Explore the Family Name Gander
The meaning of Gander
1. English (Sussex): from Middle English gander, Old English gand(r)a ‘gander, male goose’, hence a metonymic occupational name for a keeper of geese, or a nickname for someone supposedly resembling a gander in some way. 2. South German and Swiss German: habitational name for someone from a place called with Middle High German gant ‘scree’ (Swiss German gand), or a topographic name for someone living by an area of scree. This surname (in any of the possible senses; see also below) is also found in France (mainly Alsace). 3. North German: nickname for a vain or self-important man from ganter ‘male goose, gander’. 4. North German: perhaps also a habitational name from Gandern in Brandenburg.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Gander in the United States?
According to data from the Decennial U.S. Census, the popularity of the surname 'Gander' has seen a notable rise between the years 2000 to 2010. In the year 2000, 'Gander' was ranked 17351 in terms of frequency, but by 2010 it had increased its position to 16060, showing a 7.44% improvement in rank. The count of people bearing the surname also showed an increase of 20.11%, moving from 1502 individuals in the year 2000 to 1804 individuals in 2010. This corresponded to an increase in proportion per 100,000 people from 0.56 in 2000 to 0.61 in 2010, indicating a growth rate of 8.93%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #17,351 | #16,060 | 7.44% |
| Count | 1,502 | 1,804 | 20.11% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.56 | 0.61 | 8.93% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Gander
When looking at ethnicity, the data from the Decennial U.S. Census reveals some shifts in the distribution of ethnic identity among those carrying the 'Gander' surname. In the year 2000, the highest percentage was White at 94.34%, followed by Black at 2.00%, Hispanic at 1.80%, and Asian/Pacific Islander at 1.13%. By 2010, while the majority remained White at 91.63%, there was a decrease by 2.87%. On the other hand, the percentages of other ethnicities grew: Black increased to 3.49% (a 74.50% change), Hispanic raised to 2.38% (32.22% change), and Asian/Pacific Islander escalated to 1.27% (12.39% change). There were no reported instances of the Gander surname among those identifying as Two or more races or American Indian and Alaskan Native for both years.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 94.34% | 91.63% | -2.87% |
| Black | 2% | 3.49% | 74.5% |
| Hispanic | 1.8% | 2.38% | 32.22% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 1.13% | 1.27% | 12.39% |
| Two or More Races | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |