Explore the Family Name Gayton
The meaning of Gayton
1. English: habitational name from any of several places in Cheshire, Norfolk, Northamptonshire, and Staffordshire called Gayton, or from Gayton le Marsh or Gayton le Wold in Lincolnshire. The Northamptonshire and Staffordshire placenames are from an Old English personal name Gǣga + tūn ‘farmstead’; the others are from Old Norse geit ‘goat’ + tún ‘farmstead’. 2. In some cases possibly also French: diminutive of Gayte, a southern variant of guette ‘watch’, and hence an occupational name for a watchman. Some characteristic forenames: Spanish Rafael, Cesar, Alfredo, Ana, Apolonio, Ezequiel, Fernando, Francisco, Gregorio, Gustabo, Jesus, Jose.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Gayton in the United States?
The surname Gayton holds the rank of 12,186 in popularity according to the 2010 Decennial U.S. Census, slipping slightly from its 2000 ranking of 12,096. The frequency of this surname saw a modest increase of 8.07% over the decade, growing from 2366 individuals in 2000 to 2557 in 2010. However, when adjusted for the growth of the US population, the proportion of people bearing the Gayton surname per 100,000 residents decreased by 1.14%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #12,096 | #12,186 | -0.74% |
| Count | 2,366 | 2,557 | 8.07% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.88 | 0.87 | -1.14% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Gayton
In terms of ethnic identity, the Gayton surname is most prevalent amongst individuals identifying as White, at 43.76% in 2010, down from 46.37% in 2000, as per the Decennial U.S. Census data. The second largest group is those identifying as Hispanic, which saw an increase from 25.40% in 2000 to 29.21% in 2010. Individuals identifying as Black make up 18.77% of the Gaytons, a decrease from 19.95% in 2000. The percentage of Gaytons identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander and those of two or more races both saw slight decreases, while American Indian and Alaskan Native representation increased marginally by 4.69%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 46.37% | 43.76% | -5.63% |
| Hispanic | 25.4% | 29.21% | 15% |
| Black | 19.95% | 18.77% | -5.91% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 4.48% | 4.69% | 4.69% |
| Two or More Races | 3.13% | 3.09% | -1.28% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.68% | 0.47% | -30.88% |