Explore the Family Name Gerard
The meaning of Gerard
French (Gérard), Walloon (mainly Gérard), and English (of Norman origin): from the personal name Gérard, Gerard (from Old French Gerart, Girart), composed of the ancient Germanic elements gēr ‘spear, lance’ + hard ‘hardy, brave, strong’. As a surname of French origin it is also found in Haiti. Compare Garrard and also French Guerard, English Garard, Gerrard, and Jarrard. Some characteristic forenames: French Andre, Camille, Jean-Pierre, Murielle, Emile, Pascal, Pierre, Agathe, Alain, Aldes, Antoine, Armand.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Gerard in the United States?
The Gerard surname has seen a slight fluctuation in popularity over the decade, according to data from the Decennial U.S. Census. In 2000, it held the rank of 3767 among all surnames, slipping to 3914 by 2010, marking a decrease of 3.9%. However, the number of people bearing this surname increased slightly from 8646 to 9075 during the same period, representing a growth rate of 4.96%. The proportion per 100,000 people dipped slightly from 3.21 to 3.08.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #3,767 | #3,914 | -3.9% |
| Count | 8,646 | 9,075 | 4.96% |
| Proportion per 100k | 3.21 | 3.08 | -4.05% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Gerard
Ethnic identity analysis of the Gerard surname based on the Decennial U.S. Census shows some shifts between 2000 and 2010. The majority of people with this surname identified as White, although this percentage fell from 87.38% to 83.77%. Those identifying as Black saw an increase from 6.92% to 8.80%, while those reporting Hispanic ethnicity grew significantly from 2.43% to 3.83%. There was also a rise in those identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander (from 0.82% to 0.98%) and those reporting two or more races (from 2.00% to 2.21%). However, those identifying their ethnicity as American Indian and Alaskan Native decreased slightly from 0.45% to 0.40%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 87.38% | 83.77% | -4.13% |
| Black | 6.92% | 8.8% | 27.17% |
| Hispanic | 2.43% | 3.83% | 57.61% |
| Two or More Races | 2% | 2.21% | 10.5% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.82% | 0.98% | 19.51% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.45% | 0.4% | -11.11% |
Gerard 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 Gerard is British & Irish, which comprises 32.4% of all ancestry found in people with the surname. The next two most common ancestries are French & German (26.8%) and Ashkenazi Jewish (10.6%). Additional ancestries include Italian, Eastern European, Spanish & Portuguese, Scandinavian, and Finnish.
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| ANCESTRY BREAKDOWN | COMPOSITION |
|---|---|
| British & Irish | 32.4% |
| French & German | 26.8% |
| Ashkenazi Jewish | 10.6% |
| Other | 30.2% |
Possible origins of the surname Gerard
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 Gerard have recent ancestry locations in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Ireland.
| RECENT ANCESTRY Location | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Greater London, United Kingdom | 61.20% |
| Glasgow City, United Kingdom | 60.90% |
| Greater Manchester, United Kingdom | 60.50% |
| West Midlands, United Kingdom | 60.10% |
| Merseyside, United Kingdom | 60.10% |
What Gerard 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 Gerard is R-CTS241, which is predominantly found among people with European ancestry. Haplogroup R-CTS241 is descended from haplogroup R-M343. Other common haplogroups include R-Z209 and R-L2, which are predominantly found among people with European and European ancestry. Other surnames with similar common haplogroups are: Winters, Bernard, Adam, Manuel, Doe, Vickers, David, Clemens, Winter, Shearer.
The most common maternal haplogroups of people with Gerard surname are: H1, T2b, H. 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 Gerard 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.
"Gerard" Surname 34.5%
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.
"Gerard" Surname 29.0%
23andMe Users 27.9%
Habits
Sugary Drink
Drinks one or more sugary drinks per day.
"Gerard" Surname 16.2%
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.
"Gerard" Surname 18.3%
23andMe Users 16.4%
Are health conditions linked to the last name Gerard?
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 Gerard are shown below. Important Note: not everyone with a disease allele will develop these health condition