMe Users 27.9%
Habits
Sugary Drink
Drinks one or more sugary drinks per day.
"Gaines" Surname 22.6%
23andMe Users 21.1%
Wellness
Migraine
A severe headache characterized by intense pain, sensitivity to light and sound, and often accompanied by nausea and vomiting.
"Gaines" Surname 17.4%
23andMe Users 16.4%
Are health conditions linked to the last name Gaines?
The short answer is that, if there is an association between surname and health, it's usually more about your ancestry than your name. Individuals with a given surname are no more genetically similar than the general population but often have similar ancestries. The populations of people associated with those shared ancestries often have sets of genetic variations, also known as alleles, in common. Some of those alleles are associated with a greater likelihood of developing certain diseases.
Disease variant frequency by ancestry
Disease allele frequencies in populations associated with the surname Gaines are shown below. Important Note: not everyone with a disease allele will develop these health condition