Explore the Family Name Gary
The meaning of Gary
1. English (of Norman origin): variant of Geary. 2. Irish: shortened form of McGarry, from Mac Fhearadhaigh. 3. French: variant or diminutive of Garin. 4. In some cases possibly also an Americanized form of Swiss German Gehri or Gehry, variants of Gehr.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Gary in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the surname Gary's popularity has experienced a slight decrease between 2000 and 2010. In terms of rank, the name fell from 1555 in 2000 to 1612 in 2010, marking a drop of 3.67%. However, despite this fall in rank, the count of people carrying the surname increased by 5.17%, rising from 21,213 in 2000 to 22,310 in 2010. This indicates that even though there was a decline in rank, the surname's overall prevalence grew within the decade. The proportion per 100,000 people also saw a reduction of 3.82%, moving down from 7.86 in 2000 to 7.56 in 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #1,555 | #1,612 | -3.67% |
| Count | 21,213 | 22,310 | 5.17% |
| Proportion per 100k | 7.86 | 7.56 | -3.82% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Gary
Discussing the ethnic identity linked with the surname Gary, the Decennial U.S. Census data reveals notable changes between 2000 and 2010. There were increases in the proportions of Asian/Pacific Islander, Black, Hispanic, and those identifying with two or more races. The percentage of individuals with Asian/Pacific Islander ethnicity rose by 32%, from 0.50% in 2000 to 0.66% in 2010. Those identifying as Black or with two or more races also saw an uptick, with increases of 2.61% and 38.64% respectively. The Hispanic population saw the largest jump at 35.35%, going from 1.98% in 2000 to 2.68% in 2010. Conversely, there was a 5.31% decrease in the proportion of Whites, and a 9.09% decrease amongst American Indian and Alaskan Natives.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 50.07% | 47.41% | -5.31% |
| Black | 45.13% | 46.31% | 2.61% |
| Hispanic | 1.98% | 2.68% | 35.35% |
| Two or More Races | 1.76% | 2.44% | 38.64% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.5% | 0.66% | 32% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.55% | 0.5% | -9.09% |
Gary 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 Gary is British & Irish, which comprises 42.6% of all ancestry found in people with the surname. The next two most common ancestries are French & German (20.4%) and Nigerian (6.9%). Additional ancestries include Ghanaian, Liberian & Sierra Leonean, Eastern European, Italian, Spanish & Portuguese, and Scandinavian.
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| ANCESTRY BREAKDOWN | COMPOSITION |
|---|---|
| British & Irish | 42.6% |
| French & German | 20.4% |
| Nigerian | 6.9% |
| Other | 30.1% |
Possible origins of the surname Gary
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 Gary have recent ancestry locations in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Ireland.
| RECENT ANCESTRY Location | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Greater London, United Kingdom | 67.80% |
| Greater Manchester, United Kingdom | 67.50% |
| West Midlands, United Kingdom | 66.90% |
| Merseyside, United Kingdom | 66.40% |
| Glasgow City, United Kingdom | 66.40% |
What Gary 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 Gary 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 R-CTS241 and R-L21, which are predominantly found among people with European and European ancestry. Other surnames with similar common haplogroups are: Powell, O'Neal, Byrd, Gaines, Ash, Wynn, Howell, Crosby, Wade.
The most common maternal haplogroups of people with Gary surname are: H1, H, T2. 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 Gary 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.
"Gary" Surname 45.8%
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.
"Gary" Surname 22.6%
23andMe Users 27.9%
Habits
Sugary Drink
Drinks one or more sugary drinks per day.
"Gary" Surname 27.5%
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.
"Gary" Surname 18.8%
23andMe Users 16.4%
Are health conditions linked to the last name Gary?
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 Gary are shown below. Important Note: not everyone with a disease allele will develop these health condition