Explore the Family Name Gault
The meaning of Gault
1. Scottish (Lanarkshire), Irish (Antrim and Derry), and English: variant of Galt. 2. French: from the ancient Germanic personal name Waldo, from wald ‘power, authority’. 3. French: habitational name from any of the places called Le Gault (for example in Loir-et-Cher and Eure-et-Loir), named with ancient Germanic walthu- ‘wood, forest’. Compare Legault.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Gault in the United States?
Based on data from the Decennial U.S. Census, the popularity of the surname Gault has experienced a slight decline between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, the name was ranked as the 5183rd most popular surname, but by 2010 it had dropped to 5468th place, representing a 5.5% decrease in rank. However, despite this drop in rank, the actual number of individuals with the Gault surname increased from 6197 in 2000 to 6360 in 2010, a growth of 2.63%. The proportion per 100,000 people also slightly decreased from 2.3 in 2000 to 2.16 in 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #5,183 | #5,468 | -5.5% |
| Count | 6,197 | 6,360 | 2.63% |
| Proportion per 100k | 2.3 | 2.16 | -6.09% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Gault
In terms of ethnicity, the Gault surname saw a variety of changes between 2000 and 2010 according to the Decennial U.S. Census. There was a significant increase in individuals identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander, with the proportion rising from 0.31% to 0.66%, a massive 112.9% surge. Those identifying as two or more races also rose from 1.16% to 1.48%. Individuals identifying as White made up the majority of those with the surname Gault, though there was a very slight decrease from 88.9% to 87.58%. Hispanic representation also increased from 1.57% to 2.28%, while Black representation moderately rose from 7.29% to 7.52%. Conversely, the proportion of individuals identifying as American Indian and Alaskan Native fell from 0.77% in 2000 to 0.49% in 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 88.9% | 87.58% | -1.48% |
| Black | 7.29% | 7.52% | 3.16% |
| Hispanic | 1.57% | 2.28% | 45.22% |
| Two or More Races | 1.16% | 1.48% | 27.59% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.31% | 0.66% | 112.9% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.77% | 0.49% | -36.36% |
Gault 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 Gault is British & Irish, which comprises 54.2% of all ancestry found in people with the surname. The next two most common ancestries are French & German (22.3%) and Eastern European (4.7%). Additional ancestries include Scandinavian, Italian, Ashkenazi Jewish, Nigerian, and Spanish & Portuguese.
Ready to learn more about your ancestry? Get the most comprehensive ancestry breakdown on the market by taking our DNA test. Shop 23andMe
| ANCESTRY BREAKDOWN | COMPOSITION |
|---|---|
| British & Irish | 54.2% |
| French & German | 22.3% |
| Eastern European | 4.7% |
| Other | 18.8% |
Possible origins of the surname Gault
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 Gault have recent ancestry locations in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Ireland.
| RECENT ANCESTRY Location | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Merseyside, United Kingdom | 86.10% |
| Glasgow City, United Kingdom | 86.10% |
| Greater Manchester, United Kingdom | 86.10% |
| Greater London, United Kingdom | 86.10% |
| Lancashire, United Kingdom | 85.40% |
What Gault 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 Gault is R-CTS4179, which is predominantly found among people with European ancestry. Haplogroup R-CTS4179 is descended from haplogroup R-M420. Other common haplogroups include R-A212 and R-M417, which are predominantly found among people with European and European ancestry. Other surnames with similar common haplogroups are: Goad, Brandon, Faulk, Harker, Scofield, Baird, Friend, Thames, Mudd, Autry.
The most common maternal haplogroups of people with Gault surname are: H1, K1a, H. These most commonly trace back to individuals of European ancestry.
Paternal Haplogroup Origins R-M420Your 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 Gault 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.
"Gault" Surname 31.1%
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.
"Gault" Surname 17.5%
23andMe Users 27.9%
Habits
Sugary Drink
Drinks one or more sugary drinks per day.
"Gault" Surname 17.0%
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.
"Gault" Surname 20.8%
23andMe Users 16.4%
Are health conditions linked to the last name Gault?
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 Gault are shown below. Important Note: not everyone with a disease allele will develop these health condition