Explore the Family Name Gau
The meaning of Gau
1. German: habitational name from any of various places called with Middle High German gau, göu ‘area of fertile agricultural land’. 2. North German: nickname for a quick and alert person, from Middle Low German gouwe, gauwe ‘quick, clever’. 3. Chinese: variant of Gao.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Gau in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the surname Gau has seen a climb in popularity from 2000 to 2010. In 2000, it ranked 21,124 in terms of frequency, but by 2010 it had moved up to 19,703, indicating a growth rate of approximately 6.73%. The count of individuals with this surname also increased significantly during this period, from 1,158 in 2000 to 1,367 in 2010, marking an increase of 18.05%. For every 100,000 people, the proportion of individuals named Gau rose from 0.43 in 2000 to 0.46 in 2010, reflecting a growth of nearly 7%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #21,124 | #19,703 | 6.73% |
| Count | 1,158 | 1,367 | 18.05% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.43 | 0.46 | 6.98% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Gau
The Decennial U.S. Census data also reveals shifts in the ethnic identity associated with the surname Gau between 2000 and 2010. Over this decade, the proportion of individuals identifying as Asian or Pacific Islander fell slightly from 19.17% to 18.07%, whereas those identifying with two or more races saw a significant increase from 1.04% to 1.39%. The majority of individuals with the surname Gau identified as White, though this proportion also decreased marginally from 78.24% in 2000 to 76.74% in 2010. Interestingly, no individuals identified as Hispanic in 2000, but by 2010, this group accounted for 2.34% of the Gau population. Likewise, the percentage of Black individuals went from 0.78% in 2000 to zero in 2010. There were no individuals who identified as American Indian and Alaskan Native in either year.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 78.24% | 76.74% | -1.92% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 19.17% | 18.07% | -5.74% |
| Hispanic | 0% | 2.34% | 0% |
| Two or More Races | 1.04% | 1.39% | 33.65% |
| Black | 0.78% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |