Explore the Family Name Gaiter
The meaning of Gaiter
1. English: occupational name from northern Middle English gater ‘goatherd’, a derivative of Middle English gayte ‘goat’ (from Old English gāt, with preservation of the unrounded northern ā, or from Old Norse geit). The surname is found in northern England and the Midlands, and has probably also absorbed Middle English gaythird ‘goatherd’. 2. English: topographic name from Middle English gater ‘dweller by the town gate or gateway’. This type of name derived from a topographic term + -er, is found mainly in southern England, especially Kent, Sussex, and Hampshire. 3. Americanized form of German Geiter, which is unexplained, or of some other similar (like-sounding) surname. Some characteristic forenames: German Franz.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Gaiter in the United States?
According to the Decennial U.S. Census, the popularity of the surname Gaiter has increased over the years. In 2000, Gaiter was ranked 25,657th in popularity, while in 2010, it moved up to rank 22,543. This change marks a 12.14% increase in popularity. The count of people with the Gaiter surname also rose by 26.25%, from 903 people in 2000 to 1,140 in 2010. Therefore, for every 100,000 individuals in 2010, approximately 0.39 had the surname Gaiter, an uptick of 18.18% since 2000.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #25,657 | #22,543 | 12.14% |
| Count | 903 | 1,140 | 26.25% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.33 | 0.39 | 18.18% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Gaiter
The ethnic identities associated with the surname Gaiter have also diversified according to the Decennial U.S. Census. In 2000 and 2010, the majority of individuals with this surname identified as Black, although the proportion decreased by 8.22% from 77.41% to 71.05%. The second largest group identified as White, increasing from 17.17% in 2000 to 22.63% in 2010. The Hispanic community also saw a significant growth of 49%, rising from 1% to 1.49%. Those identifying as two or more races increased slightly from 3.32% to 3.51%. Notably, in 2010, Asian/Pacific Islander and American Indian and Alaskan Native communities also began to bear the Gaiter surname, though the data for 2000 was suppressed for these groups.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black | 77.41% | 71.05% | -8.22% |
| White | 17.17% | 22.63% | 31.8% |
| Two or More Races | 3.32% | 3.51% | 5.72% |
| Hispanic | 1% | 1.49% | 49% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0.7% | 0% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0.61% | 0% |