Explore the Family Name Gans
The meaning of Gans
German and Dutch: 1. from gans ‘goose’, hence a metonymic occupational name for someone who bred or tended geese, or a nickname for someone who wobbled or behaved (foolishly) like a goose, or a topographic or habitational name referring to a house distinguished by the sign of a goose. 2. nickname for a healthy or strong person, from Middle Low German gans ‘whole, complete, healthy’.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Gans in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the surname Gans saw a slight decrease in popularity from 2000 to 2010. In 2000, Gans was ranked 12,657th most popular surname, slipping to 12,711th position in 2010, marking a minimal change of -0.43%. Despite this slight dip in rank, the count of individuals carrying the Gans surname increased by 8.39% during the same timeframe, from 2,241 in 2000 to 2,429 in 2010. However, the proportion per 100,000 people slightly decreased by 1.2%, indicating that while more people carried the surname, it wasn't growing as fast as the general population.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #12,657 | #12,711 | -0.43% |
| Count | 2,241 | 2,429 | 8.39% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.83 | 0.82 | -1.2% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Gans
The ethnicity breakdown of the surname Gans also shifted between 2000 and 2010 according to the Decennial U.S. Census data. The percentage of those identifying as White decreased slightly, from 85.10% to 81.23%, while those identifying as Black saw a modest increase from 10.44% to 11.49%. The percentage of individuals with mixed ethnic identity more than doubled, increasing from 1.12% to 2.10%. The Hispanic representation within the Gans surname holders also experienced growth, rising from 2.01% in 2000 to 3.54% in 2010. Data for Asian/Pacific Islander and American Indian and Alaskan Native ethnicities were suppressed in 2010 after having been reported in 2000.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 85.1% | 81.23% | -4.55% |
| Black | 10.44% | 11.49% | 10.06% |
| Hispanic | 2.01% | 3.54% | 76.12% |
| Two or More Races | 1.12% | 2.1% | 87.5% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.58% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.76% | 0% | 0% |